Japan's first foreign Geisha

For the first time in the 400 year history of the (Japanese) Geisha, a Westerner has been accepted, and on December 19, made her formal debut under the name Sayuki.

Geisha (芸者) are traditional female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.



Excerpt from Sayuki’s website…


Links:
Sayuki of Asakusa (Official Website: English & Japanese)
Sayuki - the first white Geisha in Japan
Sayuki of Asakusa Pictures
MASTER MIND [Japanese]

I personally think it's awesome! Sayuki is the first Caucasian to be registered in a Kenban (geisha office) and be accepted by the geisha community. Also she is the first Caucasian to pursue Geisha as her sole career, meaning it will be her permanent career (there was a previous Caucasian who became a Geisha, but only for studies).

I highly doubt this will be her career. She's saying it now but in a few years time she won't. Having a masters in social anthropology is a dead giveaway. I think this is more of a social experiment for her. After a few years she will be lecturing at universities and will write a book about her experiences.

forgive me if i sound ignorant, but thats because i actually am to the whole geisha thing.....ummm what exactly is a geisha? i know i can just go and look this up but i think it would be much better if you guys can just describe it breaifly, because "female entertainers who sing classical music"...that just sounds a little lame to me, they offer sexual services too right? because if not wtf is the point?

Is that her real hair? In the second picture it looks like she has a widow's peak...

Her? I thought Geisha's were men?

Hmm....ok?

Not as standard practice.
They can if they want to just as anyone in any profession can make a move on someone. It's not part of their job.
Entertainment, that is the point.


No, there were and still are a few male geisha (takimochi) but they are basically jesters.

Actually Sayuki's going to pursue Geisha as her main career. Sayuki has already been registered in a Kenban (geisha office) in Tokyo. Plus Sayuki also took the 3 year Maiko training, in this case Hangyouko training since she's in Tokyo. Also she already made her own Geisha business website (most Geisha's have one, I've seen lots), and arranged all her contacts and such.

Your talking about Liza Dalby who was a Geisha for a year. What's different is that Sayuki actually registered her name from her English name to Sayuki. Liza Dalby's Geisha name "Ichigume" (?), it was not fully registered in the kenban and was administered by the Okiya (geisha house).

Also Sayuki has already lectured all over the world as a Geisha. Most Geisha's believe it or not travel to lecture people about the Geisha culture. In fact I can name about 10 Japanese Geisha's who wrote books about being a Geisha, and they are still Geisha's. It's like another way for them to make money while being a Geisha. Geisha earn probably around $5,000 per month.

You can still be a Geisha and write books and travel around the world you know.

geishas still exist today? i thought they were around like in the old days up to the late 1800s as like personal "escort" type women if you catch my drift

I'm surprised so many people think geisha's are prostitutes...

what a retard

What does feminism say about such occupations?

http://mboogiedown-japan.blogspot.com/2007...01_archive.html
http://mboogiedown-japan.blogspot.com/2007...01_archive.html

lol where have u been?

maybe he though geisha was gaysha

Geisha girls are so damn ugly.

She's too White.

I hope I don't come off as rude but...

Seriously... who would want to be a Geisha

they're like singerz n dancerz..

in japan not alot of japanese think geisha all prostitue.. only in america ppl think geisha mean or symbolize prostitue..

willing to bet she will do this for a specific time then go write a book about it. this is strictly to further her career.

heheh Geisha ^^

True, but it's still cool that she managed to master it a bit...

only Japanophiles would cling to the past like this. What's next, a white guy whose an actual Samurai working under a Lord?

Silly she isn't a Japanophile. In fact she was raised in Japan for half of her life. Around 2 - 3 Million Caucasians are born and raised in Asian countries (mostly in China and Philippines), and they are considered native citizens despite being different ethnicity wise.

Also most or in fact all of the Daimyo (Lords) in Japan lost their titles and nobility status after WWII. Probably only the Imperial family of Japan is considered noble/royal now. Samurai's as a professional profession is virtually extinct, the Japan National Force can easily shoot you down with bazooka's.

only in japan....and why the face paint??

^Pale skin is considered pretty, along with dark colored teeth.

Yuk

Pale skin & dark colored teeth considered sick looking

Yes dark colored teeth is considered beautiful

But if they are also crooked, you are considered a goddess

Sayuki, whatever you do, don't turn off the light. might mistaken you for chinese ghost story.

Hahaha! In Chinese culture pale beauty is also considered beautiful. In fact in Ancient China, many rich and noblewomen also painted their face with white. I remember reading somewhere the Empress would use powders made of crushed pearls and would use it on her face.

whatever with the white powder stuff...Japanese ppl may say its a sign of beauty, but this one here finds it irritating an annoying...take it from a daughter whose mother finds her too dark and tried the powder once on her...it doesnt work..

its their culture..

i find it madd fuglyy.. but w/e.. its their culture so we cant really change dat..

holy cow

What is this? Reminds me of that movie "Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise, a white dude. Now a white geisha? How about this "Last ni**a on earth, starring Tom Hanks?" as Paul Moony once said on Chappelle's Show.

I imagine they have a number of different views on it. Being a philosophy student, I'm surprised you ask such a question. Some of them look at certain occupations as objectifying women and others view that if a woman has a right to her body then she can choose to use it however she desires. As for Geisha, being an entertainer isn't usually going to offend any feminists, so they probably wouldn't have anything to say as a group.

geisha's are entertainers for men. Similar to an actress or pop star.

Well not to be rude or anything but you can trace a common ancestor between Japanese and English people (I think she is English, might be German or French, but anyways) between 6 to 8 thousand years ago. probably 6 thousand years ago at least.

yup...unfortunatly