What is a Hangyoku?

A Hangyoku (半玉) is the term for an apprentice geisha (or geiko in Kyoto) in Tokyo and the Kanto region, meaning "half-jewel," because they historically received half the salary of a full geisha during their training, which focuses on traditional Japanese arts like dance, music, and conversation. While Maiko are Kyoto's apprentices, Hangyoku in Tokyo have distinct styles, often wearing wigs (katsura) and different obi (sashes) than Maiko, who use their own hair.

What is the difference between maiko and Hangyoku?

Understanding the Tradition of Geisha in Tokyo and Kyoto

In Tokyo and the Kanto region, they are referred to as "Geisha" or "Geigi," while apprentices are called "Hangyoku" or "Oshaku." On the other hand, in Kyoto, they are known as "Geiko," with apprentices referred to as "Maiko."

What is a geisha and what do they do?

A geisha (or geiko in Kyoto) is a highly trained Japanese female performing artist, an "art person," skilled in traditional Japanese arts like dance, music (shamisen), singing, tea ceremony, calligraphy, and conversation, who entertains guests at parties, banquets, and tea houses, creating a sophisticated atmosphere for affluent clients, and are not prostitutes, a common misconception stemming from historical confusion with courtesans, with modern training beginning in the late teens, emphasizing artistic mastery, not sex work.
 

Why can't you take a photo of a geisha?

The rule stems from years of problematic tourist behavior. Unfortunately, the women who work in Kyoto's geisha district are often treated as tourist attractions, with visitors aggressively trying to photograph them without their permission. The issue got really out of hand in 2019.

What are geishas not allowed to do?

Geishas are strictly forbidden from engaging in prostitution, advertising sexual services, marrying (requiring them to leave the profession), or having boyfriends/husbands while active; they must focus solely on traditional arts and hospitality, with modern misconceptions often stemming from wartime prostitution by women dressed as geishas, not actual geishas. 

The Differences Between Geisha, Geiko, and Maiko

What is the 5 minute rule in Japan?

The 5-Minute Rule

To understand the importance of punctuality in Japan, acquaint yourself with the '5-minute rule'. This means that if a meeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM, you're expected to be there at 9:55 AM at the latest. Arriving exactly on time is cutting it close and is usually viewed the same as being late.

Why do geishas make their teeth black?

During this period, Ohaguro was commonly practiced amongst married women, unmarried women over 18 years old, prostitutes, and geishas. Thus, black teeth signified a woman's sexual maturity. During the Meiji period which succeeded the Edo period, the practice of Ohaguro fell out of fashion.

What do modern day geishas do?

Modern geishas (or geiko/geigi) are highly trained, professional female entertainers and hostesses who preserve and perform traditional Japanese arts like dance, music (shamisen), singing, calligraphy, and the tea ceremony, entertaining guests at exclusive events and tea houses in cities like Kyoto, while debunking the Western misconception that they are sex workers. They focus on creating an immersive cultural experience through sophisticated hospitality, conversation, and performances, rather than providing sexual services, a common misunderstanding.
 

Why is taking a picture of the Eiffel Tower illegal?

The tower's copyright has expired, so daytime images can be used for any purpose. At night, it's a different story. The tower's light installation (1985) is still protected under copyright. So, if you take and share a nighttime picture of the Eiffel Tower, you could be subject to copyright violations.

Are you allowed to touch a geisha?

Always maintain a respectful distance, do not chase or touch a geisha and avoid speaking to them in public or calling after them. Avoid taking photos: Photographing geishas or maikos in public as they walk along the streets to meet clients is considered disrespectful and can interfere with their schedule.

How do geishas entertain their clients?

The geisha entertains guests through dancing, performing music, conversations, and other arts held in teahouses. They are also modern-day models and local ambassadors of traditional Japanese culture. Nowadays geisha also promote traditional Japanese culture.

How much money does a geisha make?

A geisha's income varies wildly, from around $3,000 to potentially tens of thousands monthly, depending on popularity, skill, and hours worked, with top earners receiving gifts and high fees, while apprentices (maiko) earn little beyond an allowance as they pay off debts for training, kimonos, and lodging. Popular geiko (Kyoto's term for geisha) can make substantial money, but many struggle to cover high expenses like kimono, hair, and lessons, notes tsunagu Japan.
 

