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10 Mind-Blowing Facts about Geishas in Japan

Geishas at Gion
Are you curious about geisha in Japan? The facts about them will feed your sight on the old Japanese profession.

1. There are still geishas in Japan.

Although the profession of geishas has been declined gradually after the world war Ⅱ, there are girls get into the business today. Particularly, there are 100-200 geishas in Gion district, the famous geisha district in Kyoto. It is still an eye-catching cultural postcard of Japan, appealing to tourists from the world.

2. A geisha is NOT the courtesan.

Geishas, both geiko (official geishas) and maiko (geisha trainees), are performers in Japan. They give their performances of traditional dances, singing and musical instruments at parties and banquets as they are invited, let alone the performances at ochaya and theaters. They would serve the dishes and play simple games with guests by far, to lighten the atmosphere but not to coquet. A geisha is the performing artist merely, never offer a sexual service.

3. A geisha can’t get married unless she retires.

Geisha & Ochaya
Geisha into an Ochaya
Geishas are not allowed to be married when they are still geishas. It was enforced strictly in the past, but now they can get a boyfriend. Even so, once she determines to get married, she have to retire first. If she wouldn’t get out of the business momentarily, she’ll be treated as a poor cousin and lose everything she's gained.

4. Geishas live in the okiya.

Okiya is the traditional houses for geishas to live. You may construe it as the lodging apartment for them. Especially for probationary maiko, they live together and go for their training every day. If a maiko finishes her training and becomes a formal geisha after the mizuage ceremony, she is allowed to move out and live alone.

5. Rumors: The white face was to find them in the dark.

Geishas would paint their face white, which is a special appearance of them. It’s rumored that, it was easy to find them in the dark as no electric lamp but candles was introduced into Japan before the 20th century. It is just a joke. Actually, such an appearance, white face together with red eye shadows & red lips, make the ladies more enchanting in accordance with Japanese traditional appreciation of beauty.
Geisha
Makeup of Geisha: the White Face

6. Distinct differences between geiko and maiko

Don’t be confused to tell geiko (formal geishas) apart from maiko (geisha trainees). There are too many differences to distinguish them. Although the differentiation gets smaller at the present day, there is still a complicated system to dictate their makeup, dressing, as well as other aspects.

Most obviously, younger maiko are often gorgeously dressed with showy kanzashi (traditional hairpins), red eri (collars) of their kimono, and obi (broad sash/belt) in darari style, which is hung down at the back with larger buckles in front. Comparatively, the dressing of geiko would be simpler and more elegant. They prefer to less ornaments on their hair, and they wear kimono with white eri. Their obi is knotted in taiko musubi style, tied up at the back and looked short. What’s more, the shoe sole of maiko’s geta is much thicker than geiko’s.

Geiko & Maiko
Geiko (Left) & Maiko (Right)

Geisha & Maiko
Geiko (Left) & Maiko (Right)


7. Geishas wear wig nowadays.

The retro hairstyle is really hard to handle of geishas. In ancient times, they might not wash their hair and even didn’t touch the hair for several days. To 1950s, geishas discovered a great method to replace the troublesome work of combing, they wore wigs! Since then, geishas wear wigs frequently, and they don’t worry about messing up hair in their sleep any more. However, not all geishas wear a wig all the time, at least maiko are often asked to comb their own natural hairs.

8. Long preparation before geishas on the stage

Long Obi of Maiko
Maiko's Performance
It’s not easy for geishas to make up well before they go out or get onto the stage for a performance, which takes over 2 hours to finish usually. After smearing the pink makeup base, they have to help each other to paint the face and neck white. As they tidy up their eyes and lip makeup, it needs help to wear the heavy hand-made kimono, too. Different from the daily kimono of common people, the kimono of geishas are heavy with multiple layers. It’s quite trying to tie the obi well, so companions help. Even in ancient, there were menservants assisting them to tie their obi well.

9. Tourists can watch geisha performances.

As a protected cultural symbol of Japan especially Kyoto, geisha performances are available for tourists. Colorful cultural experience activities with geisha or maiko are popular, which bring oversea tourists into contact with geisha culture in person. Besides, the geisha performances in theaters are worth a watch likewise.

  Read more about Geisha's Performances

10. There are geishas from overseas.

It is surprised to find that some foreign ladies come to Japan and work as geisha. They receive the geisha training and become geisha after the training, mainly dispersed in Tokyo, Shizuoka, Kanagawa and more most-visited places in Japan. Known in the profession, the foreign geishas, such as Fukutaro from Romania, Ibu from Ukraine, and Kimicho from US, have done well in the job like native geishas.