Hello, friends!
I wanted to take a moment to share with you what I've learned about geisha in my time with them. Like many, I read the fictional novel that miscasts geisha as prostitutes. Although I knew the story was a work of fiction, it didn't occur to me that modern-day geisha are quite the opposite.
A few fun facts about my geisha friends:
- The word “geisha” translates to “person of art”—they train tirelessly in traditional dancing, performing ancient ceremonies, and playing instruments.
- Geisha always believe there's something new to learn, so they train continuously until their retirement.
- A geisha rehearses and performs throughout the week, taking only two days a month to rest, yet they're always vivacious and gracious.
- In the west, we know geisha for their iconic makeup. In Japan, they're famous for the luminous skin that lies beneath. The Japanese actually have a name for the geisha’s skin: mochi hada, which refers to the soft, gleaming quality of baby’s skin.
I was awed to learn of the geisha's rich history and elegant traditions and am excited to share their true story with you today.
—Vicky Tsai