'Geisha, A Life' by Mineko Iwasaki is an autobiography that provides a first-hand account of Mineko's life as one of Japan's top geisha in the 60s. The book delves into the culture of the geisha world, showcasing the training of women from childhood to adulthood, and offering insights into the motivation behind perfecting traditional Japanese arts.
The narrative in 'Geisha, A Life' is praised for its honesty and clarification of the true lives of geisha, contrasting it with the fictionalized portrayal in 'Memoirs of a Geisha.' The book covers Mineko's journey from being an apprentice maiko to her experiences as a geiko, giving readers a detailed look at the day-to-day life of a geisha and the adventures she embarked on during her career.
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From The Publisher:
No woman in the three-hundred-year history of the karyukai has ever come forward in public to tell her story-until now. Many say I was the best geisha of my generation, writes Mineko Iwasaki. And yet, it was a life that I found too constricting to continue. And one that I ultimately had to leave. Trained to become a geisha from the age of five, Iwasaki would live among the other women of art in Kyoto's Gion Kobu district and practice the ancient customs of Japanese entertainment. She was loved by kings, princes, military heroes, and wealthy statesmen alike. But even though she became one of the most prized geishas in Japan's history, Iwasaki wanted more: her own life. And by the time she retired at age twenty-nine, Iwasaki was finally on her way toward a new beginning. Geisha, a Life is her story - at times heartbreaking, always awe-inspiring, and totally true.
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About the Author:
Born in 1949, Mineko Iwasaki was Japan's star geisha until she retired at the age of twenty-nine. She now lives in a Kyoto suburb, with her family.
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