A charming girl with slanting eyes and a bleached face, pouring tea and engaging a guest with sophisticated conversation. This is the stereotypical image of a geisha in the mind of a European. In general, everything is true, except for one thing. Initially, the role of a friendly person with a whitened forehead and cheeks was played by ... a man. Female geisha appeared much later, but gradually drove men out of the profession. The very history of geisha as a profession, or, more precisely, an art form, dates back to around the end of the 16th century. There are two main versions of the geisha's appearance. According to one of them, the samurai, tired of official affairs, wanted not just to drink tea or good sake, but to have a rest, so to speak, with their soul - to talk with an intelligent person. But since a woman in Japan at that time was considered a creature much less intelligent than a man, samurai preferred communication with equals. Therefore, in the place of ladies with whitewashed faces, men in kimonos initially flaunted. They possessed all the qualities inherent in the stereotypical geisha from films and books about Japan: they were educated, played several musical instruments, mastered the art of versification and calligraphy, and skillfully knew how to maintain a conversation.
There is also a version that the "first" men had a prototype. It was Sorori Shinzaemon, an advisor to the then Japanese emperor. At the end of the 16th century, the Land of the Rising Sun was ruled by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He was a significant figure in the history of the country, having managed to unite it after the feudal fragmentation. Despite this, Toyotomi did not know how to write and could hardly read ancient books copied by hand. For the retelling of the books, the monarch got himself a special position "otogishyu" - an interlocutor and adviser. The closest of them was Sorori Shinzaemon. History has not preserved the origin of this worthy husband - apparently, Sorori was born into a rather poor family, but as a child he was given to be raised in a monastery and received a decent education.
Shinzaemon read aloud to the emperor, was his advisor on various issues and simply entertained when the ruler was in a bad mood. And Hideyoshi was famous for his tough temper. In the European royal court, Shinzaemon would probably have been called a jester. Thanks to Sorori Shinzaemon and his ruler, jesters, entertaining the owners with conversation and anecdotes, became fashionable not only among samurai, but also among wealthy citizens. In these circles, the jester no longer became the property of a nobleman, but something like a free artist. This profession was called "taikomochi" - artists often carried taiko drums with them, with the help of which they accompanied their speeches and attracted attention.
More often than not, the taykomochi were part of the retinue of rich high-ranking courtesans - thayu - and had to entertain their clients. While the tayu courtesan herself usually emphasized her sophistication and good manners, the task of the taykomochi was to contrast with her while fueling the client's passion. The jester portrayed funny scenes from life, sang dirty songs and told obscene anecdotes. At the same time, the education of the taikomochi remained at the level: he had to, although joking, maintain a conversation on any topic, amuse the guest by playing musical instruments and keep abreast of all the latest news. They were still masters of tea ceremony, calligraphy and drawing. That is why taikomochi were also called "geinin" or "geisha" - both are translated as "man of art."
According to various sources, there were about 500-800 male geisha in Japan during the Edo period. But gradually women began to appear in the profession - dancers and singers, who attracted the attention of spectators - valiant samurai and wealthy citizens. Still, nature cannot be fooled. The female geisha quickly pushed the male taykomochi out of the arena.
Despite the prevailing beliefs in the West, geisha of the fair sex were neither prostitutes, nor even courtesans. Although some geisha did give themselves to clients for money, this was not their main responsibility and was not considered worthy of a real geisha of high rank. The art of the geisha was to entertain the guest with an exquisite conversation, pleasant company, to make him feel special, to pay attention. Such girls, on the one hand, were trained in the ancient arts - calligraphy, versification, playing musical instruments, on the other - they had to be aware of all the latest news, including political ones, so that a man had something to talk to them about. Therefore, the services of a geisha were not cheap.
