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It's impossible to bring up the subject of geishas without mentioning Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, but fascinating and beautifully written though that book is it would be a shame if its success was at the expense of this marvellous factual memoir, written by the very woman who inspired Golden. Mineko Iwasaki is, by her own admission, probably the most famous geisha - or geiko, to use the correct designation - of her generation. What makes her account so different from Golden's book is the fact that she is so aware of the conflict between the highly secretive, traditional world of the karyukai and the modern society that was developing around her in the 1960s and 1970s. One of the most truly fascinating aspects of this autobiography is not so much the astonishing detail of the rigorous aesthetic and physical demands made upon these young artists (the prurient should note once and for all that 'geisha' does not in any way equate to 'courtesan'!), as much of that is now known to us through other accounts, but the conflicting emotional demands placed on Iwasaki by her calling, her family, and, ultimately, her desire for freedom. An exceptionally beautiful young child, she was selected early to become the successor - the head of the family - of a particular geisha house (okiya) in Kyoto, and was legally adopted by the owner. (To understand how she was able to bear to leave her family in such circumstances, one has to be aware of the debt of honour owed by her family to the okiya after an elder sister left under a cloud.) The interiors, the dances, the theatre, the kimono: all are described in such loving and beautiful detail that you are truly transported into a different world. Yet, when Iwasaki describes her decision not just to leave the profession (she became an art dealer, married and had a child) but to close down the okiya when she was just 30 years old, one begins to understand her frustration with the archaic system and its failure to respond to the demands of late 20th-century society. A must-read. (Kirkus UK)
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Daily Mail
'A glimpse into the exotic, mysterious, tinged-with-eroticism world of the almost mythical geisha'
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing insight!,
By
This review is from: Geisha of Gion: The Memoir of Mineko Iwasaki (Hardcover)
After reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" i was really hungry for more literature about this fascinating world and i picked the right book. Ms Iwasaki's story is truly interesting and offers an amazing inisght into the REAL world of the geisha. The details are so fine and exquisite that you really dont want to tear yourself away from this world. It also cleared up a lot of misconceptions that "Memoirs of a Geisha" presented. The latter text relates of a practice called the "mizauge" in which a young geisha offers her virginity to a patron (who has paid for the privilege). Ms Iwasaki clears this up and points out that it was NOT a part of her experience as a Geisha and that the practice belongs to another group. The only criticism i would have is that Ms Iwasaki tends to come accross as a little arrogant and presumtious sometimes (e.g the time she believes she caused the Queen and Prince Phillip to sleep in separate beds!). But other than that, this book is truly MARVELLOUS!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sarah,
By Sarah (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Geisha of Gion: The True Story of Japan's Foremost Geisha: The Memoir of Mineko Iwasaki (Paperback)
This is definatly an enjoyable read. You are bound to enjoy it if you like Chinese/Japanese literature and are interested in Geisha culture. You do take from this book an insightful understanding of Geisha training in Japan and other aspects of this e.g. tea ceremony, dancing, komono costume design etc.
The book also puts across effectivly just how much time, discipline and dedication is required to train as a Geisha. However I feel this book falls down in quite a few areas. The progagonist Mineko definatly does come across as arrogant and self-important which is at times off putting. As Mineko trained so young and was such a dedicated student she does seem to have missed out on much emotional development. Reading another review on this book, I agree also that this does make the book a bit one dimensional at times. Although the book flows well and is very readable the English is simple and at times disjointed or uses wrong expressions. A result of it's translation no doubt. So in terms of English literature I did not find it stretching my vobabulary/appriciation for the art of English in any way. I also found the descriptions e.g. of the Geiko house very flat and one dimensional at times. Again in line with other reviews I felt this resulted in a slightly one dimensional read and would have benefited from using a more imaginative description. One last point was the under developed/explained aspect of the protagonists' (Mineko) fustrations of the rigid and archaiac training system of becomming a Geiko. It seems to be only at the end of the book that we begin to learn this. As Mineko retired at the peak of her career at 29 I found this aspect to be unsatisfactory unresolved. For example, if this bothered Mineko so much why didn't she contribute to positivly try and change this for herself and others? As the end of the book finishes rapidly with a summary of what happened next to Mineko it is hard to accertain Mineko's true depth of feelings/reflection of where she came from and acheived. I know others have mentioned how much they admired Mineko for her sheer determination and hard work. This, I would never knock her for. However for all the status and professional experiences she gained what ultimate price did she pay for this? If anything the book highlights a slightly sad and lonely childhood which Mineko seems to have blotted out by simply working herself into what could have been an early grave. I did like this book but I wouldn't feel compelled to rush out and recommend it to others as a must read. But like I say if you like oriental literature you definatly will enjoy this one. And perhaps the fact that I've had all this to write about is no bad thing. It certainly has sparked a lot of questions and reflections for me reviewing it.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Geisha's Life,
By
This review is from: Geisha of Gion: The True Story of Japan's Foremost Geisha: The Memoir of Mineko Iwasaki (Paperback)
I've read the reviews below and think some people have missed the point a little; yes, it's true Mineko can come across as being up herself but in reality she's just very factual, as is the style in Japan. She could easily be discussing someone else's life rather than her own. It's a fasinating book which reveals tons about the kind of life Geisha's have and how much hard work it is. I would highly recommend it - more so than Memoirs of a Geisha.Read it and be your own judge.
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