Geisha: Flowers of the Willow World

Often referred to as the "flowers of the willowallowed them to focus on applying what
world" Geisha are an enduring symbol of Japanthey had learned by attending banquets called
whose inherent beauty, grace, charm, and artisticozashiki, in which the guests present were attended
talent have been admired for centuries. The wordto by geisha. Soon thereafter they begin the third,
geisha means artist in Japanese, and they have beenfinal, and most important stage of trainingÂ
traditionally considered professional performers whoknown as Maiko. Maiko are apprentices whoÂ
entertain guests through a series of time honoredstudy under established Geisha. The training
arts such as Japanese ancient dance, singing, playinginvolves accompanying the mentor to her
of various musical instruments, flower arrangement,engagements and observing the
tea ceremony , and calligraphy.proper etiquette of the seasoned
Historically Geisha began their training at a veryprofessional. This relationship is extremely important
young age, and although girls were occasionally soldto the Maiko, as it teaches her the proper way of
to geisha houses known as okiya, this was notserving tea, playing the shamisen, dancing, and the
common practice in most reputable districts in Japan.art of casual conversation, all of which are essential
When girls first arrived to the okiya theyto master to assure future invitations to
were expected to survive the first stage ofvarious tea houses and social gatherings.
training known as shikomi, which involved hard manualContemporary geisha, though much fewer in
labor as maids who were subject to the beckonednumbers, still live collectively during their
call of their seniors. The work wasapprenticeship in okiya in areas called hanamachi, and
exceedingly difficult, and was intended tooften begin their training after completing junior high
test the strength, will, and integrityÂschool, high school, or college. Maiko still study
of the young novices. In addition to theinstruments such as the shakuhachi andÂ
strenuous work, they would beÂshamisen, and are well versed in literature, poetry,
expected to wait late into the night for thetea ceremony, wearing kimono, and
experienced geisha to return fromtraditional Japanese dance. The district of
engagements to assist them before retiringGion Kobu in the city of Kyoto is now considered the
for the evening. When not working in the okiya, theepicenter of contemporary geisha. The life of a
shikomi would attend classes to study dancing,geisha still resides in the elegant cultured world known
singing, and the playing of traditional musicalas karyukai, and they are often hired to
instruments. Once the student became proficientattend parties and gatherings at tea houses and
they would then be required to pass a finaltraditional Japanese restaurants. The time spent with
dance exam before advancing to the second stageguests is measured by burning an incense stick
of training called minarai. This stage of trainingknown as senkodai.
relieved them from their housekeeping duties, and