Geisha

Hi Guys!!! I chose this topic because I’m reading the book "memoirs of a geisha", and I think that is a very interesting part of the Japanese culture.

So, what is a geisha?

The word Geisha is derived from ‘Gei’, which in Japanese means “performance or entertainer”, and ‘sha’, which means “person”, and dates back 400 years ago to the 'Edo' period. During this time the Geisha entertained at banquets and social gatherings by playing a Japanese guitar (called a Shamisen), and singing and giving dance performances.

The training involved in becoming a Geisha is very rigorous, and because of this the numbers of Geisha are declining. This training period takes five or six years.

Geishas often live near temples, in areas are called hana-machi. Geishas entertain visitors at teahouses called o-chaya that are located near these areas.

Today in Japanese hotels and restaurants Geisha entertain at banquets and socialize with guests. When you request a Geisha, it’s important to be specific about what type of performance you want, because there are two different types of Geisha. One called 'tchikata' that is usually a maiko girl and performs the traditional Japanese dance, and the other; usually an older Geisha is called 'jikata' and she sings and plays an instrument. The costs for the services of a Geisha vary depending on the number the food, beverages, and the entertainment.

Some people believe that a geisha is like a prostitute, but is obviously that it’s wrong. My opinion is that is very difficult to be a Japanese woman, and a geisha is amazing but is more difficult because geishas have to learn a lot of things and they need to be nice all the time.