Geisha often became girls from poor families, whose parents were simply sold to the house of geisha - okiya. Throughout their childhood, they worked first as servants, and then as assistants to the main geisha in the house. Senior mentors taught girls the basics of their future profession and later helped to get an education. The younger geisha (maiko) could be distinguished by their makeup: unlike their more experienced colleagues, they did not leave a strip of skin near the hair, but painted a delicate blush on their cheeks, emphasizing their youth.
When women came into the craft, male geisha left their acting profession, and their role became more and more limited to organizing parties. Now we would call them organizers or event managers. By the way, the code of the taikomochi profession prohibited any relationship with female geisha girls. It remains so to this day. Currently, there are very few geisha left in Japan, about a thousand. But the traditions of antiquity are preserved. Many geisha continue to live in traditional geisha houses, while others have become significantly more self-reliant and independent. Traditions of the profession have been preserved mainly in Kyoto, in the prestigious regions of Gion and Ponto-cho.
A long time ago, when I first learned that the word "geisha" is translated from Japanese as "man of art", I was surprised - why not "woman of art", but a man? Did male geisha really exist ?! It turns out, yes: male geisha existed, moreover, initially the profession of a geisha was precisely male.
Nowadays male geisha are usually called taikomochi (太 鼓 持, jap. secret mochi) or - more formally - hokan (幇 間, jap. ho: kan).
1. History of takomochi
How did this profession come about?
By the beginning of the 12th century. the political system of Japan has changed: the old tribal aristocracy lost its influence, and its place in governing the country was taken by the strengthened military class - the samurai. This led to the emergence of new Buddhist movements that were closely associated with the samurai society. One of them was the Dzi school of Buddhist teachings about the Pure Land founded by the monk Ippen Shonin (1239-1289), which had a strong influence on the subsequent development of the culture and art of Japan. One of the famous Japanese popularizers of the Pure Land teachings was the monk Kuya, who invented the "dance prayer" to Buddha. In the 13th century. many of the daimyo (large feudal lords) advisors came from this school. They were called dobosu- "comrades", tk. they both gave advice and entertained their master, were experts in the tea ceremony, danced and played musical instruments.
By the end of the 15th century. in Japan, the Sengoku period (1500 - 1575) - "Warring Kingdoms" began: the military leaders of the provinces fought with each other for power. Doboshu adapted to the changed realities of life and turned into strategists and specialists in military cunning. They still remained something between a wise advisor and an interesting companion with whom it was not boring to spend time. By the 16th century. they began to be called otogisyu or hanashishu- "storytellers", as their duties included telling stories, funny tales, maintaining a conversation. They remained well versed in military strategy and fought alongside their master in battles.
The Sengoku period ended with the victory of General Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) in 1603 and the founding of the Tokugawa shogunate with its capital in Edo (present-day Tokyo). The establishment of peace and stability in the country (largely a consequence of the extermination or weakening of former regional leaders) led to the fact that most otogisu advisers were left without a master and without a job. Many of them have found a new home in kuruwa- upscale brothel quarters where artistic courtesans served merchants and other wealthy clients. The former otogishu now entertained courtesan guests at banquets with funny or erotic stories, and on occasion gave advice on making deals and doing business. Now they were called geisha (芸 者, jap. geisya） - i.e. "man of art", "artist", hokan - "mediator", or secret mochi.
The word "hokan" (幇 間, jap. ho: kan) consists of the characters 幇 NS:- "help", and 間 can- "between, among people". That is, this word can be translated as “an assistant in relations between people,” a mediator. ”Accordingly, the task of the hokan / taykomochi is to entertain guests at banquets with the geishas, acting as a liaison between guests and an intermediary between guests and geishas, and maintain the atmosphere casual fun.
Courtesan and guests (illustration for a kabuki play)
To the left is a geisha and a hokan, in the center is a courtesan laughing at them, to the right is a young samurai.
Kunisada (1786 - 1864)
"Taikomochi" (太 鼓 持, jap. secret mochi) is a more informal name for this profession, and literally means "the one who carries / holds the drum". This does not mean that taikomochi are drummers: once the expression "to carry a drum" meant "to flatter." (For more on the origin of this word, see below.)
