The word Geisha literally translates to "arts person" or "one trained in arts" (gei = art, sha = person). It is also sometimes described as "women of arts, which is exactly what a Geisha is - a woman trained in the traditional arts of Japan such as dance, music, singing to name a few.

To be completely honest and frank, there really is 0% chance of becoming a geisha if you are not of Japanese desent or extremely skilled in various arts of the geisha (and even then I highly doubt it will be the case). b) Liza did not go there with the purpose of becoming a geisha, nor did she ask to become a geisha. It was the geisha themselves that suggested to her that to further her studies, she should become a geisha.

Whist their appearances are very similar, the main difference between Geiko and Geisha is largely their location, and also certain customs and traditions. The word "Geiko" derives from the Kyoto dialect of the word and is generally used to refer to those from the Kyoto hanamachi. The word "Geisha", which is the more well known version of the word, is actually the Tokyo dialect for "Geiko".

Most certainly not! A Maiko and Geisha's profession is based on preserving the traditional arts such as dance, singing and music and entertaining in a non-sexual manner. The confusion as to whether Geisha are prostitutes or not seems to have stemmed both from the close proximity Geisha had to courtesans in the Edo era and the fact that they did technically originate from the red light districts. The main culprit though appears to be from post World War II occupation by U.S. service men. Many U.

It is actually very simple and easy to distinguish between the two. Starting from head to toe, the main points of difference are: Hairstyle: Maiko have their natural hair dressed in various traditional styles according to their position in the Maiko hierarchy. Junior Maiko wear the Wareshinobu style and progress onto the Ofuku style as she becomes a senior Maiko.

There should never be any mistaking between an Oiran or Tayuu with a Geisha or Maiko! The differences are very pronounced and recognizable. For those who are still confused though, the main five items are: Hairstyle - Oiran and Tayuu wear the most outlandish, creative and ornate hairstyles.

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Yes I have. I first read Memoirs of a Geisha shortly after it was first published and released in Australia in 1998 and have read it a few other times over the past years.

However, I do give credit to the novel with helping open many eyes to the world of geisha that may never have known otherwise. Whilst Mr. Golden did researching and interviewing to remain as accurate and as true to the geisha world, it is important that one must remember that it is essentially a fictional novel written by a Western man.

Whilst Memoirs of a Geisha is a fictional story, Arthur Golden did interview two ex-geisha during his researching phase. The first geisha he spoke with was Kiharu Nakamura, whom he spent an evening speaking with. Kiharu-san has her own biography out about her life as a Shimbashi Geisha. The second geisha he spoke with, and whom he gives a lot of credit to in helping him understand the geisha world is Mineko Iwasaki, who was a very famous maiko and geiko in Gion, Kyoto.

Sayuri, Mameha, Pumpkin and Hatsumomo are all fictional character created by Arthur Golden. Because of this, you will not find any further information about them nor will you find photographs or travel posters as none of them never truly existed.

We are all in luck! Hannari-Ya.com sells a full line of the geisha make-up direct from Kyoto. You can buy it as a full kit, or, individual pieces. He also sells other cosmetics inspired by the geisha and maiko of Kyoto that are perfect for everyday use.

To achieve the perfect, flawless make-up, I strongly recommend using the real geisha make-up. However, if you are in a fix and need to improvise - there are a few modern cosmetics that can be used to replicate to a certain extent the look and feel of traditional geisha make-up. There are a couple of options here. I personally found the best product to use in relation to this was made by a company called Manic Panic.

Please keep in mind, as evident by the above illustrations, that the make-up of a maiko and geisha becomes much more subtle as she ages. Geisha of all ages will still wear the white and crimson make-up for performances though.

Brand new katsura can cost thousands of dollars and I am yet to locate any place online that sells brand new katsura. If you are currently in Japan, or taking a trip to Japan, be sure to check out all the antique, "junk" and second hand stores as you might be able to find some decently priced katsura. If you are in the USA, be sure to check out some large antique stores around your area.

The first book I generally recommend is Mineko Iwasaki's biography due to her involvement with the creation of Memoirs of a Geisha and the lawsuit that followed. It is an interesting look into the life of one of the most famous geisha to emerge from Gion.

Yes I did enjoy reading Memoirs of a Geisha the first time, despite the fact there are numerous inaccuracies (which will be addressed in the near future). It was an entertaining story but I did feel that it was a rather Western approach to a Japanese "love" story. I believe Lesley Downer described it the best as a "Cinderella" story in Japanese guise.