Memoirs of a Geisha

[Sayuri]

Hi there! ^_^
Currently I've been reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. It's really a book that refuses to stay shut! I really recommend it... (Although, considering the forum here, I'm sure some of you have probably read it years ago. ^_< ) I've found that I have more curiosity about the geisha aspect of Japanese culture now that I'm nearly finished with reading this novel which, in part, is why I stumbled upon this site. I'm also curious as to whether any of you have read it and what your thoughts are. Also, I would be grateful if anyone could recommend more books about geisha ^_^.

[Hatsumomo]

Hi there! ^_^
Currently I've been reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. It's really a book that refuses to stay shut! I really recommend it... (Although, considering the forum here, I'm sure some of you have probably read it years ago. ^_< ) I've found that I have more curiosity about the geisha aspect of Japanese culture now that I'm nearly finished with reading this novel which, in part, is why I stumbled upon this site. I'm also curious as to whether any of you have read it and what your thoughts are. Also, I would be grateful if anyone could recommend more books about geisha ^_^.
hello sayuri :bows and laughs: it's a wonderful book no? i myself want to be a geisha dont have th asian background though

[Immortal Geisha]

Hi There!

I've got a bunch of mini reviews of geisha books on my website you can see them here (http://immortalgeisha.com/ig/book_review_01.cfm?id=2). I've some of the titles below in the order of how I rate them. I hope this helps.

I highly recommend:

Geisha : A Living Tradition by Kyoko Aihara

Geisha by Liza Crihfield Dalby

Women of the Pleasure Quarters by Lesley Downer

Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki (with Rande Brown)

Autobiography of a Geisha by Sayo Masuda. Trans by G.G. Rowley

The Flower and Willow World by A.C. Scott

Geisha of Pontocho by P.D. Perkins

Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile by The Peabody Essex Museum

Although these are about the red light districts - they are still important and interesting reads:

Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan by Cecilia Segawa Seigle

Yoshiwara - The Nightless City by JE De Becker

These are -okay-. Personally - I think the information is sub-par:

The Life of a Geisha by Eleanor Underwood

This book was written after Memoirs of a Geisha was released and talks as though the story is real. The information is blah...but, I do like the book as it has many pretty pictures in it. At the time it was released - it did serve nicely as a visual aid for Memoirs of a Geisha novel.

Geisha : A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art by John Gallagher, Wayne Reynolds (Illustrator) (Hardcover)

This one is a tough one - the information is okay to a certain degree...but the illustrations are blantantly incorrect and there are MANY photographs of "maiko and geiko" splattered through the book that are not real maiko and geiko, but rather - tourist dressed up.

I do not really recommend these books:

Geisha Secrets : A Pillow Book for Lovers by Anon (this is definately 18+! It has shunga prints on one side.)

Yoshiwara - The Pleasure Quarters of Old Tokyo by Stephen and Ethel Longstreet (there is just something that rings wrong about this book....I read it after a lot of the other books and it just doesn't seen very factual.)

Naomi~

[vivien]

Geisha of Pontocho by P.D. Perkins

Thats on of my very favorite books! Even the binding is beautiful! I ended up such a Pontocho groupie after reading it. Totaly my favorite hanamchi!

[Immortal Geisha]

You too? I turned into a Pontocho groupie also! Aside from being awesome in having chidori as their mon - the book itself was a really nice, very personal (yet, non-intrusive) look into the word of geiko and maiko during an important time of their history (I think WWII and post WWII was a very defining era for the gesha culture in terms of survival). I also loved the binding - and the pull-out maps of Pontocho!

[Estarry]

I haven't read Memoirs of a Geisha yet though it i've been tempted to get it the times I have past it by. I'll probably get it eventually but I need to finish other books first.

[amubleu]

Immortal Geisha, thank you for posting that list. you totally reminded me that i had a copy of "Geisha, a Life". my boyfriend picked up a copy for me a year ago and totally forgot i had it. i'm glad you highly recommended it. it is on my "next to read" list.

[Everlasting Blossom]

I think I won't read that book. I'm not a big fan of fiction. The only fiction book I've ever read and liked was Catcher in the Rye (don't worry, I'm not gonna kill anybody.) I'm into bios and autobios. Plus Mineko Iwasaki sued him, and since I've read her book, I've kind of fallen in love her... *shrugs*

I hear they are going to make memoirs of a geisha a movie. I think it's set to come out in dec of this year, but don't hold me to that. But when it comes out, yeah.... I'll see that.

