The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-30
GEISHA WOULD.
REGAIN Lost
LAURELS
Noted Member Of Japan's Cult
Leads Revival Of Music
and Other Arts.
BY HUGH j., SCHUCK.
international News service.

y + Z
TOKYO. Oct. 80. Geisha, Of the
famous Shimbashi district, in Tokyo,
are seeking I'd. regain their former
reputation as artists in the realm
Of samisen music, flower arrange.
ment. the tea ceremony and other
Of the arts of Old Japan.
So says Hanaka, long one of the
most famous of the geisha in prob
ably the most exclusive district
Of the capital.
The Shimbashi geisha feel that
many members of their profession
are not SO accomplished today as
formerly, and for that reason are
seeking to raise their own artistic
level
The first step to be taken is. the
Improvement of saYnisen music,
popularity in spite Of the growing
fondness Of the Japanese for West
ern orchestral instruments and
Promote Theater.
Another step is the establishment
Of the Embujo, a large theater al
ready under way at Kohil1icho,
Tsukiji.
The geisha Of Tokyo viii stage
Q performance there each season
resembling the Miyako O-dori held
each April by the geisha at Kyoto.
The theater is to cost half
million ven and is being financed
by a stock company, with the
geisha and tea houses of the
capital as the stockholders.
Il am Of the opinion that d
sweeping change must be made in
the present manner of entertain
nnent, said Hanaka. The enter
tainment house should be in accord
with the spirit Of the times. I have
my own: ideas as to how a geisha
house should be operated, but
lost my small fortune during the
earthquake and viii not be able
to carry out my plans"
According to her plans, her model
geisha house would contain both
foreign and japanese style Of rooms,
in order to suit all customers. Ar.
tistic entertainment would be given
! 20 those who wished it, or il not
the geisha would merely amuse
their patrons. a
"AN of our. patrons are mot re-
fined and cultured" said Hanaka,
''but we must provide what is de-
nnanded. However, we must re-es.
tabllsh our reputation by rendering
real service in the field Of art, and
gentlemen must learn to regard us
in a better light. We are poor peo-
pie, in the first place, which is the
reason we become geisha.
Rich persons often taken advan-
tage Of US. gaining for US no,
toriety which most Of US do not de
serve. Many geisha end their lives
in unfortunate circumstances, as
became aware early in my career
and / have always hoped for q
better lot for the average geisha."
Wear Foreign Garb.
Seeking to keep abreast of the
times, but in a much more reac.
tionary manner, a group Of ten
geisha at the Kagurazaka quarters,
in Ushigome, have put aside their
japanese costumes and adopted for
eign clothes.
''We are women Of the new. age
and civilization and must breathe
the air of new cultural life," they
announced. They now wear foreign
dresses and shoes, picture hats and
carry parasols and other articles in
foreign style. Their hair is done in
foreign style, and some have even
gone so far as to bob 1t.
Thus they proceed to entertain
and surprise and please their pa,
irons. They still play the samisen
and dance Japanese odori, but they
trot or waltz.
1--WE feel very. free and easy in
foreign dress" they said, land we
can move more brislly than in the
heavy kimono and tight obi. Be-
sides, foreign dresses make us look
younger. That is "a great advan-
tage for the geisha" NJ