The Geishas: those mysterious Japanese artists

Geishas were artists whose mission was to entertain, body and soul, the richest clients | Photo by Columbia Pictures

Popularized with the movie Memoirs of a Geisha and promoted by the Japanese government as one of the emblematic elements of Japanese culture, geisha continue to fascinate the Western world and the Japanese themselves: here is more information about the origin of geisha in Japan !

A courtesan, an artist and a refined person

“She paints her face to hide it, her eyes are two wells of water, the geisha is the artist of a floating world, she dances, sings, entertains you, whatever you want, the rest are shadows, the rest is a secret.” – Memories of a Geisha

The mystery is what characterizes these Japanese women in refined yukata, with their bun and white makeup. Geishas are multitasking escorts: they are artists, they are intended to entertain a clientele (usually men), and they often offer their services in the context of sexual activity.

Be careful though: they are not prostitutes ! The distinction is very clear in Japanese culture. Geisha were not allowed to prostitute themselves. Their role was mainly to play an instrument like the shamisen, dance in the traditional way, accompany and serve.