Research

Research

The Japanese Geisha

Section I: Introduce Topic and Keywords

The Japanese geisha is one of the most respected and mysterious occupations in Asian culture. The geisha, a woman who masters the arts of dance, tea ceremony and other sacred practices of the Japanese culture lives off of the luxuries of tradition. They are taught to perform these ceremonies for the most wealthy, respected men of Japan. In a sense, it is almost as if the geisha are simply a well-respected prostitute. They sell their bodies for other men’s pleasures, attending parties and performing ceremonies for them, being paid to flirt and boost the men’s confidence. They live their lives in mystery, however, and confidentially keep the secrets to their success.
Why are the lives and practices of the geisha so mysterious? Is it simply due to the ways of the Japanese culture, or is it something more? What training must a girl go through in order to become a geisha, or is a girl born into such a status? Is a woman a geisha for life? Can she fall from her status, or decline requests of her services? Is this “geisha” status one that is truly respected in Japanese culture, or is it actually a degrading role for women?
Readers of an academic journal may be more interested in reading about geisha than a subscriber to the Wall Street Journal. Many women, however, would most likely take an interest in learning more about geisha in respect to women’s rights and the degradation, or the exultation, of the geisha.

I-b. Keywords
UNC Library catalog
geisha
geisha AND japan

Ethnic NewsWatch
geisha AND gion NOT book review!

Academic Universe Lexis-Nexis
geisha, japan! AND tradition!

Search engine on Web http://www.google.com
geisha AND japan! NOT book (advanced search)

Search engine on Web http://www.altavista.com
Geisha and Gion
Geisha and Japan
Geisha and Japanese tradition

Section II: Books, Videotapes and CD-ROMs from UNC-CH libraries

Print Sources:

Golden, Arthur. Memoirs of a Geisha: A Novel. New York: Random, 1997. PS3557. 035926 M45 1997.
Downer, Lesley. Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha. New York: Broadway Books, 2001. GT3412. D68 2001.
Louis, Lisa. Butterflies of the Night: Mama-sans, Geisha, Strippers, and the Japanese Men They Serve. New York: Tengu Books, 1992.
GT3415. J3 L68 1992.

Non-Print Sources:
The Secret Life of Geisha. New Video Group, 1999. 65-V7581.

Section III: Databases

Ethnic News Watch
1. Ching, Jennifer. (1999). The Right To Tell: Authorship may be sacred, but critics must push for a popular dialogue on authenticity. A. Magazine. [Online] 30. Available: http://enw.softlineweb.com/record.asp?msel_from=0&msel_to=9&preview=&move=&returnPage=list.asp&articleID=606821&recNum=6 [2002, Feb. 1].
2. The Life of a Geisha: Ming’s Asian Gallery to Feature Collection Capturing the Life of Japan’s Geisha. North American Post. [Online], 17(30), 4. Available: http://enw.softlineweb.com/record.asp?msel_from=0&msel_to=6&preview=&move=&returnPage=list.asp&articleID=60209&recNum=2 [2002, Feb. 1].

Academic Universe Lexis-Nexis
3. Efron, Sonni. (2000, Oct. 29). Who Wants to be a Geisha? The Toronto Star. [Online]. Available: http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/cgi-bin/external_database_auth?A=P|F=Y|ID=12|URL=http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe [2002, Feb. 1].
4. Ingham, Peter. (2001, Jan. 6). Art of Enchantment. The Times (London). [Online]. Available : http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/cgi-bin/external_database_auth?A=P|F=Y|ID=12|URL=http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe [2002, Feb. 1].

Gender Watch
5. Allman, Karen Maeda. (1999, Oct. 20). Fresh Understanding of Japanese American Women. International Examiner. [Online]. 13. Available: http://gw.softlineweb.com/record.asp?msel_from=0&msel_to=9&preview=&move=&returnPage=list.asp&articleID=30865&recNum=4 [2002, Feb. 1].
6. Yasuko, Ikeuchi. (2000, March 31). The “Actress” and Japanese Modernity: Subject, Body, Gaze. AJWS: Asian Journal of Women’s Studies. [Online] 6(1), 11. Available: http://gw.softlineweb.com/record.asp?msel_from=0&msel_to=9&preview=&move=&returnPage=list.asp&articleID=9643&recNum=4 [2002, Feb. 1].

Section V: Geisha Mini-Essay

Title: Silent Shamisen's: The Declining Japanese Tradition
(TOPIC AREA: The Japanese Geisha)

Dating back to 17th century Japan, the geisha ("gei" being the Japanese character for "of the arts" and "sha" being "person") was a female entertainer skilled in singing, dancing, playing the shamisen and tea ceremony. A geisha undergoes extensive training from the time she enters an okiya where she becomes an apprentice, serving the mistress of the okiya by doing household chores. Once she decides to become a geisha, a percentage of her earnings go to the okiya. The basic job of the geisha was to entertain men in business and politics in Japan. Due to the social structure of the Japanese culture, the wives of these men preserved the home and did not participate in the affairs of their husbands. Therefore, geisha were trained to serve as the very entertaining and gracious hosts of functions these important men would throw. With their pale white faces, alluring lips and exotic attire, geisha sparked a sense of mysterious beauty. Although they once symbolized such refinement in Japanese culture and custom, the popularity of the geisha has declined. According to A. Magazine, what was once a "sophisticated artisan," the geisha now seems to be "part of a dying art in Japan that seems to be just hanging on" (1).
During the Second World War, many geisha were forced out of their districts and into various factories throughout Japan. Geisha entertainment was outlawed, but was soon re-established after the war ceased. Since then, however, the geisha population has steadily declined. In 1959, according to an article in the Toronto Star titled, "Who Wants to be a Geisha," in the Gion district, one of the most popular geisha "playgrounds" there were 256 professionals. Today, there are only 91 (2). Concerns are often raised as to whether the geisha will dwindle out of existence and become only a memory to Japanese tradition. What was once a popular and respected occupation in Japan, geisha entertainment has been mysteriously declining. The mystery that once awed so many has seemed to threaten the existence of tradition.

NOTES:
(1) Ching, Jennifer. (1999, March 31). "The Right To Tell: Authorship may be sacred, but critics must push for a popular dialogue on authenticity." A. Magazine [Online], 30. Available: Ethnic NewsWatch [2002, Feb. 1].
(2) Efron, Sonni. (2002, Oct. 29). "Who Wants to be a Geisha?" The Toronto Star. [Online], 1. Available: Academic Universe Lexis-Nexis [2002, Feb. 1].

THREE WEB SITES:
Title of Web page: Japan Corner--Culture Geisha
Web address: http://www.japancorner.com/geisha.html
Brief Description: Overview of geisha tradition. Pictures of geisha.
Source of Web site: Benihana, Inc.

Title of Web page: History of Geisha
Web address: http://www.allsands.com/Misc4/historyofgeish_zwp_gn.htm
Brief Description: Asks, "Where does the geisha fit into the 21st century?"
Source of Web site: Page Wise, Inc.

Title of Web page: Decline of the Geisha
Web address: http://www.hhs.se/EIJS/anomaly/Jgeisha.htm
Brief Description: Description of problems modern geisha faces and the steady decline of tradition.
Source of Web site: Stockholm School of Economics and EIJS