Geisha

The woman in the picture is a traditional Japanese entertainer called 芸者(Geisha), who performs Japanese traditonal dance and instrument called "Shamisen". It started from Edo period, years between 1603-1868. The word 芸(Gei) means "art" and 者(Sha) mean "doer"

They wear layers of 着物(Kimono) with Obi around it.
Plus, because of their hair and white make-up with bright red lips, it is hard to remove the image of Geisha from your mind.

As some people have heard and/or seen the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" directed by Rob Marshall, and they would get confuse about Geisha and prostitution.
Geisha is just a entertainer of the parties by dancing, playing music and having conversations with customers.

To become Geisha, they need to go through hard training from young.

There are 3 stages before becoming Geisha: Shikomi, Minarai, and Maiko.
The first stage is 仕込(Shikomi). They would work as maids of olders and would go to geisha school to learn.
The second stage is 見習(Minarai). They have passed the difficult final exam of geisha arts, and they are off the house duties. Minarai can be seen in the parties sometimes, however, they are not so welcomed by the Geisha. Therefore they would stay in the back with "mother", the proprietress of the house, and learn things that they never learned in school, such as how to have a conversation with a customer.
The third stage is 舞子(Maiko). Maiko is what we know as "pre-Geisha". Maiko will follow Geisha and learn proper way of how to serve tea, to play Shamisen, to have a conversation, and to dance.

To become Geisha is a long way and hard work, yet they are one of Japanese symbols.

And they add the beauty to their country.


Matsu Japan
http://matsu-japan.jp/