Almost exactly two years ago, I read “Memoirs of a Geisha”, and was enraptured by the novel. Since then, however, I’ve both visited Kyoto in Japan, and learnt that much of the story portrayed in the book is the subject of much controversy, and it is far from an accurate portrayal of the Geisha profession. My friend Sharon had recommended 
Geisha of Gion, by Mineko Iwasaki as one of the best Geisha books, and she was right.
Where Memoirs is a novel, Geisha of Gion is an autobiographical account from one of the foremost Geiko (A Geiko in Kyoto is a Geisha elsewhere) from the post-war period. Whilst there are similarities in some of the “plot” - some rivalry, a not-quite-forced enlistment into the profession, I’m more taken by Iwasaki’s version for the more tolerable picture it paints. Having been transfixed by the beautiful display we saw when we watched the Miyako Odori some forty years after Iwasaki herself would have taken part, I almost find myself resenting - a little - some of Arthur Goldens portrayals. No doubt there are some less than savory aspects of the profession (his fiction is primarily pre-war), but I can see how Memoirs of a Geisha stirred up something of a controversy.
Whilst the story in itself in Geisha of Gion fascinating, there is a darker undercurrent. Ultimately Iwasaki retires as a Geiko, frustrated by it’s inability to change and better reflect the desires of the women who make up the profession. Kyoto, and Gion in particular, is famous for the Geisha, and it’s a wonderful site to behold a Geisha moving at speed (and it’s surprising how fast they can move given the weight of the costume they must wear!) through the side-streets of Gion. That the profession did not respond to her desire to see the women exert more control over their involvement in the creative and business elements is a shame, as it will only serve to undermine a beautiful tradition.
So Geisha of Gion is certainly a better book to read for a more enjoyable and, seemingly much more accurate portrayal of one of the most delightful cultures and traditions we experienced whilst in Japan last year.
June 18th, 2005 at 5:40 pm
Hi Richard,
So glad you enjoyed the book! That is why I often don’t recommend books in case they don’t like the book - so I am very pleased that you did!
Hope you and Frances are both well.
March 5th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Agree with you. Just seen the movie, with Chinese ladies and with just some Japanese words..
I will have a look to this book per your suggestion. I lived in Japan for a while and as an artist, painting Geisha and maikos..
As you like this Japanese word, some of them are on my blog,
http://geisha-painting.blogspot.com
August 19th, 2006 at 6:22 am
Hello Richard,
I was recently given “Memoirs of a Geisha” as a gift and could hardly put it down. I lived for two years in Japan in my late teenage years and traveled quite a bit in the military while doing so. For awhile, I lived with a Japanese family to learn the language and customs, which I found enjoyable. I went “native” as best I could in my spare time and enjoyed it greatly. This was less than 10 years after the end of WW II. I have read a lot about Japanese history, art, customs, and some about Geisha life. I have seen many of the films we are familiar with in the west, regarding Japanese life.
In fact, when “Teahouse of the August Moon” came out, I found myself sitting in the back of a theater in Houston, translating the Japanese that was being spoken (and not being translated) into English for my friends. Those around us were listening also. There were some very funny lines spoken in Japanese that we were laughing at and many in the theater were wondering why we were laughing. There was no translation on the screen.
So I was caught up in the story of “Memiors” though it was a novel. I just finished the book an hour or two ago and decided to go looking on Google to see who were the real famous Geiko of Gion. I had heard the name of Mineko Iwasaki before, and that she was a very famous Geiko in Gion. So now, thanks to your webpage and information, I am going to look for her book and read an actual account of her life as she tells it. Thank you very much for the information.
January 12th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Hi Richard,
I’ve just currently re-read the book and the corresponding parts in Wikipedia [but sadly I haven't read "Geisha in Gion" yet], it has been pinpointed that there’s no mizuage-bidding things in Geiko lives [Wiki said it's part of Oiran's, though]. But apart from it, how different geiko lives are when compared to what Golden portrayed in his book? [I'm jus a bit anxious if I've simply read a wrong book, although "Memoirs of a Geisha" is doubtlessly a good fiction.]