Download or read book Geisha written by John Gallagher and published by Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.. This book was released on 2003 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Japan's geisha have fascinated and allured westerners for centuries. But just who are geisha? This book delves into their lives and history with detailed coverage of their training, their costumes, and the intricate world of tradition in which they live and work. This finely illustrated book looks at the gradations of rank, clothing, and makeup, as well as the subtle changes of geisha appearance through the seasons. It explores the network of dance schools, teahouses, temples, offices and traditional crafts, with calligraphers, dyers, and sake warmers among the many occupations serving in the hanamachi or "flower towns," as geisha districts are known. The geisha craft itself draws on an array of traditional Japanese arts: dance, tea ceremony, traditional music, and games, all in the service of leisure. This book explains how this complex and often misunderstood world evolved, how it fits into modern Japan, and how it is adapting in order to survive there.--From publisher description.

Download or read book Geisha written by Peabody Essex Museum and published by George Braziller Publishers. This book was released on 2004-08-31 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Renowned thoughout the world as purveyors of beauty, mystery, and allure, geisha have come to represent the epitome of Japanese elegance and chic. The contributors to this book each considers a particular aspect of geisha tradition and aesthetics.

Download or read book Geisha Maiko of Kyoto written by John Foster and published by Schiffer Pub Limited. This book was released on 2009 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This exquisite collection of photographs and interviews focuses on four of Kyoto's most beautiful geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha). First, the geisha and maiko were photographed at Kyoto's largest geisha dance performances and other important dances. Next, portrait sessions were held with each woman to capture the kata (forms or poses) of her favorite dances. The geisha and maiko were then interviewed about their photographs, giving the reader a rare insight into their artistic training. Finally, images follow one maiko from her last few days as an apprentice through her first few days as a geisha. Never before has the change from maiko to geisha been documented so completely. The result is a collection of 149 gorgeous photographs that shed light on these exquisitely beautiful women like no other book before.

Download or read book Geisha written by Stanley B. Burns and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Japanese Geisha and courtesans intrigue and fascinate Westerners. During the mid-19th century, Japan opened its doors to the world and became an essential destination for travellers. Geisha: A Photographic History 1872-1912 documents the intimate life and culture of this 19th century icon. It portrays the artists of these images in a cultural reality created by staged studio photography, private scenes and rare outdoor images. Essential viewing.

Download or read book Geisha written by Mineko Iwasaki and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2003-09 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Kyoto geisha describes her initiation into an okiya at the age of four, the intricate training that made up most of her education, her successful career, and the traditions surrounding the geisha culture.

Download or read book Geishas and the Floating World written by Stephen Longstreet and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2020-03-24 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Geishas and the Floating World returns readers to a lost world of sensuality and seduction, rich with hedonism, abandon, and sexual and personal politics. "Floating World" refers to Japan's traditional Geisha pleasure districts, but also to the artistic and literary worlds associated with them. At the heart of the "Floating World" and the system it supported was an extensive network of talented courtesans and entertainers, typified by the still fascinating, enigmatic Geisha. Stephen and Ethel Longstreet bring the reader on an in-depth tour of the original and most infamous red-light district in Japan--the Yoshiwara district of old Tokyo that underwent tremendous changes during the more than three centuries of its existence. Beyond the erotic allure the district held, the Yoshiwara also fostered a rich culture and a much studied and revered artistic and literary tradition. This account is adorned with examples of fine woodblock prints and quotations from often bawdy, and always colorful, original sources that offer a gripping portrait of life within the pleasure zone. Geishas and the Floating World balances scholarly insights with a master storyteller's flair for the exploits and intrigues of people operating outside the confines of polite society. Stephen Mansfield's new introduction bridges time, examining gender realities and the Yoshiwara through contemporary eyes, highlighting often overlooked subtleties and the harsh realities associated with this glittering world.

Download or read book Memoirs of a Geisha written by Arthur Golden and published by Longman. This book was released on 2008 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Captivating, minutely imagined . . . a novel that refuses to stay shut" ("Newsweek"), "Memoirs of a Geisha" is now released in a movie tie-in edition.

