The geisha are alive and well in Japan – though foreigners rarely catch even a glimpse of them. Meet Kobai-san, a 63-year-old geisha, and discover the truth about the mysterious Willow World…
• Why do young girls become geisha nowadays?
• How do you hire a geisha?
• How can you tell a geisha from a maiko (apprentice geisha)?
A few things you probably didn’t know about the geisha
• They are NOT prostitutes. They are hired for their artistic skills and considerable social graces.
• Geisha live in communities of women and are entirely independent of men (though they may have boyfriends).
• Geisha can be in their 70s – they often earn more as they get older.
• Apprentice geisha are far more elaborately dressed than fully-fledged geisha.
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Category: Travel
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