[Everlasting Blossom]

You too? I turned into a Pontocho groupie also! Aside from being awesome in having chidori as their mon

Yeah, that's purdy much what pulled me into them. Their cute little mon.

Since we are on the topic of geisha books, I just wanted to share this one that I bought off of e-bay. (if the link works that is) It's got FANTASTIC pics... Also, there are some parts written in english.

Kyoto Hanamachi Maiko Geisha Culture Japanese Book (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4551019758&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1)

[Immortal Geisha]

I have that book also! I really like it. Actually I have a whole shelf full of Japanese Geisha Books that I need to somehow translate the titles and list them on my site soon. I'll also be linking to how you can buy them on Amazon.co.jp also. Most ebay sellers charge 4 -5 times the cost of the book, plus astronomical shipping fees...and purchasing from amazon.co.jp isn't that hard once you know how to do it!

Another one of my favourite books that I forgot to list was "Maiko no Kamigata" (http://immortalgeisha.com/ig/book_review_01a.cfm) - which has been translated by Peter MacIntosh. Sometimes, I see it listed on ebay for an obsurd price of $300+ - but you can order if for about $125 or so..

You are correct about the movie - btw...it is set for release on 9th of December. I'm not looking forward to it, based on the promotional images released...but I need to see it to review it. I hope I don't embarrass my husband by getting angry in the middle of it!

[Sayuri]

*Laughs* a Hatsumomo on this fourum, this will be interesting... ^_< I didn't notice when I made this name I promise! Nice to meet you though. ^_^ I'm definitely going to print out that list and take it to Boarders with me ^_^. Thanks so much Immortal Geisha! I'm really interested in picking up biographys and autobiographys now. Even though Memoirs of a Geisha is fiction, I still found it to be quite informative. Perhaps it shouldn't be used as a guide book into the geisha world, but neither should a single non-fiction book on the same subject. I don't think that kind of book could exist. Perhaps the understanding of a subject is attained through immersing one's self in its many aspects. ^_^ This is why I'd like to read more, and perhaps learn more on the subjects of kimono and dance. I'm sure I'll learn plenty of that here ^_<. I've been highly interested in Japanese culture since I was younger. Now that I practice Kinjuitsu, it's becoming more of a life-style than anything else. :p

On a second note, that would be really awesome if they do make a movie out of it ^_^. It's kind of funny though. Just yesterday my mother and I were talking about how great a movie it would make! o_O

Thanks everyone for your input! ^_<

[Everlasting Blossom]

I have that book also! I really like it. Actually I have a whole shelf full of Japanese Geisha Books that I need to somehow translate the titles and list them on my site soon. I'll also be linking to how you can buy them on Amazon.co.jp also. Most ebay sellers charge 4 -5 times the cost of the book, plus astronomical shipping fees...and purchasing from amazon.co.jp isn't that hard once you know how to do it!

Another one of my favourite books that I forgot to list was "Maiko no Kamigata" (http://immortalgeisha.com/ig/book_review_01a.cfm) - which has been translated by Peter MacIntosh. Sometimes, I see it listed on ebay for an obsurd price of $300+ - but you can order if for about $125 or so..

You are correct about the movie - btw...it is set for release on 9th of December. I'm not looking forward to it, based on the promotional images released...but I need to see it to review it. I hope I don't embarrass my husband by getting angry in the middle of it!

Yeah, Well, I'm lucky that my best friend IS Japanese. I just throw stuff in front of her and she reads it. It's easier that way. *giggle*

I am planning on getting that book you suggested for my birthday! he he he. My boyfriend doesn't know how to shop, so I just tell him what to buy.

Yeah... I just have to see the movie for the visual stimuli. I mean, the fact that some of the cast I hear will be chinese does take away some of the whole effect for me, but again........visual stimuli! :p

[Maiko-Chan]

I just got that Kyoto Hanamachi book not long ago. I really like it and its REALLY helpful in some of the geisha-themed artwork I do, my only complaint is that its TINY. Wasn't expecting such a teeny book, but its PACKED with information and great pictures.

[Everlasting Blossom]

I just got that Kyoto Hanamachi book not long ago. I really like it and its REALLY helpful in some of the geisha-themed artwork I do, my only complaint is that its TINY. Wasn't expecting such a teeny book, but its PACKED with information and great pictures.

yeah...but as they say, good things come in small packages.

