Dancing Geisha

A Geisha dancing in a theater in Gion, Kyoto, Japan.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Geisha
• Gion

[geiko14]

this is a fake geisha she doesn't have those sleeves with the folds in them, and the obi is tyed wrong, and her hair is weird looking i'm 99.9% sure she is fake

[ethiopian32]

Don't be a tool. I promise this is real.  It doesn't get much more real than going to an invite only in Kyoto with a personal friend that happens to be a retired geisha.

[DAMNGIIIRL]

It's a maiko. :]

[ethiopian32]

Actually she's a "Geiko" if you want to be technical.

[Shakira00]

actually a "geiko" is what the japanese describe as geisha. A maiko is not a geisha there is a difference.

[ethiopian32]

ACTUALLY she is a geiko. Geiko is what geisha living in Gion are called. A maiko is a geiko in training. It happens that the woman dancing in my video is 45 years old. I assure you she is a geiko and not a maiko.

[SuperShinkazu]

100% sure she's not a geisha, only a traditional dancer. Geishas have shorter sleeves and tie their sash in a different way.

She may be a geisha playing a role, but for sure she's not dressed as a geisha.

[YukioSnowoBloom]

@ethiopian32 I don't think that she is a geisha, if this is dance then it is theature, not real life. Plus she is not dressed as one to begin with. Hair & everything is of a young lady during edo era, not giesha which she is trying to depict herself as[young lady]. Still COOL

[Discordia5]

@kattmat You must realize that Iwasaki had obvious ulterior motives in making such statements, and was a geisha after Japan began to validate womens rights. They didn't have "relations" at their houses, but occasionally at the actual tea houses after closing time (there were rooms built in ochaya strictly for the purpose.) ALL had their virginity sold prior to '57, and most had official affairs... yet respectable geisha were *paid for their TIME SPENT with clients.* Interpret that how you want.

[kattmat]

@Discordia5 Im pretty sure they have never been prostitutes.

Men are barely allowed inside a okiya (geisha house) so that no one woul question the chastity of the women there.

Mineko Iwasaki said that it was so ridiculous with the geisha-prostitute rumor. "We make so much money anyway, so would would we have to do that?"

[Discordia5]

@kattmat That's actual not true to my understanding. I've read a number of (non-fiction) books that state that before prostitution was legalized in the late 1950s, every single geisha's virginity was sold (not necessarily BID on, but sold for money nonetheless.) It was considered a right of passage for all of them... according to my sources anyway, I'm starting to think I'll never be one to know for sure.

[kattmat]

@Discordia5 Because that stupid american guy didnt do his research and mixed up tayu (courtesans who looks like geishas) and real geishas.

Theres no virginity-bidding with geishas but with tayus. Geishas are professional artists. Tayus are whores.

[kattmat]

@Discordia5 Because that stupid american guy mixed up by tayu (courtesans who looks like geishas) and real geishas.

Theres no virginity-bidding with geishas but with tayus.

[95debi]

Les japonais appellent ça de la danse??? mdr

[Discordia5]

You're trying too hard to be an elitist. Memoirs of a Geisha is a fantasy story for western women. The movie and novel are not historical references. Anyone thinking otherwise when they see it is written by an American man is a little naive.

[Discordia5]

If it was SO copied from her life, why are Sayuri's life and Mineko Iwasaki's lives completely different (other than they're both geisha)? Arthur Golden was taught about geisha by her, but the culture of the times and the personalities of the two women were quite different.