Random facts!!

1.- For plural, you can say geisha or geishas.
2.- First geisha were actually men!, they were known as "honko".
3-. It was very popular to sell a Maiko's virginity to the highest bidder.
4.- They also spend about 2 hours just to do their makeup, hair, and put on the Kimono
5-. Kimono's are handmade.
6-. They cannot be in a relationship.
7-. Maiko apply sugar water on top of their lips.
8-. One kimono can take as long as 3 years to make.
9-. The white face make up used to be made with lead.
10-. Maiko apply sugar water on top of their lip colouring to give them a shine.

Sources:
- "Geisha | Define Geisha at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/geisha>.
- "11 Facts You Never Knew About Geisha." Popular | Environmental Graffiti. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. <http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/cultures/news-intriguing-lifestyle-geisha-plus-11-facts-about-geisha-you-may-be-unaware>.
- "Random Facts about Geisha « Japan Explained FASAQ." Japan Explained FASAQ. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. <http://japanexplained.wordpress.com/geisha-explained/random-facts-about-geisha/>.

Outfits!

The world kimono literally means: Clothing

Geishas can be differentiated by their kimono, as common clothes they have different types of materials, designs, colors, styles…  but even with all that differences all of them have something in common, a geisha kimono exposes her neckline – In Japanese culture, this is considerate the most sensual part of a woman, so geishas kimonos usually keep the man’s attention.

Kimono is a typical outfit from Japanese culture, but a very expensive one… As I just said, there are different types of them, so the price can change, but it can cost thousands of dollars.

Kimonos also change depending on the season or kind of event.

Also to complete their outfit geishas should use white make up, red lipstick (just on the lower lip), use a obi (decorative sash on the back of the kimono), and special shoes named: zori

Zori are sandals made from rice straw or lacquered wood. They made a distinctive cracking noise when walking.

By their hairstyle we can differentiate stage of the geisha… the beginners should use a “wareshinobu” and advanced geishas a “Ofuku” it use to mark the difference between geishas after their first sexual contact and the “innocent” ones.. But now it just mean their age or years working.

Below I’ll post some pictures for you to understand better what I’m talking about, in my personal opinion the clothing we actually use is much more comfortable, and easy to wear!!

Night night (:

Sources: 

Julia Layton. “HowStuffWorks”How Geisha Work” HowStuffWorks”People” Web. 08 Sept. 2011.

http://people.howstuffworks.com/geisha4.htm.

"All about Geishas." Female Teen Models - Teen Model Magazine Jurgita.com. Web. 08 Sept. 2011. <http://www.jurgita.com/articles-id1508.html>.

"Japanese Culture - Costume - Footwear." Japan-Zone.com - Japan Travel Guide, Japanese Pop Culture, History, Japanese Girls, Japanese Guys. Web. 08 Sept. 2011. <http://www.japan-zone.com/culture/footwear.shtml>.

"Zori"

"Make up & hairstyle"

"kimono" from the movie: memoirs of a geisha

sleeping

How I say, I look for a picture for you, now I explain you.. That pole on the back of her head, is her pillow.. it was said that their hairstyle was very difficult to do, and expensive, so they skip the "shower part" (they wash their body, just skip the head don't be scared) to save the hairstyle you know, and to don't wake up with a beautiful pillow mark they use this special "pillows" to sleep, then their hair will not touch the floor and keep perfect, and during their training they should make a circle around it with raise, so at the next morning they can prove they do it all right.. (: so tonight kiss your pillow

night night (:

brief story (:

The Geishas consider themselves artists; they should be specialized in dancing, singing and special modals. They train throughout their lives to be one, and to be a successful one they should follow the rules and characteristics of a good Geisha; in the past Geishas use to be girls sold by their families, usually for economic problems. During the process to become a Geisha they get a new name, one “more artistic”… Geishas under 20 are called Maiko that are like apprentices. After the debut they’re considered as “Geishas” and people should pay for their company, usually they’re called to tea-houses or special events.

It is important to remind that geishas are not whores, they are not allowed to have any sexual contact with their costumers, the geisha purpose is to entertain and perform, actually there was a way to differentiate easily geishas and prostitutes, in the kimono they should use a big bun,  (both of them) but geishas use it on the back and prostitutes on the front, and of course, the geisha’s kimonos are absolutely more sophisticated and made of a better material.

After the Cold War the “geisha” idea was copied by the Americans, so now you can easily found fake-geishas that just use a nice kimono and paint their faces, but to be a real Geisha is more than just that, is such a procedure actually.

First the very young girls were sold by their families to a geisha house, then they should be maids for a few years, until they “get some value” and pay to the house what they pay before for them. After being treated as a poor homeless who clean the house they should learn the geishas arts, such as play instruments, prepare food, serve the tea, walk with the special shoes, and how to walk with the heavy kimono and make It look like if it was juts floating around, how to sleep without touching the floor with the head (I look for a picture for you!!), then they become apprentices and the “action” starts, they start to visit tea-houses, dance and give shows, this part sounds very fun, but they have a big competitiveness between geishas, so they don’t have many friends, and also with this night job, they still cleaning, cooking and learning new things.. This continue until the big sale comes, then the geisha house publish they have a geisha ready to go.. someone offer money for her, some other guy offer more, other offer more, until the best bidder shows up and pay a lot of money to take her virginity, the geisha house keep the money as pay for taking care of her and all that “nice” things and she is free to live with the men that pays for her… so now that you know a brief story about their life I hope you search for more info about them, as you see.. is a very interesting topic 8)

If you want to read more specific info:

"Lifestyle and History of the Geisha: From Kako, the First Geisha to Today's Geisha in Kyoto and Anime | Suite101.com." Suite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers' Network. Web. 02 Sept. 2011. <http://www.suite101.com/content/geisha-a60875>.

And here is a blog with some of the rules that geishas have to follow..

http://www.thegeishalounge.com/Geisha_Lounge_Rules.html