The MetaChurch of Saint Ethereum

0x4…b5e

ERC1155

Mineko’s reference is the Geisha Geisha (芸者), also known as geiko (芸子) (in Kyoto and Kanazawa) or geigi (芸妓), are a class of female Japanese performing artists and entertainers trained in traditional Japanese performing arts styles, such as dance, music, and singing, as well as being proficient conversationalists and hosts. Their distinct appearance is characterized by long, trailing kimonos, traditional hairstyles and oshiroi make-up. Geisha entertain at parties known as ozashiki, often for the entertainment of wealthy clientele, as well as performing on stage and at festivals. The first female geisha appeared in 1751, with geisha before that time being male performers who entertained guests within the pleasure quarters; only later did the profession become mainly characterized by female workers. The arts that geisha perform are considered highly developed and, in some cases, unique throughout Japan to the world of geisha. For example, the Gion district of Kyoto is the only district wherein the kyo-mai style of Japanese traditional dance is taught. This style of dance is taught solely to the geisha within the district by the Inoue school, with the school's former head, Inoue Yachiyo V, having been classified as a "Living National Treasure" by the Government of Japan, the highest artistic award attainable in the country, in 1955. Over time the number of geisha has declined, despite the efforts of those within the teachings. Factors include the nature of the economy, declining interest in the traditional arts, the exclusive and closed-off nature of the karyūkai, and the expense of being entertained by geisha. The number of maiko and geisha in Kyoto fell from 76 and 548 in 1965 respectively to just 71 and 202 in 2006 as a result. However, following the advent of wider access to the internet from the mid-2000s onwards, a greater number of recruits have decided to join the teachings with no existing ties to the karyūkai through watching online documentaries and reading websites set up by okiya to promote their business documentary pieces commonly inspire young women to join the profession.