About the Geishas?

Question

What do you know about geishas? Exist they still? This question is mostly for Japaneses. Did you ever have seen a geisha?Thank you:)

Answer 1

In modern Japan, geisha and maiko are now a rare sight outside Kyoto. In the 1920s there were over 80,000 geisha in Japan, but today there are far less - a commonly accepted estimate is 10,000. However, visitors to Kyoto's Gion district are likely to catch a glimpse of a maiko on her way to or from an appointment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha#Modern_geisha

http://spikedhumor.com/articles/2377/Amazing_Racist_Isn_t_Dead.html

http://spikedhumor.com/Default.aspx?p=search&query=amazing%20racist

Answer 2

The word geisha means artist. Most geisha are found in Kyoto. Gion Kobu is the most famed karyukai (geisha district). Geisha in Kyoto do not refer to themselves as geisha, instead the use the word geiko, meaning woman of art. In Kyoto a geisha apprintice is called maiko, meaning dancer. Geisha are trained from the time they are 14 until they become geiko. They learn the traditional Japanese arts, and specialize in entertaining both women and men. Geisha refer to their appointments as ozashiki. Ozashiki are held in the Ochaya (teahouses) and sometimes in resturaunts. Today it is very hard to see a geisha because they travel mainly by taxi. This is because, many people think they are sex objects, which can lead to harassment by pedestrians. Geisha are not sex objects. The geisha houses also call okiya, do not allow any men to enter. The only exception, is the geisha's dressers. Their dressers are the ones who transform them from women to mystirious beauties. It takes many years to learn the trade of a dresser. Many westerners beleive that maiko go through a ceremony called mizuage. This is true, although their idea of mizuage is off track. Mizuage refers to the ceremony where a maiko has the topknot of her hair, cut. That is all. It is a coming of age ceremony, symbolizing that she is a woman now. I hope I have explained this to your understanding!