The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-10-20
GE|SHA GIRLS
ARE FREED BY
COURT ORDE R
Ancient Japanese Custom Is
Abolished. Freeing 100000
Girls From Virtual Slavery.
BY RODNEY BUTCHER.
Inited NetCs STAFF Correspondent


CHICAGO, Oct. 20.-Abolition OF
Japans famous Geisha system, which
was found by court to be the equiva-
lent of girl peonage, is a long step
toward success in campaign for sex
equality long waged by the women of
Nippon, in the opinion Of Kadzue Ku-
washima, Japanese consul here.
The Geisha profession has fiouiished
in Japan for about sixty years, Ku
washima said, and today it is estima-
ted that there are now nearly 100000
Geisha girls in the land of the cherry
blossom. No Japanese travel story in
that time had been complete without
it's Geishas.
1t has been the custom for Geisha
masters to select comedy girls and
enter into long-term contracts with
their parents for periods Of five to
seven years, agreeing on a sum which
the girls education and keep would
cost. The average price is 81 900, and
in order to escape from servitude it
has been necessary for a Geisha to
pay the difference between her earn
ings at the time Of release and the
price determined.
But ali OF this will be changed I'M
der decision OF the appellate court at
Osaka reported by the cables, and in
the future when a pretty little Geisha
girl wants to don the kimono OF a
wife, she can do so at once, without
waiting until her term is up. The
Japanese court ruling freed the girls
from Obligations contracted for them
by their parents.
Kuwashima said he would await
news from his home country before
predicting how much influence the
courts decision would have on the
future participation of japanese
women In national affairs
But the practical emancipation OF
100000 women, he said, could not
fail TO exert a tremendous effect in
the life Of Japanese women.
Home life in Japan is different
from that in this or other countries"
the consul said THE private homes
are not so arranged that foreign
guests or guests from other parts Of
Japan can be entertained there. The
master must arrange the entertain
ment for such guests at a restaurant
or tea house. AS part Of this enter.
tainment he will engage Geisha girls
to pleas his guests for two or three
hours. His wife does not enter into
this at all; she Is not the sort of
hostess we have in this country.
The apprentice Geishas are taught
by their masters to sing, dance. ar
range flowers. conversation etiquette
everything, in fact, that will make
them very pleasing entertainers.
The girls in this profession are
moral. though in some Of the smaller
groups their practices may not be up
to the standards maintained by the
higher-class Geishas. But they are
not immoral women and must not be
classed with the girl OF the Yoshi-
wara, who is bound by police regula-
tons to remain within the prescribed
area-unless she is bought out by
a man The Yoshiwara girl also en-.
tiers her profession on contract.
Whether this decision Will also affect
this class Of girl. am not prepared
TO state"
A Geisha named Kuniwaka, 1t Is re
ported. was responsible for the court
ruling. Kuniwaka fell in love with
poor young man three years before
her seven.year term was up, and
when she left her master he took
the case to court TO recover his
money He lost, and hundreds Of
thousands OF japanese girls won.