[Nightblooming_Flower]

Another quite interesting and funny read is Nakamura Kiharu's 'Edokko geisha ichidaiki'. Unfortunately it seems as though they don't have the english version on amazon right now but maybe you can find it in your local bookstore or library?

This is the geisha that inspired Arthur Golden to write Memoirs of a Geisha and she also inspired Jean Cocteaus poem 'Geisha'. The book also contains some pictures of her and people she met throughout her life.

[Everlasting Blossom]

Another quite interesting and funny read is Nakamura Kiharu's 'Edokko geisha ichidaiki'. Unfortunately it seems as though they don't have the english version on amazon right now but maybe you can find it in your local bookstore or library?

This is the geisha that inspired Arthur Golden to write Memoirs of a Geisha and she also inspired Jean Cocteaus poem 'Geisha'. The book also contains some pictures of her and people she met throughout her life.


OOoohh..now that sounds interesting!!!! :)

[Hatsumomo]

*Laughs* a Hatsumomo on this fourum, this will be interesting... ^_< I didn't notice when I made this name I promise! Nice to meet you though. ^_^ I'm definitely going to print out that list and take it to Boarders with me ^_^. Thanks so much Immortal Geisha! I'm really interested in picking up biographys and autobiographys now. Even though Memoirs of a Geisha is fiction, I still found it to be quite informative. Perhaps it shouldn't be used as a guide book into the geisha world, but neither should a single non-fiction book on the same subject. I don't think that kind of book could exist. Perhaps the understanding of a subject is attained through immersing one's self in its many aspects. ^_^ This is why I'd like to read more, and perhaps learn more on the subjects of kimono and dance. I'm sure I'll learn plenty of that here ^_<. I've been highly interested in Japanese culture since I was younger. Now that I practice Kinjuitsu, it's becoming more of a life-style than anything else. :p

On a second note, that would be really awesome if they do make a movie out of it ^_^. It's kind of funny though. Just yesterday my mother and I were talking about how great a movie it would make! o_O

Thanks everyone for your input! ^_<
u know u love ur evil rival!!! XD :huggles: i cant wait till memoirs of a geisha comes out in teh movies. i already asked movie gallery for the future poster :D

[Everlasting Blossom]

u know u love ur evil rival!!! XD :huggles: i cant wait till memoirs of a geisha comes out in teh movies. i already asked movie gallery for the future poster :D

OOOhhh! Good Idea!!! ;)

[midgetgem]

I never really understood memoirs of a geisha, well I understood the book, but the prolouge (sp?!) where he explains how he knew the maiko and translated it for her made me confussed as to how much fiction it was....maybe I'm dense!

I loved geisha of gion, the descriptions there were immense, and I quite like Geisha by Liza Dalby (sp?). Trying to find other books- but it isnt easy!

[Lish]

I loved this book so much. I can't wait for it to come out as a movie. Zhang Ziyi is playing Sayuri, despite being Chinese (I believe).

[raks_hime]

I read Memoirs before I read Geisha, a Life and I enjoyed them both. I was a little confused about little bits that overlapped between the books but were contradictory. For example, in MoaG, Sayuri says that visiting as many teahouses as possible to burn as many sticks for pay (I forget the name) as she could was bad and something that Hatsumomo did, but in GaL, she says that was how she earned more money than the other geisha. It made me think that Arthur Golden spoke to many geisha who had differences of opinion and his characer was definately a composite, although probably heavily based on the one geisha he mentioned. When he gave a talk at my college, I think he said as much. I wish I could remember more about what he said. It was a long time ago, but he did say he was rather shocked that Iwasaki sued him since he said he tried to be accurate and respectful. Like many of you have said, it is fiction and we should always bear that in mind. My mother has used me and other members of my family as inspiration for characters and for plot lines in a collection of short stories she's been writing, but I know the character who is (in general) based on me is not intended to be me so I'm not shocked when "my" character does stuff I wouldn't do or deals with situations that never happened to me.
In short, I like both books. I think MoaG and GaL compliment each other and say things that the other book cannot say (be it out of modesty or being the wrong gender to understand).

