Would-be Geisha

Nagauta 'Takao Zange'

I would like to tell you about traditional Japanese arts of dance, shamisen, and others.
Some of these things even Japanese do not know or mistaken.

Geishas never are prostitutes.
Those who are decent geishas never are...which means, unfortunately, there are indecent geishas. 
But most famous geisha districts all over Japan train girls as real geishas--entertainers, by traditional arts training such as Japanese dance, shamisen music, flute, and drums.

This is the story of a woman who aspire to become a geisha in her late 40s.
She thought it possible because there are even a real (and decent) geishas in their 90s--they play shamisen, sing songs, and even take dance lessons, like other young geisha girls.
And besides, she has extraordinary sklls as a Japanese traditional dancer and a shamisen player.
She teaches dancing and played leading shamisen (which means a conductor) for geisha dance in Kyoto.

She helped translate 'Memoirs of a Geisha' into Japanese--she was the only one who knows English, Kyoto dialect, and traditional art skills at the same time.

However, when she applied as a geisha in Hakone-Yumoto, Kanagawa Pref., it turned out that a mother of geisha house she applied was younger then her!

This mother became Hakone geisha when she was 19.  She used to be a top sales geisha among about 200 geishas in Hakone district and launched geisha house after she retired.
She said it seems difficult to promote her as a geisha because of her age.

But every geisha districts crave shamisen player even in Kyoto.
As for Hakone, there are only three geishas who can play shamisen to a satisfactory extent.  Besides one of them are in her 80s.
The mother said she, executive members of the board, and shamisen teacher will test her play shamisen and sing song at the same time.

THAT was her specialty. 
By yesterday, she played Nagauta 'Shima-no Senzai' by ear.
Back in Kyoto, she played and sang for her pupil of Japanese traditional dance, with a real geisha hit small drum for them.

The test will be held in two days on August 8.

Hoping you will look forward to the result!