A peek into Japan’s Geisha culture

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai may be new to Japanese traditional artists Ryoka and Tomitae but the duo enthralled the audience by performing dances and also enlightening with languages spoken in Kyoto, the capital of ancient dynasties of Japan.

Twenty-year-old Ryoka and 18-year-old Tomitae, who are on a maiden visit to India, are known as Maiko, which means they are apprentices of Geisha.

“We have never been to India or Chennai. We only knew it as being part of India,” says Ryoka, who is undergoing training to graduate into Geisha, a traditional female artist accomplished in Japanese art such as tea ceremony, flower arrangement and dancing.

Interestingly, Geishas are becoming extinct in Japan. There are around 200 Geishas in Kyoto. “Although, there is enthusiasm among young girls but it requires them to be mentally and physically strong besides the profession is not rewarding monetarily,” says 61-year old Reiko Tomimori, who is part of the delegation.

“Every year, 50 maikos are selected to be trained as Geishas. During the training, the girls don’t have access to phones besides they can visit their families only twice,” says Tomimori.

Ryoka and Tomitae performed two dances. The first dance was called ‘Plenty of Pine Trees’ and the second ‘The Garden of Imperial Court.’ “Pine is considered auspicious in Japan. It brings in happiness in life,” says Tomimori.

The girls wore heavy make up and were dressed in kimonos which could weigh atleast 10kgs. Tomimori says the duo are wearing white-painted make-up besides pair of wooden sandals which are about 10 cm high.

Ryoko and Tomitae also had elaborate hair decorations, called Kanzashi, which represents the transition of seasons in Kyoto. The main Kanzashi is called ‘Daikan’ and is placed at the front of her chignon. She says there is a different motif every month.

Tomimori says that there is no retirement age for Geisha. They leave the profession if they get married. Some still work beyond 80, she says.

Interestingly, during the performance there had been technical glitches but it did not deter the artists from Japan from performing much to the delight of the audience.

Tomimori rejects Geishas now have anything to do with sex. They are the keepers of Japan’s traditional arts, she says. “I hope the tradition does not die out,” she adds.