Geishas have been part of Japanese culture for 400 years. Many Westerners remain in the dark about the life and role of a Geisha
The life of a geisha was highly coveted for Japanese women. One hundred years ago, there were about 80,000 geishas in Japan. Today, there are only around 2,000 who uphold the strict traditions of this unchanged, fascinating world.
Two geishas receive a visiting samurai, Japan, circa 1880.
Hulton Archive
Two Geisha Girls, professional Japanese entertainers, practising their art; one is playing a samisen, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument, circa 1950.
Three Lions
A typical Japanese Geisha wearing a kimono, circa 1950.
Evans/Three Lions
A group of Japanese Geisha girls in traditional costume, November 1937.
Fox Photos
A child wearing a typical Japanase Geisha kimono sits in a Geisha pose, circa 1950.
Evans/Three Lions
Japanese geisha girl without the traditional make-up, circa 1900.
Felice A. Beato
A group of country Geisha and maids in a rural town, circa 1943. The spotted overalls they wear for protection when working in the fields or about the house are called Mampei.
Three Lions
A western visitor enjoying the services of a Japanese Geisha Girl, circa 1955.
Fox Photos
A group of geishas at Beppa, Japan, 8th March 1920.
Spencer Arnold
A geisha girl arranges her selection of footwear, circa 1955.
Orlando/Three Lions
Geisha girls entertaining a group of men and ensuring their cups are kept full, circa 1955.
Three Lions
US actress Betty Grable (1916–1973) as a geisha girl in a scene from the musical “Call Me Mister” directed by Lloyd Bacon, 2nd January 1951.
Keystone Features
A Japanese geisha is carried through town during Osaka’s Yebisu Festival, 1928.
Kutschuk/London Expressm
A Geisha girl pouring a drink for a visitor, circa 1955.
Fox Photos
Japanese geisha girls playing the traditional game called Go. 2nd May 1957.
Keystone Features
A geisha girl laughing shyly and politely at a joke, circa 1955.
Three Lions
Japanese geishas form a trade union in an attempt to improve their working conditions, circa 1935.
Hulton Archive
British born film actor Cary Grant (1904–1986) watches as an extra is taught how to walk like a Japanese geisha during the making of his new film “Madame Butterfly”, 1932.
Margaret Chute
A Japanese courtesan or geisha, circa 1865.
Felice Beato
Japanese geisha girls without their wigs, circa 1950.
Three Lions
A young girl wearing a typical Japanese Geisha kimono sits playing the “Samisen”, a traditional Japanese string instrument, circa 1950.
Evans/Three Lions
Japanese Geishas wearing Kimonos serve tea in a lounge on board a boat sailing on the Nagara River, circa 1950.
Three Lions
Geisha girls, wearing aprons over their kimonos, serving Japanese sailors on Tokyo Navy Day, circa 1937.
Hulton Archive
A geisha going home and passing a line of drying umbrellas in the alleyway, circa 1955.
Three Lions
A group of geisha girls being instructed by their teacher, circa 1955.
Central Press