Mizuage

Since this was brought up some clarification is needed. Mizuage did
NOT become a common practice until the early 20th century. While it
may have happened earlier it was when nationalism swept Japan that
the Geisha were seen as one of the symbols of old Japan, and were
seen as the quintesential Japanese. This popularity of the Geisha
caused a boom of 80,000 women in their ranks. It also caused the
wide spread practice of mizuage by the women that owned the geisha to
cash in even more on the patriotism of their patrons. And, I have
not heard of it happening since the end of WWII. So to say that
every Geisha *SELLS* her virginity it might give the impression that
it is still a wide spread practice that continues to this day.