Maiko wearing November maple hair ornament picture# 1

         
          Geisha was a symbol of Japan. W.W.II had a big impact on Geisha. The reaction of W.W.II reformed the Geisha culture and honor. Some of the things Geisha learned were dance, fan tossing, serving sake, playing
Shamisen (an instrument that looks like a Banjo and has three strings), writing calligraphy and  speech (Dalby, 1983).
Geisha are entertainers who make men feel at ease. Geisha are to look beautiful beyond a man's dreams. They act as fairies or some mystical creature. Geisha are mysterious, and come to entertain wearing layers upon layer of Kimono, powdered faces with small, red lips and coals to darken the eyebrows. (Gallagher , 2003) The closest a Geisha comes to sexuality is the nape of the neck, which is left unpainted to add to the mystery of a Geisha and to make people wonder what is under the painted face (Peabody Essex Museum Ed. , 2004). Geisha, once honored, changed drastically after W.W.II . Geisha worked more, it was harder to become a Geisha, and parents were less likely to sell their daughters into the Geisha-art. Geisha are like a rare bird, now they live in Hanamachi and keep to themselves, only going out into the world for their customers.(Peabody Essex Museum Ed., 2004).

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Geisha History

_"Geisha started out as shirabyoshi, who emerged around the early 13th century. Although it was the late 16th century that the first walled-in pleasure quarters was opened in Japan."(Japanzone 1999-2011)

Geiko #3

Geisha from the Edo pieod playing Shamisen #7

A Maiko with a "swallowtail" on the nape of the neck Picture #6

Maiko with a three points on the nape of the neck for festivals and special events Picture #8

Traditional shoes that Geisha and Maiko wear Picture #9