Comparing a geisha with an ordinary courtesan is the same as saying that the collection wine is very similar to vinegar in taste. The word "geisha" comes from the Japanese word "geysha", which consists of two characters. “Gay” is art and “sya” is man. A man of art is who the real Japanese geisha is.
How to become a geisha
Geishas live in their closed communities under the auspices of the so-called mothers, who are called oka-san. Previously, girls were taken to study from 10 years old, now from 16. For five years they have been taught to play the instruments, drawing, the art of calligraphy, singing, dancing, and conducting a tea ceremony. Classes are held in the strictest discipline for 10-12 hours a day. Weekends are extremely rare. A student at a geisha school is called maiko. Not every student is able to withstand such loads, but simply failing to get away from “okana-san” will have to pay a considerable ransom for the fact that the contract was terminated prematurely.
Until the 17th century, geishas were men who played the role of jesters at the court of the feudal lords and their high-ranking guests. Over time, for the entertainment of the guests, women began to be invited, who gradually replaced the men. In the XIX century, almost every city had a geisha house, where a visitor could feel like a sovereign.
The work of a geisha is very respected in Japan. They mainly work in traditional Japanese restaurants and at parties where they act as organizers. They conduct conversations on various topics, followed up so that guests do not get bored. Geishas demonstrate their skills to guests, entertain companies by playing musical instruments, singing or dancing. Often such performances are open to a wide range of spectators. The most skilled geisha are becoming very popular.
