Geisha Today
The geisha world is alive and well, but it has changed. Instead of the tens of thousands of geisha working in Japan, here are only about 1,000 geishas as of 2023. The Japanese government enacted compulsory education laws. Girls cannot enter geisha service at the traditional six to eight years old, they had to wait until age 14 or 15 and complete a formal education. Instead of serving an exclusive group of curated patrons at an intimate tea house, they often entertain tourists. While some geisha worry that they, too, are a sort of living tourist attraction, others are pleased to perform for people and demonstrate their skills to a worldwide audience. Geisha artistry still captivates a wide audience. The hidden side of a geisha’s experience still hides behind the kimono, the world seeing only what the geisha permits them to see.
Where Did We Find This Stuff? Here Are Our Sources:
Brief Overview of Geisha. (n.a.) Encyclopedia Japan (n.d.).
Former maiko exposes the dark side of geisha in Japan. CTN News, 14 November 2022.
Is Memoirs of a Geisha based on a true story? Adam Acar, PhD. Kimono Tea Ceremony, Maikoya, (n.d.).
Japanese geisha and maiko: From past to present. Krys Suzuki, Unseen Japan, 6 January 2020.
The Japanese geisha culture was actually ruined WWII. Krishna V. Chaudhary, 23 November 2022.