Geishas: Working for Art “Stand like garden peony, sit like peony tree, and walk like lily flower.” This is a Japanese proverb that many girls live by. The ideal Japanese woman, or yamato nadeshiko, is that woman who is graceful, elegant, and flawless. Respectful of others, well-behaved and always in the shadow of the husband. This representation of Japanese woman tarnishes at the mention of geishas. In the eyes Western society, a geisha is that woman who entertains men in exchange for money. The word ‘geisha’ comes from ‘gei’ (art), and ‘sha’ (person). In other words, a geisha is an artist. Merriam-Webster defines geisha as “a Japanese girl or woman who is trained to provide entertaining and lighthearted company especially for a man or a …show more content…
Such is the case of Fiona Graham, the first Western geisha. She prefers to go by her geisha name Sayuki. She is an anthropologist who felt indignation with the portrayal of geishas in the film Memoirs of a Geisha. To erase that stereotype, she began researching and worked on producing a film that would depict the truth about geishas. “My Western background is irrelevant in my daily working life. I have to adhere strictly to the rules and customs just like everyone else,” said Sayuki. She has become popular within the sisterhood, to the point that she abandoned her job as anthropologist to focus on her career as a geisha. However, not everyone agrees with Sayuki’s point of view. "For Japanese, geisha are a repository of essential Japanese-ness. A foreigner in this role is almost a contradiction in terms," [4] Liza Dalby …show more content…
Being a gaijin, or foreigner, and being able to afford an evening with a geisha does not mean that you’ll be able to attend the banquets where geishas perform. Japanese are fond of their culture and traditions. The majority and elderly citizens frown upon modernization of their customs. Having foreigners frequent places where their tradition is vivid is almost a taboo. “It doesn't make sense if maiko-san is speaking English or Spanish or French. It doesn't look nice, it doesn't look like tradition,” said Fumie Komai in an interview with Christine Negroni. [5] Being unable to communicate with the guest takes its toll. However, since not many attend these parties, the okaa-san would rather not extend her services to gaijins, unless there is a translator accompanying them to the event. It is due to the lack of communication and secrecy that many have raised speculations about this mysterious