From the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha"

-Is that story true? Were there such things as Geishas in Japan? Are there still?

-What makes a Geisha different from a Prostitute?

-Were Geishas not allowed to feel or love? Why?

-Do those porcelaine (sp?) dolls we see today with white masks represent Geishas?

-What's your opinion of Geishas?.... were they respected in Japan????

-Did Japanese women actually wish to become Geishas???

-Did you read the book before watching the movie?

I've seen similar geisha styles in anime movies... but never thought there was history to it. Well, in any case... I found the movie fascinating...and the women were definitely pretty in it..... so much that I felt ugly.

oh well... feel free to answer what you know... I was just curious.

- The story itself is true & Geishas do exist. But yesterday's geishas were a walking piece of art, but not anymore because today they are more of prostitutes.

- A geisha is a perfect piece of art, she is the "perfect" creature...Only men who pay lots get to sleep with one.

- Yes, because love weakens ones heart & she's a geisha no more.

- I think so

- Before not anyone could be a geisha, they were like today's super models & they were selected from a very young age.

- No, but I will read it one day:cute:

so geisha's were considered highly weren't they?... they weren't like common prostitutes, they were honorable artists.

but u say used to be... which means there are no geishas existing anymore? It was only a traditional thing?

Still there are geishas
The only who spoke directly is a young geisha who wrote a blog, in japanese unfortunately
Some posts were translated
http://ichi.dreamblog.jp/2/17/

that's amazing!!! she looks just like those in the movie...

the funny thing is being that geisha seems so traditional, and yet she has a blog which obviously suggest a PC.
perhaps just the effect of the movie... times have changed now I believe.

did people become geishas cuz they were poor and that's the only way to ensure they earn a lot? Keeping herself for the highest bidder...
and then someone offers to become her donna or whatever that was...

this is, I think even though has a similar idea as prostitution... it's different in a way that they do not choose anyone and give themselves away... no...i see why they're more respected.

I read about the Geisha who gave out some of the secrets

one which why they were very valued , well protected and not allowed to go out is because when politicians, international business men, country leaders used to meet them all the time and a Geisha would be smart enough that she could talk to any of them about any subject and in any language, so they carried secrets of many of those men