Uncover the secrets of what a real traditional Japanese geisha looks like?

Many people think that Japanese Geisha is a synonym for prostitutes, and many TV dramas are written this way, but this is not the case. Japan's geisha is just a synonym for their performing arts, not what we understand it to be, nor what is rumored.

Geisha are not prostitutes; prostitution is a traditional profession in Japan. Originated in Tokyo and Osaka in the 17th century, the first geishas were all men, who made a living by playing traditional drums and rapping in brothels and entertainment venues. In the middle of the 18th century, the profession of geisha was gradually replaced by women, and this culture continues to this day. Geisha are women who practice performing arts in Japan. In addition to serving food and drinks to guests, a large part of the banquet is to entertain guests with performances such as dancing, music, and musical instruments. Their trade is to satisfy men's dreams - pleasure, romance and possessiveness. The people who usually do business with them are wealthy and powerful men from the upper class. In expensive restaurants and teahouses, men who discuss business like to invite a geisha to accompany them, pour wine and serve food for them, and adjust the atmosphere, which costs at least $1,000.

Today, there are still a few women who join the geisha industry with romantic fantasies and a love of traditional art. But in the past, geisha was a lifelong career and women had to follow in their mother's footsteps. Before World War II, most geishas were forced to engage in this profession in order to make a living.

The geisha industry is not about selling sex, nor is it about selling one's body. It is just a performing art. Industry regulations stipulate that geishas are not allowed to get married during their working period. Otherwise, they must retire first to maintain the geisha's "pure" image. In the traditional sense, geishas were not considered obscene in the past. On the contrary, many families were proud that their daughters could enter the art world. Because this not only shows that the family has a high level of cultural literacy, but also has sufficient funds to support their daughter's learning. Although this concept is not so common today, geishas are still highly regarded in people's minds. In fact, it is not easy to become a geisha. Learning skills usually starts at the age of 10, and it takes 5 years to complete courses ranging from culture, etiquette, language, decoration, poetry, calligraphy, zither, to bowing and pouring wine. It is very arduous.

After completing their training at the age of 16, they can go into the prostitution business, first as a "maiko" and then as a geisha, and they can continue to do this until they are 30 years old. No matter how old they are, they can still continue to work, but their rank will be downgraded and they can only serve as foils for young and famous geishas. As for the future prospects in old age, most people are not very optimistic. The ideal situation is to marry a rich man and live a stable life, but this is extremely rare. Some people use their skills to set up an art school or art class, which is also very good.

Japan's geisha culture began to develop outward from Kyoto, and the origins of Kyoto geisha can be traced back to Higashiyama, where Kyoto's Yasaka Shrine is located, around the 17th century.

Yasaka Shrine is a very famous shrine among the many shrines and temples in Kyoto, and it has a long history. It is said that there were many people visiting Yasaka Shrine at that time, so naturally many shops gathered nearby, forming a commercial district. Among them, there are many shops called "Mizuchaya" that sell tea, dumplings and other snacks, providing a place for believers from all over Japan to rest temporarily. The waitresses working in these shops were called "tea girls" or "tea girls". Some tea girls would use songs and dances to attract customers, which is what we call commercial tactics today. Over time, this business method has been constantly innovated and its quality has been continuously improved, for example, the performance of the shamisen has been added. Under this virtuous cycle, some water teahouses started to do better and better business, their scale began to expand, and the variety of goods also began to increase, such as wine, high-end cuisine, etc.

In traditional Japan, women who poured wine at banquets without any artistic training were called "shofu" and had a low social status. Prostitutes are generally referred to as "girls" or "yuettes". Among them, the highest-ranking ones are called "taifu" or "okai". "Taifu" or "Oiran" is not only young and beautiful, but also has outstanding attainments in tea ceremony, Japanese poetry, dance, incense ceremony and other arts. Their service objects are limited to high-ranking officials and nobles, who also treat them as guests, so their social status is relatively high. Durex means perfect sex

It can be created as long as you put in the effort. It doesn't happen by chance, it's not something that happens by coincidence. However, no matter whether they are "girls", "guest girls", "tayu" or "oiran", they all sell their bodies, while the real identity of a geisha is an artist, whose main job is to entertain guests and perform.

The decline of geisha also prompted it to make some reforms to adapt to the requirements of the times, such as hiring women from outside Kyoto, changing their appearance, setting up bars in teahouses to attract late-night visitors, etc., but there was not much improvement. Because in the eyes of modern young men and women, geishas are out of date.

Although geishas are in decline, they still exist, but their glory days are gone. Decline is the trend, and extinction is only a matter of time. It is worth noting that the geishas who still work in this field have not lost their confidence. They feel that geishas are the "face" of Kyoto and Japan and should be preserved. They even travel around to increase their value. Some people say more specifically: Geisha are the symbol of Kyoto, and the traditional ancient culture must be protected.