All three names have been used since the 17th century.
In 1751 the first onna-taikomochi(a taikomochi woman) showed up at a party in one of the Shimabara brothels (Kyoto's pleasure quarter) and made a lot of noise. She was nicknamed "geiko" (芸 子, jap. geiko, i.e. "girl-artist"). In Kyoto, the word "geiko" is used to refer to the profession of a geisha to this day.
Initially, women who performed the functions of taykomochi were called onna geisha- Geisha woman. They quickly gained popularity and by 1780 overtook the number of male geisha, so by 1800 the name "geisha" was finally assigned only to women: in the book "Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World" Lesley Downer cites The following statistics for Tokyo's Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarter: in 1770 there were 16 female and 31 male geisha registered, in 1775 - 33 women and 31 men, in 1800 - 142 women and 45 men. If before "geisha" always meant a man, and women of this profession were called onna-geisha (geisha-woman), now it was necessary to clarify if a man was meant: the term appeared " otoko-geisha"(male geisha).
Taikomochi and Geisha, 1861 (illustration for a kabuki play)
The duties of geisha - both men and women - included attending parties, keeping guests company in drinking and talking, and entertaining them with dancing, singing and music. Geisha women have become even more popular than courtesans due to their artistic talents, modern appearance and sophistication.
While female geisha usually entertain guests with graceful performances - dance, singing, music, the task of male geisha is to tell stories and anecdotes, often of erotic content, as well as act out small funny scenes, organize games, in a word, all that, which helps to make the atmosphere fun and relaxed. (It is worth recalling that sex work has never been a part of the geisha profession - neither women nor men.)
And one more clarification: otoko-geisha / hokan / taykomochi are by no means Japanese transvestites. Do not confuse them with the young Kagema prostitutes, who often dressed in women's clothes: the Taikomochi did the usual men's hairstyle and wore a completely standard men's suit of the time.
Three dancing hokans and a geisha (illustration for a kabuki play)
Utagawa Yoshiiiki, 1864
In the middle of the 19th century. at the peak of the popularity of secret mochi there were about 500 - 600 people. In the 1920s. geisha began to lose popularity, losing out to more modern and Europeanized jokyu: ("girls from the cafe") - the predecessors of modern hostesses. This, in turn, led to a decrease in the number of taikomochi. After Japan's defeat in World War II and the social and political changes that followed, the number of taykomochi continued to decline steadily. Although geisha communities still exist in Kyoto and Tokyo, as of 2003 there were only five Taikomochi left in Japan: four in Tokyo and one, Taikomochi Arai, in Kyoto. Unfortunately, very few girls choose the profession of geisha for themselves, and a very insignificant number of young people show interest in the profession of taykomochi.
Taikomochi should not be confused with another geisha-related profession - "kimono dressing", otokoshi (男 氏, jap. cut off). Otokoshi help geisha don kimonos and tie obi, and accompany geisha and maiko on some occasions, such as during misedashi (maiko's first public appearance), or on erikae (literally, "change of collar"), a geisha debut. Otokoshi never take part in banquets or entertain guests.
2. The origin of the word "taykomochi"
Why are male geisha called "taykomochi"? literally "whoever holds the drum" even though they don't play drums? There are four versions of the answer to this question.
The first version is associated with the commander Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 -1598). In 1585 he was appointed kanpaku - regent to the emperor or chief imperial adviser. He passed this title to his adopted son Hidetsugi in 1591, and he himself received the honorary title of taiko (this word is pronounced in the same way as the word "drum"). Those close to Hideyoshi, who tried to flatter him ("flatter" in Japanese - mochi ageu, i.e. literally "raise"), constantly referred to him as "taiko". As a result taiko and mochi ageu united in one word - secret mochi, i.e. flatterer.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
The second version goes back to the story of a skilled drummer named Jige Yazaemon, who trusted only his beloved and most talented student to hold his taiko drum while playing. The envious ones called this student "the drum holder" ( taiko-mochi), hinting that he is only good for dragging the drum with his teacher.