[WimpyRen]

OK. I finally read Memoirs this weekend....I have to admit I just wanted to read it before the movie came out, but now I kinda don't want to see the movie hehe. I really enjoyed it. I have also read Geisha, a life many many months ago; though there are some contradictions, I had to tell myself that Memoirs was fiction, and GAL was written really from a unique point of view since not every geisha was taken in as an Atatori. For fiction, which I don't read often, it made me laugh, and ball my eyes out, so that's good for me. :D

[Matsuko]

OK. I finally read Memoirs this weekend....I have to admit I just wanted to read it before the movie came out, but now I kinda don't want to see the movie hehe. I really enjoyed it. I have also read Geisha, a life many many months ago; though there are some contradictions, I had to tell myself that Memoirs was fiction, and GAL was written really from a unique point of view since not every geisha was taken in as an Atatori. For fiction, which I don't read often, it made me laugh, and ball my eyes out, so that's good for me. :D
I have yet to read Geisha, but I plan to. Hopefully I can get my hands on a copy before the movie. I suppose fiction is a good thing to read at times, because it lets you see how others interpret the information that is given to them. And sometimes stories can be rather entertaining, although highly fictional.
I recently finished reading a book from the Sano Ichiro series, which wasn't even written by someone who was Japanese. The wife of Sano, who is a samurai during the Tokugawa Shogunate and the chief criminal investigator under hte government, helps him with his investigation and even helps incriminate part of the Imperial family. Would this have ever happened without someone losing their head? Prolly not, but it was entertaining nonetheless. (By the way, pick up the book. It's very entertaining. It's called The Samurai's Wife. I don't remember the author's name, but I doubt you could miss it)

[WimpyRen]

hmm that sounds like a good read. Check out Target if your going to buy Memoirs, it's about 3$ cheaper...

[Queen_of_Hearts]

Memoirs of a Geisha is one of my favorite books. I think it was amazing and I heard they are making a movie. I'm so excited. *smiles* If you haven't read the book I really think you should, but I understand if you don't either. *giggles* :p

[Bonbon]

I love this book!!! My cousin lent it to me, and I read it in one night. I was a little disappointed with Sayuri in the end but I guess I would have chosen the same man also. I just feel really bad for Nobu. I'm not too excited about the movie mainly because Sayuri isn't played by a Japanese actress.. I would have greatly preferred them staying true to the book and casting Japanese people. It would have been even better if everything was spoken in Japanese with english subtitles...I'll probably see the movie anyway bah.

[Queen_of_Hearts]

I loved Nobuo... *sighs* I loved the Chairman too though...

[Matsuko]

I read Memoirs before I read Geisha, a Life and I enjoyed them both. I was a little confused about little bits that overlapped between the books but were contradictory. For example, in MoaG, Sayuri says that visiting as many teahouses as possible to burn as many sticks for pay (I forget the name) as she could was bad and something that Hatsumomo did, but in GaL, she says that was how she earned more money than the other geisha. It made me think that Arthur Golden spoke to many geisha who had differences of opinion and his characer was definately a composite, although probably heavily based on the one geisha he mentioned. When he gave a talk at my college, I think he said as much. I wish I could remember more about what he said. It was a long time ago, but he did say he was rather shocked that Iwasaki sued him since he said he tried to be accurate and respectful. Like many of you have said, it is fiction and we should always bear that in mind. My mother has used me and other members of my family as inspiration for characters and for plot lines in a collection of short stories she's been writing, but I know the character who is (in general) based on me is not intended to be me so I'm not shocked when "my" character does stuff I wouldn't do or deals with situations that never happened to me.
In short, I like both books. I think MoaG and GaL compliment each other and say things that the other book cannot say (be it out of modesty or being the wrong gender to understand).
The reason why Mineko sured, him, I learned not too long ago is because geisha are sworn to secrecy after they're retired and so what she did for him was strictly forbidden. He promised her he wouldn't reveal her name to keep her privacy but as it turned out he printed her name in his acknowledgments as the main help for his book. This, among other things, angered the geisha community because women aren't supposed to give away their secrets like that. She received threatening letters and even death threats from people and to this day she still isn't quite welcome there. I completely understand why she'd want to sue him, especially if he told her he would keep her secret. And even if he didn't, if he's the "expert" he claims to be he should have known that a world that secretive doesn't share so readily.

[WimpyRen]

I had wondered about that. I had read so many different reasons for her suing him but that certainly seems most logical. But knowing geisha are sworn to secrecy, ya know, it doesn't make much sense that he would reveal who she was. Come on :p that's just not very nice or thoughtful.

