Becoming a Geisha 6 (2005)

[LadyLuvGemStones]

(",) Truly Intriguing, Captivating & Entertaining Documentary, Thank You ~!!~

[SRfangirl]

Can anyone please tell me what game they are playing at 0:33? Thank you.

[NegraArcoIris]

@SRfangirl Its called 'Konpira fune fune', when one person lifts the small object away the other makes a fist and touches the table, when its still there they place their hand flat on top of it. The music gets faster till someone makes a mistake and the penalty is usually drinking some more sake!

[XLSPOONERXL]

it's henry how she smalls inerse i think... to the toast? who knows. could be a glitch

[gangster78038]

they are such beutiful women

[Catskywatcher113005]

How beautiful and interesting is this culture. I just love the diversity of beautiful cultures in our world, don't you think?

[aemnaemz]

she's so cute haha :)

i love her dimples!

[imagine2C]

Here Dimples Are Sooo Cute Haha..Or Kawaii Lol

[EtsukoKagai]

@aishiteru0813 Yes, the are alright. Kyoto has not been so much affected for the earthquake thankfully.

[Inufreak991]

I'm so happy that Yukina made it! So touched... ♥

[punchingnun3]

Thiis the time to realize to be who you are, funny or funky or just be you with your charisma

[orgoik]

This was very good! She really kept strong. Did anyone else think that when wearing her makeup and dressed up in her kimono, she really looked like from an old Japanese painting? Ahh, this was so good. <3

[dalekzruleyeah]

I'll admit I cried at the end. This is a great documentary!

[exeuroweenie]

Luckiest man in the world.I wouldn't even mind butt cramps from sitting on the floor(I'm a white guy).

[ladida49]

You go girl!

[tactownguru]

With her dimples, she is really cute and charming. I wish I can go look for her when I go to Kyoto. Isnt this in Gion?

[noelly89]

Does anyone know what Kikuyu is doing now? Did she manage to become a geisha?

[thesecretpathoflife]

@noelly89 She is a seasoned Geiko of Miyagawa-cho.

[skatetildeath1000]

@thesecretpathoflife isn't Miyagawa-cho the prostitute section of Gion?

[chissprincess]

@skatetildeath1000 No, it most certainly is not.

[xxxkimododragonxxx]

@skatetildeath1000 Has someone read Memoirs of a Geisha ;)

[skatetildeath1000]

@xxxkimododragonxxx yeah! so is that false information?

[xxxkimododragonxxx]

@skatetildeath1000 Some of it is yes.... ;)

[kipkayify]

@skatetildeath1000 Don't take Memoirs of a Geisha literally.

[sangogrrl646]

@thesecretpathoflife also, though there are many more people worldwide who would kill to be able to go through the training, it is really very difficult for most of those who would do it if they could.

[eburel506]

@sangogrrl646 agreed it sounds like a profess that not only does it require alot of time and training, But you have to throw yourself into it Mind, body, soul. I admire how mature Yukina is for her age. If I went threw the training at that age I know I would have the determination, but I don't think I would have the skill for dancing. I tend to forget the dance moves. I also think I would need more maturity (i had a very short tongues at that age). So to Yukina and other like her good for you.

[milkylazy]

I cried happy tears for Kikuyu ;_;

[minervaeiou]

Yukina's maiko sister is gorgeus ....

[bafri1989]

Very intresting document!

[GothicKitty1313]

Isn't the song in the background at 2:37 called Sakura?? I think i heard it on a song website it's really pretty!! Also Congrats to Kikuyu!! She's probably a very sucessful Geisha now!!! XD

[Aladinside]

This was a fascinating documentary to watch, thank you for posting it!

I think I would have liked to be a Geisha. It's a shame we don't know more about it in western countries, but I feel a lot of its charm comes from the mystery around it too. 

[Catgirly4]

The game from :20 to :55 is interesting. I wonder what they are saying.

[SauryGirl1]

@Catgirly4 Its one off the most usual first time games (also used in later visits) after the man has lost or occasialy the maiko/geiko they sing O what a man, what a strong man, or switch it out with women....

[Catgirly4]

@SauryGirl1 Thank you. :)

[thesecretpathoflife]

In this modern time of high technology the young people don't seem to hold interest in the Koryu arts because of the commitment required. Kikuyu is a rare young woman to make such a decision.

