Post by *nagasaki masuyo. on Apr 18, 2009 1:36:53 GMT -5
Just explanations on geisha and whatnot. Reply to this if you have anything to add.
First things first...geisha are not Japanese prostitutes. They are simply entertainers, who entertain fully clothed. Yes, they did sell their virginity a very long time ago, but that does not make them prostitutes, especially since prostitution is illegal now. Don't think geisha never have sex, however; they have urges, just like every other human being. But, it is important to understand that it is not a requirement of their profession.
Now, to the specifics! A shikomi is a girl training to be a maiko. She attends lessons in dance, shamisen, flower arranging, etc. She runs errands for her okiya and does chores. Long ago, shikomi were treated very badly, almost like slaves. Thankfully, the process is not as barbaric. Although, it is very grueling and takes a lot of dedication and hard work.
Eventually, these shikomi become maiko. In a ceremony called misedashi, the shikomi adopt their geimyo, or geisha name. This is what there are known as from here on out. They also perform a ceremony called san san kudo with their onesan, or big sister. Their onesan is sort of like their guide to the geisha world - the maiko follow them from teahouse to teahouse, observing how they interact with the customers and other geisha.
A maiko begins with an entirely red collar. As she progresses from junior maiko to senior maiko, white embroidery is slowly added to her collar, until is is completely white, leaving only the back red. A maiko's face is always painted white, with the corners of her eyes and eyebrows outlined in red. She also must wear okobo - eleven centimeter high logs. Her kimono is always very bright, with a long, dangling obi, call a darrari obi.
After many years, a maiko has her erikae, the ceremony that she must have to become a fully-fledged geiko. She wears simpler kimono with a plain white collar, and her obi is tied in a simple knot. She wears a wig, instead of using her natural hair, and has very few hair ornaments. She entertains on her own, and most take on a younger sister or two. She may also adopt a danna, or patron. And she very well may have sex with him, but, once again, it is entirely her choice.
