|
 The
word Geisha is derived from ‘Gei’, which in
Japanese means performance or entertainer, and ‘sha’,
which means person, and dates back 400 years ago to
the 'Edo' period. During this time the Geisha
entertained at banquets and social gatherings by
playing a Japanese guitar (called a Shamisen), and
singing and giving dance performances.
There is
often a misconception by some that Geisha's are
prostitutes, but nothing could be further from the
truth. Geisha are refined and cultured girls and women
who are highly trained in a variety of traditional
skills. Besides playing the Shamisen, singing and
dancing, the Geisha perform the Japanese tea ceremony,
and are well versed in the art of conversation. Many
learn to speak English in order to entertain Western
guests.
The
training involved in becoming a Geisha is very
rigorous, and because of this the numbers of Geisha
are declining. Few young women in today's society are
willing to devote themselves to such demanding
training. To become a Geisha, if accepted, a young
girl must go through an apprenticeship that involves
living with a head Geisha. This training period takes
five to six years. During this time, the Geisha
trainee must help with the chores and the running of
the house, learn customs and social skills, and take
music and dance lessons. After about six months, the
trainee Geisha is called a maiko girl, and accompanies
a Geisha on her appointments in order to become
acquainted with customers. At about age 20, the maiko
must
make the decision to become a full-fledged Geisha or
not. If a girl wishes to marry she cannot become a
Geisha.
Geishas
often live near temples and shrines, in areas are
called hana-machi. Geishas entertain visitors at
teahouses called o-chaya that are located near these
areas. The o-chaya is not a shop that serves only tea
or coffee, but rather a sort of banquet hall where
rooms can be rented for dinner parties. It is usually
a small Japanese style house with tatami (wooden)
floors and Japanese style gardens. O-chayas are often
where young Geishas live and work.
Today in
Japanese hotels and restaurants Geisha entertain at
banquets and socialize with guests. If you are staying
at a hotel in Japan, you can arrange for a Geisha to
attend a dinner party through the reservation desk.
When you request a Geisha, it is important to be
specific about what type of performance you want,
because there are two different types of Geisha. One
called 'tchikata' is usually a maiko girl and performs
the traditional Japanese dance, and the other; usually
an older Geisha is called 'jikata' and sings and plays
an instrument. The costs for the services of a Geisha
vary depending on the number the food, beverages, and
the entertainment. The role of the Geisha in Japanese
society is a source of much curiosity for tourists. To
tap into that curiosity, visitors can go to shops
where they can dress in traditional Geisha Kimonos,
have Geisha make up applied and then have a souvenir
photo taken.
|
