The glamorous world of big-city geisha is familiar to many readers, but little has been written of the life and hardship and pain led by the hot-springs-resort geisha. Indentured to geusha houses by families in desperate poverty, deprived of freedom and identity, these young women lived in a world of sex for sale, unadorned by trappings of wealth and celebrity.

In this autobiography, Mineko Iwasaki lifts the veil on geisha life to reveal a true story of abandonment, rape and overwhelming dedication to art. Mineko tells a tale of reconciling public and private identities, granting an insight into the mind and heart of the geisha performer. American author Arthur Golden interviewed her for background information when writing his 1997 book, Memoirs of a Geisha.

This exquisite collection of photographs and interviews focuses on four of Kyoto's most beautiful geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha). First, the geisha and maiko were photographed at Kyoto's largest geisha dance performances and other important dances. Next, portrait sessions were held with each woman to capture the kata (forms or poses) of her favorite dances. The geisha and maiko were then interviewed about their photographs, giving the reader...

Details the tragic story of Cho-Cho-San, a Japanese geisha, who, after marrying an American Navy Lieutenant, is destroyed by her husband's betrayal when he returns, after leaving her for three years, with his new American wife.

Filmed in collaboration with Arthur Golden, this program captures the geisha mystique while documenting the experiences of two maiko, geisha-in-training. Additional interviews with clients, patrons and others offer insights into contemporary Japanese culture and a profession that is slowly fading away.

In 1929, an impoverished nine-year-old named Chiyo is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. Her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy in Hatsumomo and she is rescued by Hatsumomo's bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic and social skills a geisha must master in order to survive...

In 1929, an impoverished fishing village father sells his nine-year-old daughter, Chiyo, to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and she becomes subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. As she grows older, her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo. She is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri,...