The training in our Koryu is a 5 to 20 year period that most won't even consider. An hour seems like a long time to many.

[saphiredewdrop]

@thesecretpathoflife i wish i could have this life but i didn't know about it until too late. :(

[kipkayify]

@thesecretpathoflife Personally, I would love to walk that path of life. Unfortunately, my family would probably disagree with me on that one.

[saphiredewdrop]

@kipkayify live your path, not their path. not to be morbid, but when they pass and you are still around you will still live with their decisions.  you only have one life to live and after that there is nothing.

[dekubaner]

pity that these kind of traditions are being lost all over the world......really sad!............

[gypsyqueenmaya]

wow so beutiful.. they live in their own little world which is different from everyting including western OR easterns cultuer... I love it, so elegant & serious about their work/art. I hope proper geishas will be around forever. If I was Japanese, I know I would definaly be one, no matter how hard is the commitement. Amazing culture for sure.

[ninjalawyer2012]

It was so good to finally see her smile towards the end. Relief, happiness, excitement. You know then that she was beginning to believe in herself and her chosen career. It was a shame BBC did not follow her and her geisha sisters further. I wish them all best, especially during these trying times in Japan.

[eburel506]

@ninjalawyer2012 I wish all of japan all the best in this day in age. I feel bad for them to have not one or even 2 bad stuff happen but 3. Oh man my prayers go out to the families of people who lost loved ones and friends.

[blingblingshineshine]

@ninjalawyer2012 I think it was because the ways of the geisha are secret - fully secret.As a Maiko,she has been documented,but I'm pretty sure they disallowed BBC to film her as geisha.If a geisha reveals secrets of the geisha,the community will turn on her.She will be sent death threats and be made a fool.

[DevilShroom]

@ninjalawyer2012 You might already know but you can follow a lot of geisha activity on Immortalgeisha. com. Kikuyu had her erikae December 2009 I believe. Search up Kikuyu Geiko and you'll find some wonderful pictures. =)

[shamrock4500]

a very interesting documentary indeed, I've always been fascinated with Geisha, now i know what a difficult life they actually haveI'm impressed with this young lady's determination.

[Dreamflyrunaway]

Im so sorry to see this beautiful documentary end :(

[Salmontres]

Wait, is this where it ends? Is BBC following up with this?

[SauryGirl1]

@Salmontres This is were the documentary ends yes, sadly. But for Kikuyu it just began.

She had her erikae on December 22 2009 (only 4 years as a maiko, usaly its 5 years before becoming geiko)

She is one off my favourite geiko together with Mihena :) and Kikumaru.

On the internet you can watch pictures off Kikuyu thrue her training as a maiko and her becoming a geiko.

[Rombizio]

Thanks for the upload.

[Girlfixer8]

mannn, shes uuuuglayyyyyyy....

[CassieAnnaCary]

I love that drinking game scene. That little song is adorable. *sigh* I wanna be Japanese!!! I want almond eyes and soft round features. I have no clue why any asian would westernise.

[AngelicAcid453]

Sake is a strong drink 0_o

[chocolateturtl17]

talk about long lasting lip color! haha

[eburel506]

@chocolateturtl17 yeah how does it not spread to the white makeup?

[AngelicAcid453]

@chocolateturtl17 lol true :)

[o0OneRaindropO0o]

The game they're playing from 0:20 looks so fun!

[CrystalChord2010]

It was very kind of the okaa-san of Hanafusa to allow the cameras in to see their house and a glimpse of the Flower and Willow world, wasn't it?  We all got to see a wonderful part of Japanese art and culture!

[xXAnimeBriXx]

This story of Yukina was amazing and interesting to see because I never knew what a Geisha must do to in order to become one!! Her determination was very inspiring! I would Love to see a follow up on how she is doing as a Geisha! ^_^

[Ebbs1204]

At 5:09 her mother is trying to stay respectful and silent.....that must be such an emotional moment!

[eburel506]

@Ebbs1204 Oh know I was getting a little misty eyed at that moment. but I heard its not uncommon for the maiko at to shed tears at that event. I saw one where a maiko was becoming a geiko she began to to cry. She was trying so hard not to as well.

[attackofdameepits]

O_o Her collar is a tad to white...Hmmmmm......

[TootieLouLou11]

Those shoes look really hard to walk in. I would end up falling on my face, which I am pretty sure would not be a maiko-like thing to do.