Drum-taiko
A third version can be found in Shikido Okagami (1697), a guide to the brothel quarters of the Edo period. In this book, the word taykomochi is mentioned for the first time, and in the context of a pun. The author calls the carefree partying in the pleasure districts don-chan-savagi, where savagi- fun, Don- the sound of a taiko drum, and chan- ringing a bell (pronounced in the same way as the word "money"). The meaning of the joke is that there are two parties involved in the fun: one is the rich, who wasting money without measure, and the second is without money, but with a drum that beats for the entertainment of the rich and to extort money from them.
Samurai with ladies and taykomochi
Torii Kiyonaga
The fourth version is associated with traditional dengaku music (literally "music of the rice fields"), which originated in the Heian era (794 - 1185). Planting rice sprouts in the field was the most important event for the peasants and was accompanied by a ritual during which the men sang, danced and beat the drums. Therefore, people associated with dancing, singing and fun began to be called taykomochi.
Dengaku Matsuri
Perhaps all these versions are equally true, and all of them equally led to the fact that the hokan profession began to be called taikomochi.
Now the word "taykomochi" is rarely used in Japanese speech and has practically lost its original meaning. People who are not familiar with the history of this profession (and there are many of them in modern Japan) usually understand it as a musician-drummer.
3. Taykomochi performances and repertoire
Taikomochi - the forerunners of geisha - entertain guests so that each of them can abandon everyday worries and indulge in fun. The traditional repertoire of taikomochi is based on a number of cultural characteristics of Japan, which have come a long way of development and turned into the art of entertainment.
Leslie Downer characterizes the taykomochi as party masters whose duty is to entertain every guest: tell jokes and erotic anecdotes, act out skits and sketches, arrange games and treat sake. Such parties, as well as parties with geisha, can be very expensive. Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World contains an interview with Taikomochi Shichiko from Tokyo. In it he jokes that " taikomochi agete suideno taikomochi": men who spend all their time and money on takomochi are eventually kicked out of the house by their wives, and so they have no choice but to go to work as takomochi themselves. Apparently, this is how many became takomochi in the past.
This illustration shows the classic ozashiki-asobi (お 座 敷 遊 び, jap. ozashiki-asobi), a party with geisha in Ochaya (お 茶屋, jap. at least) - a tea house in Kyoto. According to the rules of ozashiki-asobi, one guest is entertained by seven geisha: a geiko dancer (tachikata), three geiko who are jikata (that is, accompanying geiko dances by playing traditional Japanese instruments and singing), two maiko and one taikomochi.
These photos depict one of Taikomochi Arai's performances: here he takes turns depicting three old women meeting in a temple and discussing the pain they experienced long ago when they lost their virginity. The youngest, 77, describes the pain as unbearable, the 88-year-old says that the pain resembled an itch, and the oldest, 99, cannot remember any pain at all.
Hokan from Yoshiwara performing asi-odori (literally "foot dance")
Leslie Downer tells how she was surprised by a parody sketch from the Taikomochi Sichiko repertoire - one of the classic erotic sketches. Taikomochi talks to a dummy given(a guest) who supposedly wants to make love to him. Taikomochi goes on to explain that he is not homosexual and that his profession is a geisha, but the bogus is persistent and impatient. Then the taykomochi gives up and agrees to satisfy the client. They retreat behind a screen, and, partially hidden by it from the audience, they act out a sexual act - with groans, groans and rolling their eyes. Then the taykomochi is supposedly "wiped" with a napkin. During this performance, the audience rolls with laughter: everyone in the audience knows that this is a joke, and understand that it makes fun of the ever-present willingness of geisha and secret men to please customers. Of course, geisha and taykomochi do not go that far, but that is why this classic erotic scene amuses the Japanese so much.