Download or read book A Geisha s Journey written by Komomo and published by Kodansha Amer Incorporated. This book was released on 2008-01-25 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the cobbled streets where Komomo walks in her elaborate dress to the inner sanctums of her dressing room, these pages offer a rare look at a contemporary teen's journey to becoming a geisha, photographed in full color by Naoyuki Ogino. This is the story of a contemporary Japanese teenager who, in a search for an identity, became fascinated with the world of geisha, and discovered in herself the will and the commitment to embark on the many years of apprenticeship necessary to become one. It is also the story of a young Japanese photographer who grew up

Download or read book Geisha written by Lesley Downer and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ever since Westerners arrived in Japan, we have been intrigued by geisha. This fascination has spawned a wealth of fictional creations from Madame Butterfly to Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha. The reality of the geisha's existence has rarely been described. Contrary to popular opinion, geisha are not prostitutes but literally arts people. Their accomplishments might include singing, dancing or playing a musical instrument but, above all, they are masters of the art of conversation, soothing worries of highly paid businessmen who can afford their attentions. The real secret history of the geisha is explored here.

Download or read book One Hundred and One Ways written by Mako Yoshikawa and published by Bantam. This book was released on 2000 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I have spent most of my life in New Jersey, but the blood of a geisha courses through me yet." If Kiki Takehashi's life is dramatically different from that of her reserved Japanese-American mother, it is light-years away from that of her grandmother, whom she knows only through old family stories. Kiki has recently become engaged to Eric, a handsome, successful New York City lawyer. But at the same time she is haunted--quite literally--by the memory of her friend Phillip, killed the previous year in a mountaineering accident. Kiki has never met her grandmother Yukiko, for whom she is named. Still, thoroughly American though she is, she feels a secret kinship with her. Kiki is swept up by the story of this strong, proud, passionate woman who, against all odds, in a time and place far different from her own, was sold by her impoverished family, became a famous geisha, and found the love that has so far eluded the rest of the Takehashi women. Lyrical, haunting, and stunningly evocative, One Hundred and One Ways introduces a powerful and exciting new voice in contemporary fiction.

Download or read book The Kimono of the Geisha diva Ichimaru written by Barry Till and published by Pomegranate Communications. This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection features approximately 20 color photos of kimonos owned by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and worn by Ichimaru (1906-1997), a geisha, musician, and well-known singer in Japan. Preliminary details about the geisha world and life of Ichimaru are presented, followed by information on kimono design, manufacture, and types, and the

Download or read book The Shogun s Queen written by Lesley Downer and published by Corgi. This book was released on 2017-07-27 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Japan, and the year is 1853. Growing up among the samurai of the Satsuma Clan, in Japan's deep south, the fiery, beautiful and headstrong Okatsu has like all the clan's women been encouraged to be bold, taught to wield the halberd, and to ride a horse. But when she is just seventeen, four black ships appear. Bristling with cannon and manned by strangers who to the Japanese eyes are barbarians, their appearance threatens Japan's very existence. And turns Okatsu's world upside down. Chosen by her feudal lord, she has been given a very special role to play. Given a new name Princess Atsu and a new destiny, she is the only one who can save the realm. Her journey takes her to Edo Castle, a place so secret that it cannot be marked on any map. There, sequestered in the Women's Palace home to three thousand women, and where only one man may enter: the shogun she seems doomed to live out her days.

Download or read book Memoirs of a Geisha written by Arthur Golden and published by Vintage. This book was released on 1999-11-09 with total page 450 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A literary sensation and runaway bestseller, this brilliant debut novel tells with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism the true confessions of one of Japan's most celebrated geisha. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Speaking to us with the wisdom of age and in a voice at once haunting and startlingly immediate, Nitta Sayuri tells the story of her life as a geisha. It begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old girl with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. We witness her transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha: dance and music; wearing kimono, elaborate makeup, and hair; pouring sake to reveal just a touch of inner wrist; competing with a jealous rival for men's solicitude and the money that goes with it. In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction—at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful—and completely unforgettable.

