Modern Day Geisha

Posted on May 23, 2007 by Dione

I assume you are quite familiar with the movie starring Zhang Zi Yi, “Memoirs of a GeishaTraditional female entertainers. Trained in such arts as singing, dancing, and playing Japanese traditional musical instruments. ”. Then this article is for you.

I am a fan of those girls walking gracefully in the streets with overly white face, very red lips and Japanese classy looking hair do’s. What I don’t know is the secret behind that grace and beauty.

I chanced by asking a friend who had experiences knowing and chatting with Geisha’s in Kyoto and I tell you, their lives are never easy.

Geishas are not whores per se they sell their talents and hide their beauty and real identities in those colorful kimonos (Japanese National Costume). In short they are high class entertainers in Japan.

In preserved places like Kyoto, the competition of the finest Geisha’s is so tight that every girl should do everything to be on top. I thought it only happened before and only in movies; to my surprise it is still prevalent today. Why these girls engaged in this kind of work? It’s easy, to earn more! Considering the high cost education in this country, most families can only send their children to koko “senior highschool”. These children find jobs afterwards to be useful and to buy their own wants and needs. Some work in seven-eleven stores and supermarkets, some in local restaurants, some help their parents in their small businesses and some become entertainers especially those beautiful ladies who have so much wants (branded bags, trendy accessories, signature clothes, cosmetics and expensive electronic gadgets).

The easiest way to earn big bucks in a conservative way is to become a Geisha. Girls have lots of preparations and changes in their selves though like fix the teeth, the hairs, change their attitudes and entire being which is never easy to do.

In modern day, these Geishas can be compared as cultural hostesses who have the power to move Japanese men’s desire in a profound way. Unlike before, being a geisha today isn’t a pride anymore. But being one is not easy; girls should take care of their bodies, skin and faces. They also have threats from the wives considering that their customers are elite ones. They should properly take care of their beauty and forget about their emotions if they don’t want to lose their customers.

Who are the customers? -The high class conservative people who pays ju-man (100,000) or more for discreet entertainment and conversation and don’t wanna go to those cheap omise’s with so much noise. Geisha bars are confidential places that only rich people can afford and who want to relax aside from being at home.

There are several ways to be entertained here, conservative yet interesting conversation, watching alluring traditional beauties, entertained through talents (singing), served in graceful and decent ways. And sometimes make geisha’s to be their mistresses in exchange of high cost price.

This job maybe high earning but the glamour’s worst enemy is age. Truth is, this job is never stable and only good when you’re young. Unless you save up your earnings and put up a business then being a geisha might be useful.