What is the difference between a concubine and a geisha?

A concubine is a woman in a long-term, often sexual, relationship with a man, holding a status below his wife, while a geisha (meaning "art person") is a highly trained Japanese female entertainer, artist, and cultural expert in music, dance, and conversation, not a prostitute or concubine, though historical lines could blur in pleasure districts. Concubines were part of a household for companionship or heirs, whereas geishas were professional performers hired for high-end events, mastering traditional Japanese arts like singing, playing instruments (shamisen), and dance. 

What is geisha makeup made of bird poop?

Uguisu no fun (鶯の糞, literally meaning "nightingale faeces" in Japanese), also called the "Geisha Facial", refers to the excrement (fun) produced by a particular nightingale, the Japanese bush warbler (uguisu). The droppings have been used in facials throughout Japanese history.

What is higher than a geisha?

The history of the geisha and courtesans

In contrast, the highest-ranking of them, who were the true courtesans, were the Oiran (花魁) and the Tayū (太夫). Oiran, which means “First Flower,” were found throughout the country and were at the top of the hanamachi pecking order.

What is the age limit for maiko?

About Maiko

A maiko is a “training period” for geiko, and there is an age limit of around 20 years old. Another difference between a maiko and a geiko is that a maiko wears a kimono with glossy colors and patterns.

Why can't you take a picture of the Mona Lisa?

According to some, the ban aims to preserve the museum's exclusivity on artwork pictures. Others think it is a consequence of the museum's growing popularity (from 3 million visitors in 1993, to more than 7 million in 2004 according to French newspaper Le Monde).

Why can't you sell pictures of the Eiffel Tower at night?

But because the light show remains a protected work under European copyright law, it is illegal to profit from photographs of the illuminated Eiffel Tower. For example, tourists cannot sell such photos to magazines or other commercial outlets. Tourists in Paris can, however, post to social media.

Why can't you take a picture of the Sistine Chapel?

You can't take pictures in the Sistine Chapel primarily because of a copyright agreement from the 1980s restoration, where Nippon Television (NTV) funded the project in exchange for exclusive photo/video rights, but the ban now also serves to protect artwork from flashes and manage crowds, even though the NTV contract expired years ago. Vatican officials keep the rule in place for these practical reasons, enforcing it with guards who ask violators to delete images and leave.
 

Why do geishas have black teeth?

Geishas (and other Japanese women for centuries) had black teeth due to a tradition called Ohaguro, a cosmetic ritual using a dark solution of iron acetate and tannins to create an aesthetically pleasing contrast with white face makeup, signify adulthood/marriage, and protect teeth from decay, though it was officially banned in 1870 but lingered in geisha districts. 

Why are people obsessed with geishas?

Foreign visitors are often intrigued by geisha traditions and their distinctiveness compared to Western culture. Those who have interacted with geishas cited historical portrayals in films and the unique cultural experience as their primary motivations.

How do geishas sleep?

Geishas and their apprentices (maiko) sleep on a special, hard neck rest called a takamakura (高枕) to preserve their elaborate, intricate hairstyles (nihongami) for days at a time, placing their neck on a curved wooden or lacquered base with a small, chaff-filled pillow, which can be uncomfortable but prevents the hair from getting mussed. Young trainees often have rice or bran sprinkled around their pillow as a test to ensure they don't roll off, otherwise, they'd ruin the hairdo and have to get it reset. Modern geisha sometimes use wigs, allowing for more comfortable sleep on regular pillows.
 

How does Japan view crooked teeth?

But in Japan, there's a surprising trend that actually promotes crooked teeth as a sign of impish youthfulness. Yaeba, or “double tooth,” is a practice where one's canines are pushed up front like snaggle teeth to help them look like fangs.

Is Ohaguro still legal?

But Ohaguro was banned in Japan in 1870. Still, the tradition continues among some of the geishas in Kyoto. Another thing I long to see. And put my mouth close to: the beauty of that which one is not.