page_title: Onsen geisha
hierarchical_section_title: Onsen geisha
caption_attribution_description: Onsen geisha Matsuei, who Yasunari Kawabata met in 1934 and upon whom he based one of his main character in the novel Yuki Guni (Snow Country). Photographed around 1934 presumably at the onsen inn Yukiguni no Yado Takahan in Yuzawa, Japan.
context_page_description: Onsen geisha is the Japanese term geisha working in onsen resorts or towns, known for their traditions of performance and entertainment style, which differ significantly to geisha working in other areas of Japan.
  Historically, the term "onsen geisha" has held mostly-negatuve connotations with sex work, and has come to be synonymous with "sex worker" for a number of reasons, despite sex work being made illegal in Japan in the 1950s.
  Despite connotations of low standards of performing arts, modern onsen geisha hold the same training in the arts as geisha from other regions of Japan.
context_section_description: Onsen geisha (温泉芸者) is the Japanese term geisha working in onsen (hot spring) resorts or towns, known for their traditions of performance and entertainment style, which differ significantly to geisha working in other areas of Japan.
  Historically, the term "onsen geisha" has held mostly-negatuve connotations with sex work, and has come to be synonymous with "sex worker" for a number of reasons, despite sex work being made illegal in Japan in the 1950s. 
  Despite connotations of low standards of performing arts, modern onsen geisha hold the same training in the arts as geisha from other regions of Japan.
caption: Onsen geisha Matsuei of Yuzawa, Niigata, upon whom Yasunari Kawabata based one of the main characters in his 1934 novel Snow Country
exif: {}