Geisha by Liza Dalby
In the mid-1970s, an American graduate student in anthropology joined the ranks of white-powdered geisha in Kyoto, Japan. Liza Dalby took the name Ichigiku and apprenticed in the famed Pontocho district, trailing behind “older sisters” bemused by this long-legged Westerner intent on learning their arts and customs. Some time ago I wrote about photography book Geisha:The Life, the Voices by Jodi Cobb. For a deeper comprehension though of Geisha existence, I would recommend Liza Dalby’s ‘Geisha’.
In this classic best-seller, Liza Dalby, the only non-Japanese ever to have trained as a geisha, offers an insider’s look at the exclusive world of female companions to the Japanese male elite. Her new preface considers the geisha today as a vestige of tradition as Japan heads into the 21st century.
Liza Dalby was the solely foreigner ever to have become a Geisha. This is the tale of her time spent as a Geisha, and the consequences of her years spent investigating the archaic Japanese profession. Even though the book is actually a non-fiction factual text, it is presented as a fiction book and is written as a story as Dalby tells of her experiences in Japan. It’s an excellent book for anyone who has never heard of Geisha before, or for anyone who has and is wondering what it is they actually do and who they are.
Too many westerners have the image of Geisha as Japanese prostitutes but this is certainly not the case – they are just ‘performers’ of powerful and wealthy men. Dalby’s book goes into great aspect of Geisha life and interprets everything from the basics of what a Geisha is, to explaining how the girls get their names, where they live, regional varieties, dress style and their manner of living. It gives a colourful portrayal of how times have adapted in the Geisha world and draws how Geisha in olden-times were very different from those now (the first Geisha was actually men!). It describes the long and difficult training many Geisha have gone through in the past and the way that young girls are taken under wing by older and more experienced Geisha who become their sisters and mothers and a whole new family set up is arranged. It tells of the talents these young girls have (dance and music, mainly) and also of what happens when Geisha women get older and leave the profession.
The book is as well great for anyone interested in gender functions in Japan – Geisha women never marry and play a very different role to that of the Japanese wife. It’s really interesting to see just how their lives vary from the ordinary Japanese housewives. I would highly suggest this book to anyone of any age. Dalby adds her views on everything we can see how things really are and the reader is touched by the lives of some of the girls, the way any other non-fiction book would be unable to do. I would highly recommend this book to anyone of any age. It’s great for students too who need a deeper understanding of Geisha life and can’t find it in a normal textbook – because Dalby adds her personal views on everything we can see how things really are and the reader is touched by the lives of some of the girls, the way any other non-fiction book would be unable to do.
“Extremely interesting . . . . Written with delicate observation and subtle common sense.”—New York Times Book Review
“A loving, beautifully designed tribute to one of Japan’s most tantalizing traditions.”—Newsweek
“Elegantly balanced . . . . Invigorating and refreshing.”—Washington Post Book World
“A meticulously researched piece of scholarship . . . and a delightfully personal account.”—Times Literary Supplement
“Dalby knows more about the subject than I’ll ever know, and she writes about it with grace and eloquence.”—Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha
Liza Dalby in Japan as geisha Ichigiku
Kimina, 23, works in Kyoto, Japan, as a geiko - the local term for a geisha. A geisha is a traditional entertainer who dances, sings and chats to high-paying guests, usually men. When I said to my parents that I wanted to become a geiko they said 'What are you thinking?' They didn't want to send their daughter into a strange world. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Childhood dream The first time I saw a maiko (apprentice geisha) on TV was when I was still in elementary school. I thought: 'Ah, they look like a princess.' So first of all I had to convince my mother that this is a profession. On the other hand my father is very stubborn so we lied to him and said I was going to school. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Getting ready It takes half an hour to put the make-up on and wig on and then a special man comes to put the kimono on. To wear the kimono properly for a long time I need a man's hands to tighten it. Geiko wear a wig because this hairstyle needs long hair – it's not suitable for modern life. And it needs a lot of oil, so real hair doesn't stay up for long. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Working life My job is to entertain all the guests invited to the parties in the teahouse, restaurants or sometimes hotels. I have to pour some drink and talk and do some entertainment. I most enjoy playing the shamisen. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Keeping up And I have to read the newspapers and watch TV and check what is going on and what's new and what's popular. I think that every client has a different reason to come and see me. Some of the houses haven't got Japanese-style rooms any more so they come and see the traditional costume and the traditional way of speaking and the traditional way of behaving. But the clients who keep coming back to see a certain geiko – maybe there's a bit more to it. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Kimina is looked after by Tamae, 67, who acts as her agent. I was a maiko for three and a half years and a geiko for three and a half years. The geiko plays the perfect woman. A wife can be what she is. Her husband comes home and she's busy and she doesn't need to come to the door to greet him. But the geiko, whatever she's doing, she will come and greet him and do everything that the man can dream of. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Kimina's challenge The geiko will just listen to any story and will have a conversation about anything. Sometimes the clients are enjoying a particular technical story and their conversation becomes a lullaby to my ears! I tell myself 'Listen and learn' but sometimes it's hard. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Misconceptions I sometimes have customers who have read something strange about relationships between geiko and men. I always tell them 'Whatever you read, it's completely wrong, we don't do anything.' If he touches me I tell my mother (agent) and she comes in and says 'Oh, please sit next to me' and makes fun of his misbehaviour so the party atmosphere doesn't go away. Nobody actually sleeps with any client - that's not allowed. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Future plans I want to marry at least once as an experience. Everyone does it and I would like to check it out. And it's OK to come back if you get divorced. Married women are not allowed to work in this world. I have no boyfriend so I really want to find a boyfriend. But in the daytime I have to go to classes and at night I have to work. Sometimes at parties I meet some really good looking men but I'm there to work so what can I do? I'm not allowed to give my telephone number. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
In the family Most of the clients tell their families about us. I have sometimes even met the entire family. I think that their wives send their husbands because they know what is going on - some of them have been to our parties so they know it's kind of safe. They know he's not going to have any relationship with us. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
In the family Most of the clients tell their families about us. I have sometimes even met the entire family. I think that their wives send their husbands because they know what is going on - some of them have been to our parties so they know it's kind of safe. They know he's not going to have any relationship with us. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
Vanishing world? Recently we very rarely get the good clients who regularly visit us. One of the reasons is the recession. But I'm sure in Kyoto this business will never disappear. Even now tourists want to be made up as a geiko or a maiko and take pictures. So as long as geiko and maiko are popular it will never go away. Words and picture by Sarah Buckley
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May, Wednesday 2009 at 4:31 am
Hi, good post. I have been thinking about this issue,so thanks for blogging. I’ll certainly be coming back to your posts. Keep up the good work
June, Friday 2009 at 3:58 pm
The life and world of geiko are absolutely mesmerizing to westerners such as myself. its good and bad. on one hand they are the most interesting and beautiful women in the world. and the down side of putting parts of their lives on hold.