Geisha adapt to keep the profession alive.

Geisha culture in Japan has undergone changes. Photo: STEVE MCCURRY/MAGNUM

Geisha are Japanese female performers, often hired to entertain guests at tea houses and social events. At such events, geisha's duties include singing, dancing, performing music , conducting tea ceremonies, serving food and drinks, and engaging in lively conversation with guests.

A woman wishing to become a geisha must first attend vocational training classes, where geishas will learn the necessary skills. An apprentice geisha is called a maiko, and the apprenticeship period takes about five years to complete. To become a geisha, maiko will take lessons in singing, dancing, and playing music. They will also learn the art of conversation as well as the hosting skills that a geisha must possess.

According to statistics, in the late 1920s, Japan had about 80,000 geishas, ​​but today, the number is around 600. There are many reasons for this decline, and one of them is the precariousness of geisha lives today, forcing them to adapt to survive. The way Azuha and Seiko, two geishas in Tokyo's Asakusa district, operate is typical of geishas in 2023. Both girls have the quintessential geisha appearance, with white-painted faces and sleek black hair. They dance gracefully in silk kimonos before crowds at lavish parties. However, the next day, at another drinking party, they are willing to participate in games with guests, and if they lose, Azuha crawls like a tiger, while Seiko disguises herself as an old woman with a cane, and both must drink a full glass of beer.

Shiomi Fumie, a geisha in Tokyo, started hosting “livehouse” events, but removed the lavish meals traditionally found in hour-long geisha parties. Instead, she offers short performances for just 8,000 yen (approximately $54). This is a very reasonable price compared to the previous several hundred dollars for an hour-long geisha performance. By making geisha performances more accessible, she hopes to attract younger customers and potentially recruit some geisha.

Geisha also target a more diverse audience, including women and tourists , and have abandoned the "ichigensan okotowar" culture, which meant refusing first-time visitors without an introduction. Today, several tour websites offer packages like this, allowing visitors to witness performances or dine with trainee geisha. Each performance lasts for several weeks and typically features two or three shows per day, depending on the occasion. Tickets range from 3,000 to 5,000 yen and can usually be booked online through the website.

In the summer, theaters also set up gardens where geisha serve drinks. Some hotels also host performances and meals with geisha. Recently, some geisha have even been hosting cocktail parties via Zoom…

These changes, considered "unconventional" by many, are actually a way for geishas to adapt to a difficult economic period, according to The Economist . Traditionalists are astonished by this shift. However, it doesn't contradict geisha tradition, as their services have evolved over centuries. Geisha used to play board games with clients, and during the post-war boom, they even played golf. The entertainment provided by geishas is more similar to that of modern-day bar hostesses than purists might acknowledge.

These innovations not only help geishas make a living from their profession but also attract new recruits. Before becoming a geisha, Shiomi worked for an IT company. She loves the beautiful kimonos, the dances, and the songs in her new job: "Being a geisha doesn't earn you much money, but it's incredibly fun," she said.

Suzuki Takeshi, the manager of the geisha association in Asakusa, said: “Most Japanese men today prefer going to bars with hostesses, which are cheaper. The way geishas are doing now to keep Japanese people connected to geisha culture and to allow them to continue their profession is very commendable.”

THAI AN

Source: http://www.baovanhoa.vn/the-gioi/artmid/425/articleid/72756/geisha-thay-doi-de-giu-nghe