Taikomochi Yugentei entertains guests at a banquet
Why do taykomochi focus on erotic humor in their performances?
Japan, with the exception of recent years, has always remained an agrarian country, where rice was the equivalent of money, and the harvest was the main concern - because if you do not manage to stock up for the winter, people will be doomed to starvation. Harvest occurs due to irrigation of the earth with rain, flowering and pollination of plants, which in a more general sense is an act of love between masculine and feminine principles. As a result of the copulation of natural forces, the earth bears fruit, food appears, which means that it is possible to make supplies, get a source of food for future years and pass it on to new generations, thereby ensuring their prosperity and prosperity. Therefore, in the old days, the Japanese considered sexual activity to be beautiful and important. Unlike Western culture, this area of human life did not have negative connotations due to religion or morality. Erotica and sex had an almost sacred status and were associated with well-being and happiness.
A drawing of a kimono sometimes worn by Taikomochi Yugentei
In ancient Japan, the work of the peasant community was harsh and difficult, so from time to time the peasants organized holidays to "let off steam" and mark the end of certain seasonal work. On such days, people left their usual seriousness and rejoiced heartily: they drank, ate delicious food, and gained strength for new working days. The art of telling erotic stories and performing small performances, born during such festivities, was passed down from generation to generation and eventually became part of the taikomochi profession.
When you hear the word "geisha", you always imagine a beautiful Japanese woman dressed in a kimono with traditional makeup. They are a symbol of Japanese culture, just like the Honshu volcano, Hello Kitty and Nissan cars. But now imagine that you went to this country of the Rising Sun, entered a club, and a man appeared in front of you in the form of a geisha. But behind the make-up and sophisticated hairstyle, not a woman, but a man.
Roles swapped
Geisha are always adorable. They show performances, surrounding their clients with attention. If before women were always geisha, today you can meet beautiful men who have taken on this difficult role.
Japan keeps pace with the times, and often sets trends itself. Therefore, in some establishments, conditions have changed: now it is not women who serve men, as it was before.
Clubs in the Kabukicho district of Tokyo have changed the rules: now men meet the needs of women. Here Roland, the so-called emperor of industry in Japan, is considered the best.
Like their female counterparts, the men live in clubs in the red light district and try to entertain customers by encouraging them to spend as much money as possible. This is the essence of their income. Some clubs outside are posting photos of their male favorites who made the most money in the previous month.
Many clients spend money on alcohol by treating the owner to it. But Roland prefers not to drink, but still manages to earn incredible amounts.
History of success
Roland began his life as a completely ordinary child. After high school, he entered the prestigious University of Tokyo, but dropped out after a week. He simply did not see himself working for a corporation for a salary of 200,000 yen (approximately 120,000 rubles), until he finally took the documents from the university. He wanted something more, so he just dropped out of university and became a male geisha.
Having played football for most of his life, he acquired the athletic body needed to attract women and make them pay more and more. Like all newcomers, he had to start small, in a small club in Kabukicho.
Roland claims that at the very beginning it was very difficult for him. The main problem for all newbies is to do everything possible to get customers to pay. It took Roland a year to gain valuable experience. Then he worked at the Zebra club. But the guy didn't give up. Instead of being weak, he allowed himself to adapt to the industry. Today Roland runs one of the most popular male geisha clubs in all of Kabukicho. Until now, none of his colleagues has been able to earn as much as Roland.
How much did he earn?
Birthdays are one of the biggest holidays, but not for the client, but for the owner of the club. Women spend a lot of money on champagne and cognac served in huge glass decanters. The sums spent on such a day can go up to several million yen, but Roland is the only one who could earn 10 million yen per shift. This amount is equivalent to 23 million rubles (approximate amount).
According to Roland, he was able to earn this amount in just three hours. It is worthy of respect.
Since becoming manager of the club, Roland has doubled his income from 21 million yen to 42 million. Since reputation and success are measured in the amount he brings in, it's no surprise that the guy is considered the emperor of the business. There is no one like him, and he knows it. Not in the least embarrassed, Roland says:
"There are two types of men in the world: me and the rest!"
