How to Become a Geisha

The geisha is a symbol of traditional Japanese culture. The word means "art person" and refers to the extensive training that the woman has completed in the art of entertainment. Here is how a young girl transforms herself into a geisha today.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Find an ochaya, or geisha house, that matches your personality. Geisha do not work independently or live alone. Other geisha and maikos are their "family"; and they are quite close to each other.
2. Pass an interview with the okamisan, or geisha mother. Although the number of girls applying to become geisha is declining, ochayas will not take anyone who comes through the door. The investment of money in a geisha's training and outfitting is substantial, and they want to be sure you will fit in with them.
3. Begin a rigorous training program that usually lasts about 5 years. During this time, you will be trained in how to play the shamisen (a five-stringed instrument), the bamboo flute, drums and how to perform traditional Japanese dance. You will also be expected to help with the chores and learn social skills.
4. Accompany the geisha on appointments as a maiko (or "dancing girl"). You will wear a kimono similar to the geisha, but your hairstyle and makeup will be a little more elaborate. While the geisha work you will be expected to assist them in entertaining gentlemen customers. You will also be getting on-the-job training in social skills and conversation.
5. Change your kimono collar from red to white to symbolize that you are officially a geisha when you are about 20 years old. Your kimono, makeup and hairstyle will become more subdued, and you now can accept a patron. A patron becomes the geisha's life partner and helps her to pay the bills that she cannot cover by entertainment fees alone.

Tips & Warnings

• The traditional way to become a geisha was to either be the daughter of a geisha or to be sold to a geisha house by your impoverished relatives. Most geisha now are daughters of a geisha or have expressed a desire to become geisha while in their early teens.
• Geisha cannot marry but they can have children with their patrons. Female children usually grow up to become geisha, but male children have no real role in Japanese society even today.
• If a geisha should leave an ochaya to marry, she will have to repay the entire cost of her training and the cost of her outfits which could be over $500,000.
• Even though a lot has been said about "American Geisha" Liza Dalby, the chances of a non-Japanese woman becoming a geisha are virtually zero percent. The geisha made an exception in her case because of her intensive study of Japanese culture.
• Geisha are not prostitutes and are extremely offended if you insinuate that they are. This perception came about because of confused American servicemen after World War II who didn't understand their traditional role. The fact that a maiko's virginity used to be sold to the highest bidder (who usually became her patron as a geisha afterwards) also played a role in this perception.