South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-21
GEISHA GIRLS In
JAPAN DISAPPEAR
Wealthy Foreigners and Nip
ponese Can No Longer
Afford Entertainers.

TOXIC. Dec. Z0.-From the thin
barred windows Of the tiny home Of
the reisha. IN japanese cities the
odd note ~ the amsou. Japaus
most typical musical instrument is
becoming less noticeable 90 the pass
erby An institution lH Japan the
reisha has been known 20 the for
cigu traveller for years. she has eu-
tertalned the foreigner OF import
ance and has been the cause OF
feUds. OF political Quarrcls and Of
irtrlEges in japanese public llfe-
With her heavily -OiIed black hair
arranged 90 stand high on her head
her fantastic hair ornaments re-
scmbung in some WAYS the triukets
which adoru the American child -
Christmas tree. her kimOuO q red
and yellow. OF blue and gold. she
has been the bright picture OF the
Orient. tho inspiration OF the poet
and the piaything OF the new rich
n her native land.
High prices are the cause OF the
decline in the japanese Eeisha's
prosperity During the period from
1914 o. 1915. when Japan. because
~ the demands Of the great war.
pushed out lndustrially and paid
high prices for labor, fortunes grew
by leaps and bounds There was the
need az the erich mans playthiug.'
the Eeisha. her costly parties and
the wines that are part Of the true
Eclsha evening
Poses and Sings.
ra.~
lu that she is a means or entertain
meut. She poses. and she sings with
the odd nasal tones, that are cOnsId-
cred music in none Of the western
countries Of the world. she IS both
the musical comedy OF the American
and the music hall performer Of the
Britisher. "a FAR as the Japanese IS
concerned. and her costly obs (rare
old brocades used ass wide kimono
beus) are the envy OF many Of her
less fortunate but prouder sisters
After the dancing and the wine
there IS the opportunity for the for
eigu visitor 10 choose his favorite
among the Japanese women who
have amused him. IL ne pleascs her
II his purse is OF sufficient bigness
he may call again. But that is all
There is none OF the sordId detail
none of the crudeness which marks
the woman OF the underworld in
many nations
Reports from one Japanese city
IN which the geisha business flour
ished during the great war. indicat,
the length TO which the Eeisha's
popularity has declined In on,
months time the 1900 registered
geishas in Kobe dropped 10 1883. IL
another month this number dropped
to So. and indications arc that tht
Hzure will be still further reduced
There is no place ln the budget OF
the one-time extravagant manufac
turer for the costly geisha dinner OF
1915 and 1915.
Resorts Forced TO Close.
His foreign guests must ha con
tent with a formal dinner at Oh.
home OF his japanese host, IL TIA.
old subject Of the geisha ia mention
ed there IS an attempt az once O.
turn the subject into different chan
nels. and the gcisha party which TN
traveller go much desired Is found q
be i'm possible.
SO serious have the problems O.
the geisha become I'm Toxic that on'
or two or the places IN this city mos
famous for It's geisha entertainment
ere on the point Of closing In Kob
several hundred Eeishas met re
Gently. and formed what has beer
known as the Central Geisha Gull,
OF Kobe. Yukldama. Kofuga, Ko
I1ichi Oimatsu and Hislshi. all vet