Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden is an inspiring, fictional novel based on the true life of a Japanese geisha. Sayuri’s life has been a struggle since she was sold from her family and had to adapt to a new way of life. She had to learn many new traditions and change her appearance. Through her struggles of childhood and her determination of being an apprentice she received recognition and pride from herself and from others making her a phenomenal geisha in Kyoto, Japan. “Sayuri’s father had sold her and her sister, Satsu to Mr. Tanka, who transported them from the fishing village of Yoroido to the city of Kyoto” (Golden, 24). Since Sayuri was significantly more beautiful than Satsu because of her unique grey eyes. Sayuri was sold to …show more content…
They learn the arts of; Dance (tachikata), tea ceremonies (sado), music (jikata) and entertainment (Ozashiki). Geisha school is very important because geishas are expected to be experts at all of these (Booker). The art that has the most personalization is Jikata. If a geisha is a good singer than she sings. If not they learn to play an instrument. Sayuri receives a great amount of appreciation from preforming a snow dance. This was her main introduction to the community. The geisha school is very expensive and the mother of the Okiya has to pay for the young girls to attend. After Sayuri culminated a great deal of debt, the mother decided Sayuri would pay back the money by working as a servant in the okiya instead of working as a geisha. With that the mother ended Sayuri’s training at the geisha school. After numerous years of working within the Okiya as a slave, Sayuri returned to geisha school once Mameha paid for her education. Sayuri was only able to continue her training to become a geisha when Mameha made Sayuri her apprentice. “Mameha made a deal with mother that if Sayuri could pay off her debts by the age of 20 than she can have whatever is left plus 30 percent” (Golden, 133). She started in classes with 9 year olds girls who were just starting their apprentices. She had a very short amount of time to catch up to where the other girls her age would be. By Mameha making Sayuri her …show more content…
A very obvious way to tell the difference between an apprentice and a full-fledged geisha is their Kimono. “An apprentice’s collar will be red and their obi would be overwhelmingly large. An obi is a large waistband that is wrapped around the outside of the kimono. These are usually held shut with an obi belts and are often the most intricate part of a kimono outfit. A geisha’s collar will either be white/ grey or black. Their obi is significantly smaller and not overwhelming. As a geisha ages her appearance becomes more neutral. They also no longer wear headpieces” (Booker). The different aspects of the Kimono are dependent on the seasons. “Traditional make up for an apprentice is one of the most recognizable characteristics. This includes a full thick layer of white face make up, red lipstick and red and black accents around the eyes and on the eyebrows” (Golden, 63). The makeup application process is prolonged and particularly hard to master. For the first few years, apprentices have to wear this type of make up constantly, after that it is only on special occasions