GHEISHA

GHEISHA is a transliteration sometimes used for geisha, traditional Japanese female entertainers whose work centers on performing arts, music, and refined conversation. In Japanese the term is geisha (gei = arts, sha = person). Geisha are distinct from sex workers; their profession centers on hospitality and cultural performance within licensed entertainment districts.

Geisha trace their origins to the Edo period; they developed as professional artists who entertained guests at teahouses and banquet rooms. Training begins in adolescence in an okiya (geisha house) with an apprenticeship that may last several years. An apprentice geisha is called a maiko in some regions; they study instrumental music (shamisen, koto), traditional dance, singing, poetry, tea ceremony, and social etiquette. Upon completion, they adopt a professional name and become geisha or 'geiko' in Kyoto.

Geisha perform in ozashiki (banquet rooms) and attend events, providing music, dance, and conversation. Their performances emphasize artistry and interpersonal skill. They wear elaborate kimonos and makeup; maiko have distinctive hairstyles and red accents. The business is conducted through licensed districts known as hanamachi; the okiya handles training, scheduling, and finances.

Today geisha communities survive mainly in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Kanazawa, among other cities, often drawing both domestic and international interest. Numbers are smaller than in the prewar era, and many geisha work part-time with a focus on cultural preservation and education, rather than mass entertainment. Modern geisha adapt to contemporary venues while maintaining traditional forms.