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Originally Posted by VydorScope
What is Geisha?
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I'm going to drink a mug of Ahmad's "English Breakfast" tea, even though is almost 4 in the afternoon, and tell you...
Geisha is the Japanese name for a corps of extremely well trained entertainers and hostesses. When I say 'extremely' I really mean 'extremely.' It may take anywhere from 10-20 years of training to be awarded the higest rank of Geisha, although in today's jet-set world, a woman can work as a Geisha after just a few years but not command the salary or respect that a full Geisha would earn. Think Hollywood bit-player actress compared to Julie Andrews...
Geisha are hired to entertain at Japanese functions, where they will dance, sing, play musical instruments, tell stories, see that the sake cups are always filled, make sure that everyone is having a perfect evening, no one feeling left out or bored, etc. Unfortunately, you really have to be Japanese to appreciate the skills of the Geisha. If you heard one singing and playing the shamisen, you'd think a cat was being strangled. Have you ever heard Flamenco singing? Now imagine it being worse...
In the beginning, Geisha were high-class courtesans, but by the late 1700's their sexual roles were removed, and that side of their art given over to another group of women, equally trained but in different skills.
Today, the highest priced Geisha tend to be in their late 40's and 50's, while the apprentice 'Maiko' in the late teens, 20's and 30's.
Stitchawl