Moving to Japan with IntlMOVE and Geisha

When moving to Japan with IntlMOVE, most people have a keen interest in learning more about geisha.

Geisha are Japanese women who are famous for their performances and entertainment skills in Japanese arts.

You can easily recognize a geisha by her white makeup, red lips and beautifully crafted kimono. 

Historically, little girls began their training to become a geisha as young as three years of age.

When geisha are learning various Japanese arts and are apprentices, they are referred to as maiko.

This stage of training can take years, but it is well worth the training.

Geisha can make a very good living if she is popular.   

History of Geisha

Geisha can trace their beginnings back to the 600s, where saururko, or serving girls, made a living by entertaining and providing prostitution services.

In 794, the imperial court moved to the present day Kyoto.

Female performers, entertainers and prostitutes were very successful in this time period and this city in Japan. 

In the 1600s, there were walled areas that were places where men could be entertained by prostitutes and female performers.

The Oiran, who were considered the highest class of this type of women, were actresses in addition to prostitutes.

The Oiran performed dances, which were called “kabuki.”

These are the origins of kabuki theatre. 

In the 1700s, more and more women developed the artistic skills to become entertainers as well as dancers.

They played music, danced, sang and some were even calligraphers and poets.

The first geisha appeared around this time, but they were men instead of women as we know geisha today.

The first woman to call herself a geisha was Kikuya and this is when geisha profession became very popular.

By the late 1700s, many geisha were only entertainers and dropped the prostitution role. 

The height of the geisha era was in the 1800s where the geisha look became very fashionable.

There were some geisha who were still prostitutes, while other geisha only practiced art forms and performed for their guests. 

During World War II, much of Japan’s resources were lost in the war.

Many geisha had to work in factories, so there was a major decline in the once thriving profession.

In 1944, all the places geisha resided or worked were shut down.

Prostitutes were known as “geisha girls” to American men who were in Japan for military reasons.

After the war, very few Geisha returned to their profession, but they fought to preserve the dignity of the profession.

During the 1960s, the geisha way of life once again flourished.

Geisha were once again known for their artistic way of life. 

Modern Day geishas are much different from the peak of their existence.

While maiko used to spend years in training, they now spend months or sometimes bypass this stage of training.

You can find traditional geisha in Kyoto or Tokyo.

Geisha will perform at an “ochaya.”

To visit an ochaya, a guest must be given an invitation from a current customer of the ochaya.

They are very expensive, which is why performances by geisha are still reserved for the upper class.

To hire geisha, the fees can be very expensive, but you can hire them for parties or private entertainment. 

The life of a geisha is still very confusing to most people, even locals of Japan.

When you are moving to Japan with IntlMOVE, you can learn more about geisha and their role in the history of Japan.

When you find out you are moving to Japan, log onto the IntlMOVE website to get your free international shipping quote.