Customer Reviews

Geisha of Gion

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This autobiography gives us not only an insight into the education, the working conditions and the social status of a geisha, but also into the Japanese society as a whole.
To give a few examples: selling children for sex slavery became forbidden only in the year 1959, or, the existing extreme differences in wealth (some people could pay nearly every day extremely expensive geisha parties, while poor people were forced to abandon their children).

Besides more personal intimate confidences, the author sketches a good picture of the hardship (sometimes only one hour sleep per night) of the education and the working conditions, the extreme jealousy and fierce competition inside the geisha guild, the sexual morals (allowance of extramarital relationships) and the colossal sums involved in the geisha business.

Not to be missed by the Japan aficionados.

I should also recommend the works of Ian Buruma, Lisa Louis and Nicholas Bornoff for a broader perspective on the Japanese entertainment culture.

I attempted to look at this literary journey for the very intimate chronicle that it was...a beautiful story of a young woman whose early life was dedicated to art and culture. Geisha of Gion provides a picture window into the details of existence in the okiya - the day to day schedule (that we see by following Mineko in her routine) and the prestige of the geiko community and how it is fostered. While the style of this book was narrative, and thus did not allow for a lot of metaphor or poetic descriptions, it nonetheless breathed with richness. My only complaint (such as it is) is that after 30+ chapters with Mineko Iwasaki, there seemed to be a great rush through the years following her retirement to the present day. And while yes, this memoir is mainly about Mineko's time as a geiko, it was a bit disappointing to glaze over this strong and vibrant woman's later years when I had grown so attached to reading her tales.

Having had my first taste of the intriguing life of Geisha with Memiors of a Geisha, I didn't hesitate to read this book about the exquisite & foreign life. An added bonus, it's a true story with photographs.

Mineka was born Masako & at the age of five was adopted by the house of Iwasaki to become the Atotori or heiress of the house, whose fortune was in its collection of expensive Kimono & accessories. The writer takes us through her journey from the first time she met with the owner of the Okiya or Geisha house till she stood in court & told the judge that she of her own free will wishes to be adopted by the Iwasaki family.

She loved to dance & it was for dancing that she endured the strict life & rules of the Geisha world. A shy person by nature she marvels at the fate that brought her into a profession where her duty is to entertain people by witty conversation & try & bring them out & ensure they have a good time. She explains the misconceptions her world suffers, they are not prostitutes & they entertain women & men alike holding Ozashiki or banquets. Men aren't allowed in their houses & it is a strict society where reputation is everything.

I found it wonderfully enchanting & couldn't put it down before the end, a really wonderful book.

What bothers me reading some of these reviews is that they lack a clear understanding that "Memoirs Of A Geisha" is fiction, with poetic liberties taken and "Geisha Of Gion" is non-fiction. While I do believe that Mineko Iwasaki kept certain things private, she IS the Geisha whom Author Golden based his now famous novel on. The similarites between the women is as clear as the diffrences. If you want an illuminating look into the Gion district and life as a Geisha, you won't be disapointed. This book is an engaging read from front to back with a smooth even flow.

I recently heard of Iwasaki's accusations against the author of "Memoirs of a Geisha". Since I've read "Memoirs" and seen the movie, I wanted another viewpoint, that of a geisha's, which is the reason I purchased this book. Iwasaki's book recounts her life before, during and after being a geisha. Now only does it contain information about what a geisha really does, she also includes amusing tidbits of her daily life. She also explained the general misconception that geishas sell the virginity. Overall, this book is englightening with regards to not only geishas but also the Japanese culture. The story is autobiographical and less dramatic than "Memoirs", which is fiction. Also, Iwasaki's writing style can be a tad monotonous at times. This is a great read for those who want a peek into the lives of geishas, but not suitable for those who want drama.

I think it is important to note that this book is an autobiography, while Memoirs of a Geisha, despite whatever claims to has about being partially based on the life of Iwasaki-san herself, IS fiction. To misinterpret Iwasaki-san's version of truth as fiction and compare it to the largely commercialized and sensationalized depiction of geiko life in Memoirs of a Geihsa, would be faulty and unfair. How many times has the West adopted stories from the East, only to reinforce stereotypes and romanticized images of how Asian women should look and behave? I suggest more people read Edward Said's theories on 'Orientalism' and realize that their biases may obscure their understanding of literary texts about other cultures.

In Japanese culture it is more often that, what is not said is as equally important, if not more than what is said. After the release of Memoirs of a Geisha, Iwasaki-san issued a lawsuit against Golden for his misrepresenation, and probably for good reason too. Now Memoirs of a Geisha is being adopted into a major hollywood film.
Go Figure...

To add to the previous review... Ms. Iwasaki just won litigation against Mr. Golden for slander and defamation. This book is her true autobiograghy, and while Mr. Golden's work is an entertaining story, it should be remembered that in the end it hurt this woman, who is a living, breathing work of art.

Okay, so in the case of movies the book is almost always better. In fact I searched Amazon intending to read the book that inspired "Memoirs" the movie, but after reading a little more into it I decided on this book instead.

I was not disappointed. I couldn't put this book down once I started and read it in a little more than a sitting one weekend. A fascinating story that's very well written, and so so so much better than the movie.

Some reviewers have said that they found Mineko "selfish" and "hateful". I don't see her that way. I see her as very independent, headstrong and truthful. I see her as not trying to mask a competitive and complicated world in fake sweetness. Of course, this is only my opinion, you'll have to read it yourself to decide.

I picked up this book expecting to both like and respect Mineko Iwasaki. I'm afraid the book caused me to do neither. In writing an autobiography, one expects the author to present herself in a favorable light. If that is the case, then I shudder to think what the real Mineko Iwasaki is like. By her own admission, she was an arrogant, spoiled child who demanded that everyone cater to her whims. In one passage she meets another child with whom she hopes to strike up a friendship. So she removes her shoe and tells the girl that her toe itches, expecting the girl to scratch it - which she does and Mineko declares it a good friendship - the child knows her place from the beginning. The book goes on to recount story after story in which Mineko treats others in ways that are disrespectful and condescending. At one point she observes that she has no friends and concludes that the others are simply jealous of her superiority. The most incredible passage, perhaps, is the one in which she declares (after humiliating someone she felt guilty of this charge) that there is no excuse for rude behavior, and a few sentences later describes how she entered the hotel room of the man with whom she was having an affair and destroyed his wife's mink coat because he would not divorce her and marry Mineko. So overweening is her pride, that, in the end, one must read her book with a great deal of caution. It doubtless contains some truth, but it would be impossible to pick out these kernels from the countless ways in which she is obviously struggling to save face in light of the firestorm caused by the work of fiction purported to have been based on her recounted memories. If one is looking for a work of fiction, then this book suffices. If, however, one is looking for an objective factual account of what life was like for Geisha of Mineko's day, then I would suggest the reader not rely on this book alone. The author obviously has an agenda, and presenting an honest, well balanced view appears to be pretty far down on that list.

This is a great book of what it was really like post World War II in the geisha district of Gion. The author writes wonderfully about her life, the choices she made, and addresses issues that have made the geisha world sound like an expensive hooker. The only problem I had with this book--although my favorite of all the books on this culture--was that it was also published under a different title: "Geisha, a Life". Had I known this, I would have just reread my own copy! Still, I believe this to be a great novel and even better than "Memoirs of a Geisha".