[bettyjoon3]

what's the difference between 'geiko' and 'geisha'?

[eburel506]

@bettyjoon3 Geiko is the title given to a qualified full geisha. and Miako is the title given to a geisha in train.

[attackofdameepits]

@bettyjoon3

Geiko & Maiko are terms reserved only for Kyoto. Geisha is outside Kyoto(In Tokyo this is used), though most people use the term "Geisha" for both Kyoto & non Kyoto.

[eburel506]

question? What does her older sister mean by Sorry i can not so it with him. does she mean no i cant date him. ( By the way I know geisha are'nt protatutes). Just a little confussed is all.

[eburel506]

@eburel506 this really puts things in perspective for what its like to become a geisha. They are beautiful and talented but the have to work really hard for it. So GOOD FOR YOU YUKINA.

[TootieLouLou11]

@eburel506 Yeah. When she says "do it," she mean commit to a relationship. She says she couldn't do it otherwise, because being a maiko is a lot of hard work and doesn't leave much time for a relationship.

[eburel506]

@TootieLouLou11 ah ok got it. sorry a little confused.

[TootieLouLou11]

@eburel506 No, it's fine.

[chi81216]

Good Luck becoming a Geisha Yukina! :D

[daggersnight]

I started to cry when she made it. I really want to see how she is doing now.

[contortionist104]

@daggersnight

She became a Geiko on the 22nd of December 2009, there are photo´s on flickr.com you should check them out! ±'

[majalukahb]

tearss congrats hun

[IdrinkCocaCola]

Does anyone happen to know why they sit down before they close and open doors?

[amaterass114]

@IdrinkCocaCola

That's the one of Gaisha manners. Traditional Japanese women in the past did that too.

[IdrinkCocaCola]

@amaterass114 Thanks!

[detectiveyoshi]

is she a geisha now?.. its been 5 years already.

pff its been more then a year sinc ei watched this vid and yet i keep rewatching it.. i really wanna know how she is doing now ;l

[NegraArcoIris]

@detectiveyoshi Yes she is a full fledged geiko now, you can see photos of her on flickr! ^.^

[detectiveyoshi]

@NegraArcoIris hmm could u send me a link please?.. lol i really wanna see it

[mixedgrain]

Her mum must be so proud.

[theaterhobo]

i wanna watch Memoirs of a Geisha now . . .

such a good movie.

[attackofdameepits]

Correction, it is not Gion she is in. She is in Miagawa-Cho

[attackofdameepits]

@attackofdameepits

Oops! Miyagawa-cho

I am the worst typing speller in the world

[WINxTEC]

00:34

The guy actually lost the game, but the Geisha can't complain at all, lol.

[eeayt]

beautiful documentary i might even end up dreaming with geishas tonight

[indigal83]

This is arty and glorified prostitution.....

[kalapariplayer]

@indigal83 no it isn't...inform your self before commenting geishas are not prostitutes it's just a western legend..in ancient times in japan yes there was a kind of prostitution but not from geishas

[cakestalker]

@kalapariplayer

the misconception supposedly comes from back in the allied occupation of japan, where prostitutes would dress in kimonos and imitate the look of geisha, calling themselves "geisha girls". american GI's would come asking for "geisha girls", not being able to tell the difference between legitimate geisha and costumed prostitutes.

[FullmetalGirl94]

@indigal83 Geisha and maiko are far from prositutes. Before WWII, maiko's virginities were sold to become full geisha, but the practice of that, mizuage, doesn't go on anymore. The rumor that geisha are prostitutes comes from WWII, when Japananese woman would dresses up like geisha and claim to be them, but weren't at all; THEY were prostitudes, and are generally reffered to as "Geisha girls." But just "Geisha," no, they are basically just preserving traditional Japanese arts.

[iamsoBizarreful]

@indigal83 your an idiot.

[indigal83]

@iamsoBizarreful n u r rude.....

[khusbu57567]

bbc is like british history channel before crazy conspiracy theorists took over it

[NextSuperstar88]

why there is a need to knock on rock before they went out?? is it a form of goodlluck??

[blissi]

goodluck.

[Serenity812]

@NextSuperstar88 It's a superstition, it's meant to bring good luck

[hireikana18]

@NextSuperstar88

yes, striking the flint is for good luck, strike it no more than twice, and usually over the shoulder.