Download or read book The history of geishas in Japan written by Hermann Candahashi and published by tredition. This book was released on 2024-09-08 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Delve into the rich and mysterious history of geishas with our latest book: "The History of Geishas in Japan - A Excursion through Japan's Cultural History". This book offers an in-depth and comprehensive look into the world of geishas and highlights their significant role in Japanese culture and history. Why you should read this book: Learn all about the origins of geishas, ??their development over the centuries and their role in modern Japanese society. Discover the diverse arts of geishas, ??from the tea ceremony to classical dance to music and ikebana. Be enchanted by fascinating details and historical events that bring the world of geishas to life. Learn how geishas operate in the modern world, adapt and preserve their traditions through innovative methods. Who is this book for? This book is a must for culture buffs, Japan enthusiasts, historians, students of Japanese studies and anyone who is enthusiastic about traditional arts and exotic stories. It is perfect for travelers who want to discover Japan, as well as for academics and researchers who are looking for deeper insights into Japanese cultural history. Your journey begins here Let yourself be enchanted by the mystical aura of the geishas and embark on an unforgettable journey through Japan's cultural history. "The History of the Geishas in Japan - An Excursion Through Japan's Cultural History" is more than just a book - it is a gateway to a world full of grace, art and tradition. Discover the timeless fascination of the geishas! Your Hermann Candahashi

Download or read book The Nightless City written by Joseph Ernest De Becker and published by . This book was released on 1905 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Women of the Pleasure Quarters written by Lesley Downer and published by Crown. This book was released on 2002-01-08 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From critically acclaimed author and Japanese scholar Lesley Downer, an enchanting portrait of the mysterious world of the geisha. Ever since Westerners arrived in Japan, they have been intrigued by Japanese womanhood and, above all, by geisha. This fascination has spawned a wealth of extraordinary fictional creations, from Puccini's Madama Butterfly to Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha. The reality of the geisha's existence, though, whether today or in history, has rarely been addressed. Contrary to popular opinion, geisha are not prostitutes but, literally, "arts people." Their accomplishments include singing, dancing, playing a musical instruments; but above all, they are masters of the art of conversation, soothing the worries and stroking the egos of the wealthy businessmen who can afford their attentions. It is this which imbues the geisha with such power—and which makes absolute secrecy such a crucial aspect of their work. As denizens of a world defined by silence and mystery, geisha are notoriously difficult to meet and even to find. Lesley Downer, an award- winning writer, Japanese scholar, and consummate storyteller, gained more access into this world than almost any other Westerner ever has and spent several months living among them. In Women of the Pleasure Quarters, she weaves together intimate portraits of modern geisha with the romantic legends and colorful historical tales of geisha of the past. From Sadda Yakko, who dined with American presidents and had her portrait painted by Picasso, to Koito, a modern-day geisha who maintains her own website, geisha throughout history step out of the pages of Women of the Pleasure Quarters to become living, breathing creatures. Looking into such traditions as mizuage, the ritual deflowering which was once a rite of passage for all geisha, and providing colorful depictions of the geisha's dress, training, and homes, Downer, with grace, elegance, and respect, transforms their reality in a captivating narrative that both informs and entertains. At once a symbol of a bygone age and an institution more quintessentially Japanese than any other, geisha are a society at a crossroads, struggling to reinvent their place in the new millennium while honoring the traditions of the past. Both instructive and evocative, Women of the Pleasure Quarters is an enthralling portrait of a world unlike any other.

Download or read book Madame Sadayakko written by Lesley Downer and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2003 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The author of Women of the Pleasure Quarters shares the story of the famous geisha whose life inspired Puccini's Madame Butterfly, from her training and participation in secret geisha traditions to her defection from her lucrative career to marry the penniless actor and political maverick Otojiro Kawakami and her rise to international celebrity. Reprint.