[Matsuko]

I had wondered about that. I had read so many different reasons for her suing him but that certainly seems most logical. But knowing geisha are sworn to secrecy, ya know, it doesn't make much sense that he would reveal who she was. Come on :p that's just not very nice or thoughtful.
My thoughts exactly. I would have too, especially because now whatever reputation she had when she left is now completely soiled.
"I remember Mineko, she was very talented. If only she hadn't revealed to a stranger everything about being a geisha. "
I'm sure that's a wonderful thing to be remembered for.

[WimpyRen]

No kidding- I would've felt awful if I was in her shoes. What a nasty situation. She sure had guts though.

[Matsuko]

It's such apity what he did to her. I honestly don't think him as some great scholar who knows anything about geisha, especially because all he did was write a fictional book on them. He may know a lot, but not alot to call himself an expert. I think it's a little greedy to stomp all over someone's reputation and then make millions off of their story. She also sued because the story was eerily like her own, by the way, all though he still protests taht it was all his own.

[WimpyRen]

That is terrible- I'm sure she completely trusted him to keep her identity a secret. Perhaps then the story being so much like her own wouldn't have been such a big deal since her identity wouldn't have been known. It's amazing what people will do to anyone else to capitolize on something.

[Mikamura]

I love this book!!! My cousin lent it to me, and I read it in one night. I was a little disappointed with Sayuri in the end but I guess I would have chosen the same man also. I just feel really bad for Nobu. I'm not too excited about the movie mainly because Sayuri isn't played by a Japanese actress.. I would have greatly preferred them staying true to the book and casting Japanese people. It would have been even better if everything was spoken in Japanese with english subtitles...I'll probably see the movie anyway bah.

I'M WITH YOU! I just hate the actress because she isn't japanese and because the story in't spoken in Japanese!
I just saw the movie, and I still have my doubts T.T

I am not saying it wasn't great because it Was! Right now I'm hoping to buy the book for better understanding and some other geisha books to understand the geisha completly.

[Matsuko]

I'M WITH YOU! I just hate the actress because she isn't japanese and because the story in't spoken in Japanese!
I just saw the movie, and I still have my doubts T.T

I am not saying it wasn't great because it Was! Right now I'm hoping to buy the book for better understanding and some other geisha books to understand the geisha completly.
If you want to understand geisha completely, don't use Memoirs as a guide. Trust me, it's a complete work of fiction and so are the supposed facts in them. Not all of it is fake, but I would be wary of what you believe from it.

[shigatsuhana]

I would read Mineko Iwasaki's book. Read anything by Liza Dalby. There are loads of photographic Geisha books out there. Jodi Cobb, Kyoko Aihara are just a couple of authors.

[Matsuko]

I would read Mineko Iwasaki's book. Read anything by Liza Dalby. There are loads of photographic Geisha books out there. Jodi Cobb, Kyoko Aihara are just a couple of authors.
I just got through Mineko Iwasaki's book and in my opinion it's twice as good as Memoirs. I definitely learned a lot about what Golden tweaked to make the book more "interesting". Liza Dalby is interesting in her works as well. I kinda disagree with her in one of her essays in a book I'm reading where she said that Iwasaki's claim that Golden stole her story is impossible due to how outlandish his fictional story is. But I suppose what she didn't address is what Golden took from Iwasaki's story. There are A LOT of things, events, and people in Iwasaki's story that ended up in Memoirs.

[kaijou]

I would read Mineko Iwasaki's book. Read anything by Liza Dalby. There are loads of photographic Geisha books out there. Jodi Cobb, Kyoko Aihara are just a couple of authors.

I love Mineko Iwasaki's book. Very interesting read, and straight to the point. She's got guts when it comes to dealing with scummy men who harassed her, and I admire her for that :)

Oooh, I also have Jodi Cobb's book as well :D

[Matsuko]

I love Mineko Iwasaki's book. Very interesting read, and straight to the point. She's got guts when it comes to dealing with scummy men who harassed her, and I admire her for that :)

Oooh, I also have Jodi Cobb's book as well :D
I completely agree! I've never seen anyone be so honesty about their personality or be so brutal with men! I suppose they deserved it though. :o

[black-cat-kitty]

I just finished reading the book Memorirs of a Geish and I loved it. I could not put it down no mader what.

[Matsuko]

I just finished reading the book Memorirs of a Geish and I loved it. I could not put it down no mader what.
It is an interesting book, but I fing that reading the real memoires from actual geisha to be more exciting! Perhaps you could find a copy of one? I'm sure it's just as good!!