Roland is an expert in seduction. Having an attractive appearance and being a good listener, he is attentive to his interlocutors. He spends long hours at the gym every day to keep his body in top shape. He also spends a lot of money on beauty treatments every month.
Well, this successful young geisha man can afford it!
Geisha is one of the most iconic images we associate with Japan. If there is one thing that most Westerners can say they know about Japan, it is that they had those female prostitutes who smeared their faces with thick white paint. One problem: they did not. Geisha weren't prostitutes, and they didn't always cover their faces with white paint. And for a while, they weren't even women.
10. The first geisha were men
The first female geisha appeared in 1752, before that the very idea that a geisha could be a woman seemed strange. Before that, geisha were men for several hundred years. They were not called geishas until the 1600s, but they existed 500 years before.
Since the 13th century, there have been people who did exactly what geisha did: entertained noble men, treated them to tea, sang for them, told funny stories and made them feel like the most important people. They entertained the guests, bringing joy.
By the 1800s, it had become commonplace that geisha were women.
Until now, the Japanese call female geisha geiko, because in Japanese geisha means a man.
9. Geisha are not prostitutes 
Despite what we have heard, the geisha did not sell her body. In fact, it was strictly forbidden for geishas to sleep with their clients.
Geisha were hired to entertain male clients, and the men waited in line to play with real courtesan prostitutes called oiran.
Some brothels even forbade geisha to sit too close to men for fear of stealing oiran clients, something that geisha were proud of. In the 19th century, the geisha's motto was: “We sell art, not bodies.” “We never sold ourselves, our bodies for money.”
8. Geisha is a man of art 
Geisha were people of art - in fact, that's what the word geiko means. Geisha studied music and dance for years and it never stopped. Regardless of how old the geisha was, she was obliged to play music every day.
Many of them played a stringed instrument called shamisen, and some wrote their own music.
They were famous for writing "melancholic" songs and developing slow, graceful dances filled with complex symbolism. It took years to acquire these skills. Geisha began to be taught from the age of six, in the houses of geisha there were schools of art. On average, you had to study for at least five years to be called a geisha.
7. Prostitutes called themselves Geisha to attract Americans 
There is a reason why we think of geishas as prostitutes. When the US military was stationed in Japan at the end of World War II, prostitutes flocked to them in droves and called themselves geisha. Of course, they weren't real geisha - they just knew that the exotic fantasy of a Japanese geisha would seduce foreigners. And at the end of the war, Japanese girls were in such distress that they were ready to sleep for food. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese girls slept with American soldiers in exchange for money. By 1949, 80 percent of American soldiers stationed in Japan were sleeping with Japanese girls, usually prostitutes who called themselves "geisha girls."
6. Geisha with white paint on their face were underage girls 
The picture that appears in most of our minds when we try to imagine a geisha is a girl with an exquisite kimono and ornaments in her hair, her whole face covered in white paint.
This is not exactly what a geisha looked like. Geisha covered their faces with white paint for special occasions, but they generally wore much more muted makeup that was not too different from any other woman's makeup.
The girls who walked with white paint throughout the day were maikos: minors, apprentices who trained to become geisha.
These young girls dressed the way we present a geisha today. The white paint and ornament they wore were actually a symbol of inexperience; the more experienced the geisha was, the more brightly she was allowed to dress. By the time the geisha was considered one of the best, she generally got rid of the white face paint.
5. The predecessors of the Geisha were women who dressed like men 
There was another group called the shirabyashi that could be considered an early version of the geisha. These early geisha were women, but they did their best to prevent their clients from noticing it. Because they dressed like men. Shirabyashi were dancers. They wore white makeup, told stories, put on shows, played music, and entertained guests. They served essentially the same function as geisha, except that they were all dressed as male samurai.
No one is 100% sure why these women insisted on dressing like men, but the most popular theory is that they had samurai clients.