[hireikana18]

@NextSuperstar88

yes, striking the flint is for good luck, strike it no more than twice, but sometimes three times, and usually over the shoulder.

[DanceroftheLamp]

I want to open an American Okiya now

[xbeautychicx]

@DanceroftheLamp I would TOTALLY join!!! :)

[DanceroftheLamp]

@xbeautychicx Cool! 

[BrighterThanYours]

i think the idea of them is pretty but the things they have to do is too extreme for me

[MisguidedConfessions]

This kind of makes me wish I could be a Geisha. :)

[XxLevynxX]

thank you very much for sharing this wonderful and stunning documentary :)

[frusmonkey]

@XxLevynxX I agree, it's a beautiful view into the world of Maiko's and I wish this young lady all the best

[NFZer0]

The grandma at 1:56 looks like shes ready to kick some ass.

[attackofdameepits]

@NFZer0

I just noticed that and LOL

[eburel506]

@NFZer0 LOL she sure does. In a fight my money is on her. lol

[c0y0tx]

@NFZer0 go get'em grandma.

[Tunazap]

Although I don't quite like the whole Geisha thing, this girl has drive, and I'm very glad that she made it. It would be nice if there was another documentary, now that her 5 years are probably up.

[dithbmine1]

her mom is a pig

[simplybecauseIam]

There was really great storytelling in this! From the beginning I found myself wanting Yukina to succeed

[pinkyummy24]

I really enjoyed this video. I love how she had a dream and made it a reality.

[LisaMarie216]

I think so far this is my favourite part. ^_^ Because of the way it shows how it goes at some parties.

[Leinettev]

awwwwwww <3

yay. i love this documentary <3

[diphenhydramineHC]

LOL @ 0:33 to 0:56 they are ADORABLE. I would want these women entertaining me if I were a Japanese business man.

[BlueShadowRealm]

I feel so happy for her ^^ I'm glad that she is now a Geiko, and I wish her all the best for the future ^^

[mark60060]

does anybody know how much it costs to call geisha for entertaining?

what's the price range?

[nylonxnylon]

@mark60060 Actually, it's kinda impossible to call real maiko or geisha without any introduction from a regular customer. There is a traditional rule, "Ichigen-san okotowari" which means "No new (unfamiliar?) customer. And it costs about 60,000 yen for each maiko, I heard. But now there are several events to experience maiko asobi, eat kyoto traditional meal, and see maiko's kyo-buyou(dance). It doesn't cost much.

[HRHChing]

does anybody know the song at the end of the documentary?

[haqita02]

@HRHChing the song is In a Manner of Speaking by Nouvelle Vauge

[RebelliousOne12]

Does anyone know what their basket-handbag is called?

[tansytea13]

@RebelliousOne12 , their bag is called a hanakago, or kago for short.

[LilDtownBarbie]

she is breath taking

[Roman291]

Funny, this video made her known to so many people around the world. I wonder how she is now feeling. I also wonder what she looks like now. She has to be like 17 or so now...and honestly she is very pretty with or without the make-up.

[themaiasaura]

Oh much older then 17

she was 15 when she came there in 2005and its 2010 now, so she could be 19 or 20 years old.

Also I agree, she is beautiful.

[Roman291]

That's even better. ^^ She's my age. That makes me want to meet her even more.

[AccaLarentia90]

you can go on the immortalgeisha forum and look her up :) they have recent pictures of her. She really matured very well

[thecharlotteness]

I can't believe Yukina had her Eri-kae (ceremony for becoming a Geiko)... it went so fast too!

[AbhiB]

actually her 5 years should be coming up

They should do another docu with them filming her passing out fully

[dothedeedee]

Isn't that her in "The Geiko's Journey?" Actually I am just about to watch it right now....so we'll see!

Isn't this fascinating? I want so much to have the same elegance, grace and beauty. It is all so overlooked in bourgeois, boring America. How I long for this!

[contortionist104]

@AbhiB

she's already a Geiko, she had her Erikae at the end of december (around the 23rd if i'm correct) there are photos on Flickr

[madenkind]

@AbhiB

Are there any videos existing from Kikuyu as a geiko?

[DevilShroom]

@AbhiB I know this is six months old this comment but you were pretty close with the 5 year mark. Last December she became a full-fledged Geiko.

