The mystery of the geisha, with their painted faces and elaborate kimono, has long been a source of fascination for people worldwide. But it has also led to fantasies and misunderstandings about their true roles.
Celebrated as the most successful geisha of her generation, Mineko Iwasaki, 53, talked recently about her memoir "Geisha, A Life," in which she reveals the reality behind this unique aspect of Japanese cultural history.
In the book, Iwasaki, a daughter of artist parents, describes the long years of intense and demanding training in dance, music, traditional arts and manners she underwent since the age of 5 in the Gion Kobu entertainment quarter in Kyoto.