Memoirs with a Geisha

Have you ever read Memoirs of a Geisha, or seen the film?

Tonight I spent the evening in such company, which was at the same time both 'normal' and magical. Normal because I was in a tatami room, like in my house here, in my city of Kyoto, with people mostly about my age. However it was magical as we were invited to see a glimpse of the life of this old-age tradition. Our geisha was in fact a 'maiko san', which means she is in her teens. Her work every day is to practice her skills (making conversation with a whole range of people, dancing, playing the shamisen (a stringed guitar-like instrument), and others) and then entertain her guests in the evenings by looking beautiful and mysterious, serving drinks, a meal, leading games (as in the video), dancing and other arts. And she really did have a skill, despite being only 17, of smiling and looking so beautiful and genuine when she did. I imagine though, with having to sleep with her head on a wooden pillow so as to protect her hairstyle and make-up which must last for one whole week, only having two days off per month, not having access to computers, the internet or a mobile phone, and entertaining people usually much older than her and probably much more drunk, it must be hard to be so nice all the time in public. Her 'okaasan' (= mother; used in this context of her seniors in the tea house who care for her and teach her) is hovering in the background, picking up the conversation where need be, and giving permission for her to enter the room or leave the house.

It really was a magical and extraordinary experience. At the start I rather looked down on the profession, as being the servant of others, but as the evening went on, I realised that relaxation is a vital part of life, as is socialising, and this geisha job-come-lifestyle is designed to encourage both for people. I'd still love for these people in the hidden parts of Kyoto's life to come to know and follow Jesus though - imagine how it might benefit them, transform their conversational lives with clients, and how the rest of Japan and the world might hear about it!