Geisha – Guardians of Traditional Japanese Art

Geisha 芸者literally means: “person who practices the arts” Geisha are women who dedicate their lives to traditional Japanese arts and use their talents to entertain clients during banquets and shows. Originally the profession of geisha could be practiced by both men and women and their profession was officially recognized towards the second half of the 18th century.

The geisha profession still has a strong association with prostitution especially in the West. However, geisha never exercised or continue to exercise this activity. The misinterpretation of history, cinema and literature have contributed to reinforcing this series of clichés.

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Geisha are noted for their mastery of traditional dances (including fan dance), singing, literature, poetry, flower arranging, and playing traditional instruments. In addition to entertaining through the arts, geisha are also experts in the art of conversation and must have a great general culture.

Geisha have long embodied the scheme of refinement and are considered the guardians of Japanese culture and traditions. Today they are still highly respected and their loyal customers continue to spend astronomical amounts of money to enjoy their company, usually at ochayaお茶屋 or tea houses. The clients are mostly businessmen, politicians or people with money, however, like many other businesses, the ochaya are increasingly suffering from the economic fall, which is why they have become less restricted and are currently possible for almost anyone. tourist with enough budget to be able to participate in these dinners or events with a geisha with travel agencies and hotels acting as intermediaries.

Geisha have a profession with many rules, for example:

• The makeup worn by the apprentice geisha, called a maiko, is usually very distinctive. Their faces are covered in a layer of white makeup and they wear red lipstick. Around the eyes and on the eyebrows they use black makeup. The rules about makeup become more relaxed with age, unless you are a confirmed geisha, as you are required to wear makeup. After turning 30, a geisha can wear makeup only for special occasions, with the idea of ​​giving space to her natural beauty.

• As for clothing, geisha only wear silk kimono. This is closed by tying a wide belt on the back, called an obi, and the shape of the knot depends on the age of the geisha, for example, a maiko shows a knot with a long tail, while a confirmed older geisha uses a shorter knot. . Putting on a kimono is a complex task since there are several layers of fabric and they are heavy and for this reason a professional assistant is needed. It is usually a man who helps the geisha dress and this is the only man who is allowed to enter the okiya or house where the geisha live. Likewise, younger maiko often wear bright colors and patterns on their kimono. The outfit should be completed with the well-known tabi socks and geta sandals.

The traditional footwear of the maiko, the well-known “Pokkuri geta”. Inside the heel, there is a bell (hence its name since it sounds when walking) and it is a very characteristic sound in the streets of Kyoto or geisha districts in other cities.

• Geisha wear their hair in very sophisticated buns held by traditional combs. Because it takes so much time to comb their hair and their hair must be kept perfect for several days, geisha sleep with their necks resting on small supports.
• Geisha are distinguished by their manners. The obligation to be refined at all times prevents them from doing things like eating at fast food restaurants, shopping at regular supermarkets, or even using plastic bags. They must entertain customers always showing maximum restraint.

Becoming a geisha requires a lot of work and dedication over years of intensive work. Today, geisha training remains basically the same, although it is probably shorter since in the past the average age to begin apprenticeship was 10 years old and currently it is 17 or 18 years old.

At the beginning of their training, the girls must perform daily household chores primarily in the okiya and tend to the other geisha. An intense and hard work that requires extreme obedience. Later, they begin their intensive training in the arts specializing in a particular art. Dance is considered the noblest of these arts.

As they begin to master the different specialties, the maiko complete their training by accompanying a confirmed geisha to all their appointments. They are considered like sisters and being united by the relationship, the eldest transmits her knowledge to the youngest and little by little introduces her to the closed circle of the geisha. To be successful, the new geisha must get noticed and thus build her own customer base.

When they become a confirmed or graduated geisha, an event particularly marked by the change of collar takes place, in a ceremony called erikae . The red apprentice collar is abandoned and the white one begins to be worn.

In the 18th century, there were thousands of geisha, unfortunately currently it is estimated that there are less than 200 geisha. The difficult training, the obligation to sacrifice some years of youth, the impossibility of starting a family or getting married (unless one leaves the profession) are some of the deterrents to learning the geisha profession.

You can find geisha in several cities in Japan, including Tokyo and Kanazawa, although Kyoto remains the best and most prestigious place to see geisha, known there as geiko .