GEISHA

Geisha (芸者) is the name given to women who have been accompanying male customers with songs, dances, conversations and games in the entertainment life in Japan since the 17th century. The geisha world is called Hana-machi (花街: Flower town) or Ka-ryu-kai (花柳界: Flower-willow-world) in Japanese. Geisha The name Geisha is used in the Kanto region, especially in Tokyo, and the name Geyko (芸子) is used in the Kansai region, especially in Osaka and Kyoto, and in the regions under the influence of that culture (for example, Yamagata and Ishikawa). After the Meiji period, the name Geygi (芸妓) also began to be used in official areas. Novices are called Hangyoku (半玉) in Kanto and Maiko (舞妓) in Kansai.