description: This book takes the reader into the enigmatic world of Kyoto's geisha. These elaborately dressed, heavily made-up Japanese women have held a fascination for the Western world for many years. Many have misconstrued their role as purely sexual when, in fact, the life of a maiko (apprentice) or geiko (geisha) is far more complex. The book covers the diverse artistic skills they develop; the distinctive look they adopt, and how it is achieved through make up, dress and hair styling; the rituals and traditions they observe and their relationships with other sections of Japanese society. The last section looks at the role of the geisha in modern society and how their position has been affected by economic crises, war and occupation and the impact of Western perceptions of geisha. Written by a Japanese writer who has had unprecedented access to Kyoto's geisha community, this is a unique study of these enigmatic women.
language: English
title: Geisha
titlecomplete: Geisha
genres: Cultural, Asian Literature, Japan, Nonfiction
ratings_count: 158
publisher: Carlton Books Ltd