Every geisha starts as a maiko
MYTH! You have to be under 21 to be a maiko, and it is possible to become a geisha without being a maiko first. The term maiko is also only used for trainees in Kyoto.
Most geisha were sold to geisha houses (okiya) by their parents
MYTH! Although it did happen, geisha came through many other routes, including being the daughters of other geisha.
Most geisha are in Kyoto.
MYTH! Most geisha nowadays are in the resort town of Atami, south of Tokyo. Kyoto is still the cultural capital of geisha though.
Geisha always wear white face make up
MYTH! Although maiko (young trainee geisha) wear white make up, older geisha only wear it for special occassions
natilee said,
April 30, 2009 at 6:31 am
i watch a movie call geisha and a little girl was taken away from her parent to become a geisha and she was treated very badly and i didnt get to finish the movie but i heard that she finds her sister and becaomes a geisha and i think geisha are paid to have intercourse.
Megan said,
October 20, 2009 at 8:03 pm
This is not completely true. Geisha only went through the mizuage as a maiko. It sounds like she was sent to a brothel.