Arthur Golden

I studied Japanese language and culture in college and graduate school, and afterward went to work in Tokyo, where I met a young man whose father was a famous businessman and whose mother was a geisha. He and I never discussed his parentage, which was an open secret, but it fascinated me.

American Writer

Geisha because when I was living in Japan, I met a fellow whose mother was a geisha, and I thought that was kind of fascinating and ended up reading about the subject just about the same time I was getting interested in writing fiction.

Ayesha Curry

Tatcha is my favorite beauty brand. They were also founded in San Francisco. Their entire line is based off of geisha tradition and ritual. The line has transformed my skin.

Canadian Actress

What I really wanted to know, though, was what it was like to be a geisha? Where do you sleep? What do you eat? How do you have your hair done?

Zhang Ziyi

There's nothing in Chinese culture that is an equivalent of the geisha. It's so different, so special to Japan.

Chinese Actress

Michelle Yeoh

To be a geisha, you have to have to an iron-clad layer around you - around your physical body and your heart.

Malaysian Actress

It is confusing, because in this culture we really don't have anything that corresponds to geisha.

I was really interested in geishas' work, and wanted to meet real geishas.

Martial arts is just practice. Being a geisha requires complete control.

For myself I don't like the geisha look. It's like a mask.

Geisha refers to a cultural profession in Japan, not a general term for entertainer.

Cultural Profession

Geishas are often misconceived as prostitutes, but their role is artistic and social.

Not Prostitutes

Geishas perform in specific traditional settings such as tea houses, not just anywhere.

Traditional Setting

Geishas are highly skilled artisans in traditional Japanese arts beyond just entertainment.

Skilled Artisans

Geisha training is a lifelong process of refining arts and social skills.

Lifelong Learning

Interacting with a geisha provides a deep cultural immersion into traditional Japan.

Cultural Immersion

 and became a regular attraction at tea houses, drawing audiences from all social classes. At this point, Onna-Kabuki was often risque as geishas performed not only to show off their singing and dancing abilities but also to advertise their bodies to potential clients.

Kabuki: The people's...

 is it's more than a role it's an all-encompassing way of life though it's true that some early geishas were prostitutes the profession actually evolved from court entertainers in the

Japan Geishas PIPE National...

 destroyed everything including the archives but as i said where were the archives first of all this is small music shops and then you had the radio her geisha