The geisha tradition lives on with a touch of modernity in Kanazawa, the historic castle town on the Sea of Japan coast in Ishikawa Prefecture, as an increasing number of young women are attracted to the beauty surrounding the ancient profession of female entertainers.
Momotaro, a geisha at the Nakanoya teahouse in Kanazawa, is one of the young women who have plunged into the world of geisha in recent years after graduating from school or quitting office jobs.
Momotaro, which is her stage name, was unable to find an interesting job after graduating from Kanazawa College of Art. One day, she saw a live performance of "subayashi," a genre of ancient music performed using traditional Japanese instruments. She was captivated by the geisha.