[Alatier]

@DevilShroom

That is brilliant! Thank you for that comment. It makes me very glad she keeps going.

[iamsoBizarreful]

@AbhiB somebody should write to the BBC expressing this:']

[AbhiB]

@iamsoBizarreful

I will this weekend

[SuperLoli101]

@AbhiB AGREED!

[eburel506]

@AbhiB Actually i did some hunting on the internet she became a Geiko on December 22nd, 2009. She did it in 4 year. WAY TO GO YUKINA!!!

[kjnyankee]

@eburel506 Thanks for the info. I also found tons of pics of her as a Geiko from her Erikae on Flickr. Just Google: Geisha Kikuyu Flickr.

[cocostar48]

i think a maiko is a 'still-in-training' geisha, and a geiko is a full-fledged geisha.

[AquarianValkari]

what is the difference between maiko and geiko?

[SilverGunZoO]

Around 2:45 sakura song is playing, it is my favorite song.

[Akashia14Moka]

She wear black okobo during December?

I know maiko wear black okobo during summer,but in another months they wear normal okobo,like Kikuno.

Weird...

[Dinker27]

Geisha rotate their colors monthly.

[goodgirls96gotohaven]

It's for luck.

[RebelliousOne12]

Does anyone know the significance of striking 2 rocks (like in 5:34)? I noticed this was also done in Memoirs of a Geisha, just before Sayuri steps out of the okiya.

[lilfallenangel]

@RebelliousOne12 its for good luck in think. i'm no too sure

[Sammie289]

its for good luck, to keep bad spirits away. something like that, its for good luck.

[Arcalimon230587]

thanks for the upload, it was a really interesting documentary

[AyilanaEien]

Ahh, it's so awesome to see Kikutsuru-san and Kimumaru-san as well! Adorable! They're all lovely geiko now. Kikuyu-san has done well!

[luvvin07]

And by the way really good documentary :D x

[luvvin07]

Is there no videos and that on showing how she carried on, and became a full geisha ?

[Persphonefallen]

Good luck young one! Way to live your dream, all the best from America <3

[ZakuroOkashi]

i think the dark kimono looked the best on her :] i hope she's doing well now.

[xheliocentricity]

what happens if your eye or nose itches while you have that makeup on? o.o

you're s.o.l. i guess.

[Biscuitpyon]

actually it doesn't smudge at all. I have tried their real makeup before and it doesn't come off easily at ALL. not even sweat takes it off.

[xheliocentricity]

haha well that's good. i mean that would really suck if it did come off easily!

[bandnerd883]

Wow it's amazing how much they have to indure before they become a geisha. I wouldn't be able to become one. Too much work and you spend your life alone and without a husband. You can't even have your own family. It's what I want more in life.

[tsukirose]

You can have a family, it's just that they cannot marry unless they decide to retire. Also many geisha have children even though they are not married.

I would not say they are alone, they have friends and family both real and new.

[Aohan815]

I give them SO much credit too. Kinda like being in a super polite and strict version of the military but no war just peace and dancing and drinking but you get what I mean with the whole strictness thing and protocol. Amazing how a 15 year old endured it, a real triumph for this young woman! I wish I could wish her well! its 2010 now so shes probably over with her Maiko training ready to be a geisha.

[lunaxtasy]

Just to let everyone who's interested know, Kikuyu is now wearing Sakkou and will turn her collar to become a geiko in the next week

[tsukirose]

I saw her erikae pictures and she's just gorgeus.

I'm so happy for her.

[niteddy1]

@tsukirose Are her pictures posted online somewhere? Where did you so them I would like to see them too.

[AyilanaEien]

@niteddy1

Check out Flickr if you want pictures of Kikuyu-san. =3

[JacksonK100]

very very interesting

thank you

[shandamoon]

I want a pair of those tall geta Kikuyu's wearing. They'd make me about 6'1".

[contortionist104]

@shandamoon

you mean the 'okobo' these aren't geta's because then don't have those 3 teeth :P

[KikimoLie]

I watched this from start to finish and I was actually nervous for Yukina for her exam. I cheered silently when she passed. Very proud. TEAM YUKINA!

[rollingstoner17]

Yukina!!!!! You have a proud fanbase in the US! :D

[no1zgrl4eva]

She sure does. Does anyone know if a Western woman can become a geisha? Or do you have to be Japanese?