Protecting the Geisha
Kiritaka acknowledges that not all okiya ignore the safety and security of their geisha. Not every house is dangerous. And she stresses that the “essence of the geisha” is something to be cultivated and preserved. She hopes the industry rebuilds to be everything geisha have come to stand for; skilled entertainers, artists, and performing artists of the highest level. She hopes that tradition continues to be passed down. Some tea houses have enacted safety measures to avoid such problems in the future. The tea houses are training maiko on deflecting unwanted advances. Tea houses concerned about the safety of their geisha hold self-defense courses. It is in their best interest to protect the few geishas remaining in Japan and ensure the reputation of their tea house remains untainted.