Geishas

Hi there everybody:

I read the novel 'Memoirs of a Geisha' its fantastic. I wanted to do a
little more learning on the subject. Do any of you know of a good
website where I can find legit info. on the subject? How about books
are there any good ones on the subject too?

Later,
Rod

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, "Rod Pavez"
wrote:

> Hi there everybody:
>
> I read the novel 'Memoirs of a Geisha' its fantastic. I wanted to

do a

> little more learning on the subject. Do any of you know of a good
> website where I can find legit info. on the subject? How about

books

> are there any good ones on the subject too?
>
> Later,
> Rod

I can't say much about websites, but there definately are many good
books on the subject. Most books provide little more than an overview
of the subject and vary only in the quality of details and
illustrations/photos. Of these types, my favorite is: 'Geisha: A
Unique World of Tradition, Elegance, and Art' by John Gallagher.
Admitedly, Gallagher's book provides little information that you
couldn't find in a dozen other books, but the photos and art work his
book provides are of a somewhat higher quality. His book is the only
one I have ever found that offers illustrations on every layer of
clothing the Geisha wore. If you search your local bookstore or surf
around Amazon.com, you will easily find a number books on the subject.

The book I think you should start with, though, is: Geisha: A Life' by
Mineko Iwasaki. This book is an autobiography of Mineko Iwasaki, the
woman Arthur Golden's main character was built around. Her book
provides a very intimate look into the world of the Geisha.

Brian

On Apr 27, 2005, at 8:12 PM, Rod Pavez wrote:

> Hi there everybody:
>
> I read the novel 'Memoirs of a Geisha' its fantastic. I wanted to do a
> little more learning on the subject. Do any of you know of a good
> website where I can find legit info. on the subject? How about books
> are there any good ones on the subject too?
>
> Later,
> Rod

The academic bible in English is Liza Dalby's "Geisha;" Downer's "Women
of the Pleasure Quarters", is the closest you can get to a history book
- but she barely uses Japanese sources.
My favorites, however, are still Mineko Iwasaki and Sayo Masuda's
autobiographies - mind you, the first will shatter a few of Golden's
orientalist glitter.

The best book, anyway is in Japanese:
Kyoto Geiko to Maiko no Okuzashiki, by Aihara Kyouko
This is easily found in Japan, costs only 700 yen and it's written in
very plain language. It covers history very well, and has chapters on
the arts, the various hanamachi, etc.

If you are interested in the present condition of geisha in Kyoto, I
might be the one to talk to, as I have done research about it less than
two years ago, and I have a couple of geiko I became "friend" with. I
wrote a paper about it as well, with interviews and appendixes giving
probably the most updated date you can get in English.
Cheers,
cepo

PS = Memoirs' movie is coming out in the fall, featuring a pantheon
of... Chinese actresses - including the divine Gong Li. :oO

Thank you for the information

thebigz_or <thebigz_or@...> wrote:--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, "Rod Pavez"
wrote:

> Hi there everybody:
>
> I read the novel 'Memoirs of a Geisha' its fantastic. I wanted to

do a

> little more learning on the subject. Do any of you know of a good
> website where I can find legit info. on the subject? How about

books

> are there any good ones on the subject too?
>
> Later,
> Rod

I can't say much about websites, but there definately are many good
books on the subject. Most books provide little more than an overview
of the subject and vary only in the quality of details and
illustrations/photos. Of these types, my favorite is: 'Geisha: A
Unique World of Tradition, Elegance, and Art' by John Gallagher.
Admitedly, Gallagher's book provides little information that you
couldn't find in a dozen other books, but the photos and art work his
book provides are of a somewhat higher quality. His book is the only
one I have ever found that offers illustrations on every layer of
clothing the Geisha wore. If you search your local bookstore or surf
around Amazon.com, you will easily find a number books on the subject.

The book I think you should start with, though, is: Geisha: A Life' by
Mineko Iwasaki. This book is an autobiography of Mineko Iwasaki, the
woman Arthur Golden's main character was built around. Her book
provides a very intimate look into the world of the Geisha.

Brian








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Hi:

I would really like to ask you a few questions about Geishas in the present, that is if you don't mind.
Bye,
Rod

Cepo <cepo@...> wrote:

On Apr 27, 2005, at 8:12 PM, Rod Pavez wrote:

> Hi there everybody:
>
> I read the novel 'Memoirs of a Geisha' its fantastic. I wanted to do a
> little more learning on the subject. Do any of you know of a good
> website where I can find legit info. on the subject? How about books
> are there any good ones on the subject too?
>
> Later,
> Rod

The academic bible in English is Liza Dalby's "Geisha;" Downer's "Women
of the Pleasure Quarters", is the closest you can get to a history book
- but she barely uses Japanese sources.
My favorites, however, are still Mineko Iwasaki and Sayo Masuda's
autobiographies - mind you, the first will shatter a few of Golden's
orientalist glitter.

The best book, anyway is in Japanese:
Kyoto Geiko to Maiko no Okuzashiki, by Aihara Kyouko
This is easily found in Japan, costs only 700 yen and it's written in
very plain language. It covers history very well, and has chapters on
the arts, the various hanamachi, etc.

If you are interested in the present condition of geisha in Kyoto, I
might be the one to talk to, as I have done research about it less than
two years ago, and I have a couple of geiko I became "friend" with. I
wrote a paper about it as well, with interviews and appendixes giving
probably the most updated date you can get in English.
Cheers,
cepo

PS = Memoirs' movie is coming out in the fall, featuring a pantheon
of... Chinese actresses - including the divine Gong Li. :oO



---
Join the 2005 'Samurai Fiction' contest:
http://www.samurai-archives.com/writcon.html
Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
Samurai Archives store: http://www.cafeshops.com/samuraiarchives
---



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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/samuraihistory/

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