The Japanese Geisha

The idea that America is a "melting pot" has become not only our nation's distinctive phenomenon, but this defining characteristic has also started to spread slowly throughout the world. In ancient times, communication between countries, cities, and continents was rare. This lack of interaction among cultures helped to create unique characteristics to different sections of the world. Each country separated by a vastness of land and sea has formed its own unique traditions and customs. One of the countries that possesses a special beauty in its people and culture is Japan. There is one distinctive and exotic art form that has become a symbol to the old Japan: the geisha. The true meaning of a geisha can be discovered if one analyzes their historical beginnings, the rigorous training they must go through, and also the role they played in Japanese society during their prime time.

If a person was to take a journey across the world, he or she would be able to easily identify the uniqueness in architecture, culture, and especially physical appearance of the people located within each nation's borders. Japan is a country defined by its discipline and respect for people and nature which in turn forms a serious part of their everyday lives. There are several Japanese characteristics which define its culture. These include sumo wrestlers, Japanese architecture, kabuki theatre, and its food. Another social aspect which describes Japanese lifestyle is the Japanese geisha. A geisha is renowned for her costume, walk and way of carrying herself out to society. Being a geisha is a very difficult task that is not taken slightly in the Japanese tradition. It is very common for people to make the assumption that geishas perform the same functions that prostitutes do in other countries. Today, true geishas are rare and only a wealthy few can experience their company. In researching and explaining this topic I found that in order to illustrate the geisha to a Western audience one must show that the geisha's role is not that of a prostitute. Understanding the exact role of a geisha is a difficult task, since there is a thin line between a prostitute and a geisha which can be easily crossed.

The Japanese geisha is a very ancient tradition that evolved over time to gain the respect it has today. Geisha was originally the term used for a male comedian or musician who entertained the guests of prostitutes. The first geishas were actually male. These men were called "taikomochi" and their role, which continues to this day, involves everything that a female geisha does. The taikomochi were extremely funny, and like their female counterparts, loved to brush upon taboo subjects for laughs (SOURCE). It was customary for important wealthy men to have entertainers with them while they were drinking, and instead of having women on their side, they had men who could enthrall them. Slowly, one female geisha after another began to be incorporated into the Japanese culture. This incorporation continued until eventually there was a complete transformation from all-male entertainers to all-female geisha. "By 1789 female geisha outnumbered the men... [and] by 1800 a geisha, unmodified was a woman" (SOURCE 3). The novelty of another type of "women of the night" turned out to be a huge success. As time went by, "yujo," or prostitutes were no longer requested at dinner parties by their customers. Instead, female geishas became very well accepted and started accompanying wealthy men at teahouses and special events.

"By the 1750s the licensed quarters had already been in existence for 150 years and , yujo were not as skilled in the arts, broadly defined, as they had been...the new female geisha took the quarter by storm. They sang popular tunes, not stuffy ballads; and they came in and out of the quarters freely and were in every sense wordly..." (SITE4)

At the beginnings of the geisha's popularity, during the Tokugawa period, these women were witty, intelligent, and sophisticated, but at the same time also low-income and low status. At this time, it was very common for the geisha to be courtesans, but Japanese government made efforts to drawing the line between a courtesan and a geisha.

"The geisha in the licensed quarters were forbidden to sleep with the yujo's customers. In 1779 geisha were recognized as practicing a distinct profession, and the registry office was set up to provide ad enforce rules of conduct for them. Geisha were not to wear flamboyant kimono, nor combs or jeweled pins in their hair. They were not to sit next to guests or otherwise insinuate themselves into the place of he yujo." (SITE)

To this day, there still exists a competition between geisha and courtesan.

When the Tokugawa years were over, a new era came where the geisha community flourished and was at its prime. During the 19th century the role that the geisha played in Japanese society changed, it became a trend and extremely popular, which cause prostitution to decline significantly. Geishas became increasingly sophisticated and well educated in the areas of art, music and dance.

The 1860s were, in a way, the golden age of the geisha. The relatively informal ambiance of a teahouse to which the geisha were called was an atmosphere very different from a brothel in Shimabara. Already the yujo were seen as slightly old-fashioned compared to the geisha, who dressed in--and indeed often initiated-- the latest fashions for women. (SITE6)

This period was prime for the Japanese geishas, they were just as a famous actress or singer is nowadays in America. The best managed to become extremely famous, well educated, respected and the vanguard of women's fashion. Their company could only be enjoyed by very wealthy and important men. The difference of the most significant differences between the geisha and prostitutes was that a prostitute could only understand money, while a geisha had a reputation for being loyal and responsive to gallantry. (SITE).

Then came the Meiji restoration which once again, increased the importance of the geisha tremendously. The Meiji government banned prostitution in Japan completely once and for all. (SITE) This was due to the newly opened contacts with western missionaries, they wanted to make a good impression, and geishas were aided in restoring Japan's prestige.

This was the beginning of a new and somewhat different role for geisha: as public entertainer, promoter of local color, and star; the 112 geisha of Pontocho divided themselves into four groups that performed on alternate days; those not performing would pursue their usual rounds at teahouse parties, where customers waited to be entertained. The whole project was a smashing