Geisha: The Life, the Voices by Jodi Cobb

Amazing Gift Book!

“Geisha: The Life, the Voices” is an icon of Japanese culture and custom- the geisha in her role as human work of art and perfect woman.
A hundred years ago geisha numbered eighty thousand; today there is a thousand at most. Luckily, Jodi Cobb can show us- before they disappear- both the ceremonial world of the geisha in Tokyo and Kyoto and their private world as few outsiders have ever seen it.
Many of the older women we meet here were forced into this world by difficulty; the young women were drawn to it by their dream of a romantic life or their love of traditional arts. We see geisha in their daytime routines: fine-tuning their breathtakingly lavish wardrobes; perfecting the art of makeup; training maikos (apprentices); and preparing for annual dance performances.
However, as we watch the geisha at night, as they entertain (for huge sums) at private parties, their art takes a different form. Their purpose is to provide a dream–of luxury, romance and exclusivity. As the men sit at dinner, geisha position themselves at their elbows to serve them a sake and delicacies and practice a brilliantly honed art of conversation. As the alcohol flows and the guests relax, geisha play party tricks and sing songs. Geisha have for centuries studied the male ego. They tend it like a garden, and we watch men bloom.
This long-hidden world is revealed here both in superlative photographs and in a fascinating text that includes the voices of the geisha themselves. These women have created a life of beauty, making themselves an embodiment of Japanese culture, tradition and refinement–a life that is captured exquisitely in this amazing book.
This book is full of masterpieces that show everyone what Geisha life is like. Along with the pictures are some short, interesting stories from some of the Geisha along with Geisha songs and poetry. The art is truly exhilarating, a must SEE for everyone!

The word geisha means "artist." A geisha is not a prostitute, but an entertainer for the richest and most powerful men of Japan. She entertains at parties, excelling in the arts of song, dance, and music, but mostly in the art of pampering the male ego. The average age of most geisha today is over 40, and there is always a place for the older women in the geisha world. Some still dance in the yearly geisha dance festivals even at age 80, as this geisha is.

Geisha are a living anachronism, rarely seen on the streets of Japan. In fact, most Japanese have never even seen a geisha. There are only 700 true geisha left today, down from 800,000 a century ago.

Backstage at the yearly dance performance of a geisha district of Tokyo. Geisha are considered the living guardians of the highest of Japanese cultural traditions.

A professional makeup artist applies the distinctive makeup to a young geisha. The white makeup used to be lead-based, and caused the early death of many young geisha.

Waiting in the dressing area of a theater in Kyoto, two young geisha read an astrology chart in a magazine while waiting to perform.

A young geisha-in-training in Tokyo, with her makeup partly applied.

A beautiful young geisha in her prime, in full makeup and costume. A geisha carefully shows a trace of red under-kimono which is considered subtly erotic.

A pause for a cigarette in her bedroom in Kyoto, while dressing for an evening's work entertaining men at parties.

The number of geisha is dwindling fast, and this will probably be the last generation of true geisha. Japanese women today have far more options available to them, and geisha say that Japanese men no longer appreciate the fine points of their art form. Their role as a status symbol for the men has been replaced by fast cars and expensive golf memberships.

A geisha at the "Festival of the Ages" in Kyoto.

This book would be a nice gift for your friends or family!

Enjoy!

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