At that time, most samurai accepted boys as lovers. It is believed that these girls are dressed like boys simply because that is what the men they were trying to impress wanted to see.
4. Most geisha had bald tops. 
One surefire way to recognize a geisha from a costume is from the bald spot on the top of her head. At work, the bald spot was covered with a wig or a comb. They got bald spots during training like maiko. Maiko had particularly extravagant hairstyles that required pulling out a tight bun of hair at the top of his head. Geisha called their bald patches the "maiko" medal. In Japan, this was considered a sign of pride. It was a clear sign that they had studied for many years. Of course, in Europe it wasn't always as good as it was at home. One geisha returned humiliated, telling her friends that the Europeans could not understand how the bald spot on the head was a matter of pride.
3. The old geisha was more in demand 
Not all geisha were young. The heyday of geisha fell on 50-60 years, it was believed that at this age geisha is more beautiful, smarter, more experienced.
Usually, by the age of 30, geishas were allowed not to whiten their faces.
A geisha retired if she got married, but if she wanted to remain a geisha, she continued to be as long as she wanted. The world's oldest geisha still working, Yuko Asakusa, is 94 years old and has been working as a geisha since the age of 13. She is usually hired by politicians and incredibly wealthy business clients who are willing to pay a little more.
2. Geisha training was so rigorous that today it is illegal. 
Modern geisha are not exactly the same as they used to be.
In the good old days, a geisha's life usually began with her impoverished family selling her to a geisha's house, and her training began when she was six years old.
There are about 250 geiko and maiko working in Kyoto today, up from 2,000 that worked there a century ago. The modern geisha, however, is very different from yesterday's geisha. They don't start training until they turn 15, they don't work alongside courtesans, and they don't go through a rigorous training system. Some geisha houses today only offer one day of training per week. In 1998, some parents actually tried to sell their child to geisha houses, but it didn't quite work. They went to jail - the sale of people is prohibited these days.
1. There is also a male geisha 
There are still male geishas. There are a surprisingly large number of men who still work as geisha. Up to 7,000 male geisha work in the Kabuki-cho district of Tokyo.
The return of male geisha began in the 1960s, when the market opened to wealthy women who were bored while their husbands were at work. These husbands often did not engage in business deals in the geisha homes, and the women believed they deserved their own geisha homes, so they began hiring men to entertain them. Today there are several clubs where women can hire a "male geisha", more commonly referred to as husuto. They usually don't have the artistic talents of the geisha of the past, but they can still drink with women, flatter them and make them feel special.
Geisha are an integral part of Japanese culture, guardians of the "real Japanese spirit." Unfortunately, this ritual profession is becoming less popular. If a hundred years ago the number of geishas reached 80,000, now it is just over 1,000. They can be found only in the richest quarters of large cities or in prestigious resorts.
Not everyone knows, but initially the role of geisha was played by men who worked as jesters at banquets in the yukaku (entertainment district). The first female geisha was a "priestess of love" named Kasen in 1761. It is noteworthy that 26-year-old Eitaro is the only living man who works as a geisha. He chose the profession for a reason, following the path of his deceased mother. After her death, Eitaro and his sister Maika became the leaders of an "okiya" (geisha house) in Tokyo's Omori district. Eitaro and his team of six women are highly regarded by their clients.
(13 photos total)
1. 26-year-old Eitaro is the only male geisha in all of Japan. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)
2. A professional stylist teaches Eitaro how to properly care for a wig. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)
3. Eitaro tries on his new wig. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)
4. Mandatory makeup. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)
6. Eitaro's team selects music for clients. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)
7. Final preparations before going to the banquet. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)
8. Geisha go to a banquet to their clients. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)
9. Eitaro entertains guests. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)
10. At the age of 10, Eitaro already danced with other geishas, and at the age of 11 he made his debut on the stage of the national Japanese theater. (EFE / Everett Kennedy Brown)