/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>8753381
You cannot compare a geisha to anything in the western world, simply because there's nothing to compare them to. Christ, you could say a rock star is a prostitute because he solicits a service for money. It's subjective. And again, SHE IS NOT OBLIGATED TO FUCK A PATRON.

>>8753382
If a girl wishes to become a geisha, she's probably interested in the culture to begin with. She'll email the okiya and the okiya will require her to send a photo of herself, some basic information and a contact number. The okaa-san will discuss the idea with her parents, and if all's good to go and she makes it through a basic training phase, she becomes a shikomi for six months.

As a shikomi, she is in complete servitude to all geisha within the okiya and is not allowed to speak unless spoken to (if you know fifteen year old girls you understand how diffilcult that can be). When not performing chores, she helps dress and undress her sisters, practices tea ceremony, instruments, even how to walk in kimono. If she can handle this rigid discipline, she becomes a minarai for a month.

Minarai (literally means "watch and learn") is a practical phase of her training. She's now attending ozashikis and watching her "big sister" (i.e. mentor) at work. She also wears the kimono and oshiroi and has her hair styled so she can get used to it.

Then she has her misedashi, or debut as an apprentice. This goes on for five (or four) years until she's experienced enough to be a geisha. Then she has her erikae and can attend parties all on her own. The training is a permanent thing though. A geisha trains literally all her life to perfect the art.