Long one of the most mysterious figures of the Orient, the geishas of Japan have started coming out of their self-imposed seclusion and appearing online through blogs and websites.
“Ichimame’s life is already an endless blur of parties, visits to the hairdresser, kimono fittings, lessons in traditional dance, music and tea ceremony, and countless hours in front of the mirror painting her face chalk white and her lips impossibly red.
Even so the Japanese 18-year-old still manages to find the time to keep what is probably the first Internet blog by an apprentice geisha, opening a small window onto a world shrouded in mystery and often misunderstood.
The elite entertainers of Japan’s pleasure quarters have for centuries been fawning over wealthy guests in the cosy confines of teahouses and restaurants.
Now, facing growing competition from nightclubs, karaoke and hostess bars, Kyoto’s geisha are gradually joining the 21st century with Web sites, English lessons and gradually less rigid introduction rules.”
Fascinating article from AFP – you can read the whole thing at the Taipei Times
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