![]() ![]() ![]() It is this art that binds her, for more than forty years, to the demanding, yet richly rewarding life of a geisha.īut at the height of her highly successful career, Iwasaki, now headstrong and independent, makes another life-changing choice: to leave the confines of the ‘flower and willow world’. Within a few years, she begins her artistic training and comes to adore the geisha dance. ![]() Ironically, they are indispensable to the image of a geisha.īut her seemingly idyllic childhood is interrupted by the sudden appearance of an older sister, Yaeko, and mysterious visits by Madam Oima, mistress of an okiya - a traditional geisha lodging house.Īt the tender age of five, Iwasaki makes the life-changing decision to leave her parents’ home and join Madam Oima’s okiya. Iwasaki’s father, a textile artist, instilled in her a love for kimono - the traditional, handcrafted Japanese garment made of silk. Her parents, both artists, filled their home with beautiful things - quartz crystals, bamboo decorations and musical instruments. ![]() In her memoir, Geisha of Gion, Mineko Iwasaki boldly sets out to provide insight into the enigmatic, and somewhat misunderstood, world of the Japanese geisha by sharing her journey from timid young girl to world-famous geisha.įrom the start, Iwasaki’s life is influenced by an appreciation for aesthetics. ![]()
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