Customer Reviews

Geisha Secrets: A Pillow Book for Lovers

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I bought this book under the assumption that it was non-fiction. From the other reviews I figured there wouldnt be a whole lot of new information, but any tidbit of new information was worth it for me. I am sorry to say that though the book is laid out in a very artistic and imaginative manner, thats about it. Upon opening the book, I noticed that there arent any photographsthats okay, but the watercolors were blatantly incorrect. The geisha are wearing the kimonos wrong (its right side under left side for the living). Only dead people wear them in the way depicted on pages 6 ,10, and 16. It isnt that the images were accidentally reversed either. In the same picture, the artist depicts both the correct and incorrect way of wearing the kimono, both on live people. This made me suspicious of the book. I think rightly so. The author makes sweeping generalizations, All Japanese artists are aware of the traditions (This is on page 12. All is not a word you want to use in non-fiction, unless you mean it. I realize this is trivial, but as I say I was suspicious, so this bothered me.) Next they say, obi are tied in front by geisha, in the back by maiko (This on page 13). Hmm, all the other literature on geisha state that geisha NEVER tie their obi in the frontbut you know, courtesans, oiran do. Page 15 states that kanzashi were INTENDED for self-protection. I do not know for a fact that they werent, but if this is so, then why were kanzashi made of fragile materials like tortoise shell, or malleable metals like gold and silver? I dont know much about shunga (erotic prints), but as none of them were credited to any Japanese artists maybe they arent Japanese at alllike the watercolors in the first section? I dont know, but based on the strangeness of part one, maybe they arent

In summation, this is a great book if someone is looking to be titillated and doesnt really care about the veracity of the facts. I was really disappointed, but then again, this is only my opinion. I bought the book expecting one thing when it was another. I suppose if I had bought it for the layout or for some other reason other than the desire for factual information, it might have been great. I apologize if I am wrong, and the book is entirely factually correct

I received this book as a present and sits within my collection of geisha books...but unfortunately - unlike my other books, I was quite disapointed with it. The layout and cover of this book though, is quite unique - a refreshing change...and the artwork in it is beautiful, that is of course - if you can appreciate erotic prints!

The book itself, is divided into two sections. The 'Public Face' of the geisha and the 'Private Face' of the geisha. The information you will find in the 'Public Face' is nothing new to those whom are familiar with other geisha books - namely 'Geisha' by Liza Dalby - but for those who are new to the world of geisha...it provides decent information.

It was the "Private Face" of the geisha that I found myself angry about. I am by no means a prude and I appreciate shunga prints...but the use of shunga prints in this book I felt was VERY misleading. These shunga prints are NOT of geisha - but rather, they are of courtesans of the pleasure quarters- tayu, yujo or oiran.

After reading this book, I felt that it only fed even more to the misconception that the western world have of geishas - that they are just mere prostitutes catering to the every whim of men - rather than them being accomplished and serious artisans.

I really do think that more thought and researching should have been put in this book rather than a quick throw together to cash in on the "geisha wave".

Yet another cheap attempt to make money off the Geisha name! Why is it that because geisha are Asian females and happen to be entertainers must they always end up associated with sex? If the authors of this blatant attempt to increase the audience for their shunga-philia really paid attention to Liza Dalby's book, Geisha (which they mined extensively for their Public Face section), they would have noted that training in the sexual arts has no place in world of real geisha! If they want to write about Japanese erotica, fine, but they shouldn't use it in a way to pander to Western fantasies that are patently false. It is a slap in the face to all true geisha who follow the road of artistic discipline and to the Japanese people whom they often represent. I'm sick of books like this!

Yet another cheap attempt to make money off the Geisha name! Why is it that because geisha are Asian females and happen to be entertainers must they always end up associated with sex? If the authors of this blatant attempt to increase the audience for their shunga-philia really paid attention to Liza Dalby's book, Geisha (which they mined extensively for their Public Face section), they would have noted that training in the sexual arts has no place in world of real geisha! If they want to write about Japanese erotica, fine, but they shouldn't use it in a way to pander to Western fantasies that are patently false. It is a slap in the face to all true geisha who follow the road of artistic discipline and to the Japanese people whom they often represent. I'm sick of books like this!

It should be noted 'pillow book' refers most specifically to a work by Sei Shonagon, a court lady of the Heian Era. The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon (Makura no soshi) was written sometime in the late 900s-early 1000s and is a collection of notes and personal thoughts about Heian court life, a diary. To my knowledge 'pillow book' is not commonly used as a general term and does not typically describe an erotic work.

This glaring error as well as the others previous reviewers have mentioned should call into question the veracity of this book. If one simply wants to look at Japanese erotic (of questionable authenticity) then this book will suffice. If one is looking for accurate depictions of geisha or true antique Japanese erotica one would be advised to look elsewhere.

As a geisha fan I took the risk of buying this without knowing what I was getting in to. Well thankfully I'm not a complete prude because when the description says it contains traditional erotic art it means it! This is not the present for your God fearing grandma (unless she has a secret sexy side).

Having said that this is a lovely gift book for the geisha or erotica fan. Where it is described as having 48 pages it is actually a two sided long piece of high quality paper folded in to 24 pages on each side (apparently this is the traditional style).

The first side (ie the first 24 pages) contains information and illustration on geisha life ( but the fans have probably read it all in much more thorough books like Geisha by Liza Dalby). It is beautifully layed out.

The opposite side (ie pages 25-48) contain some lovely traditional poems and diary excerpts balanced by the shunga erotic prints.

This concertina folded insert is enclosed in a hard cover clasped together at the side. It is a lovely set and the geisha collection cannot be considered complete without it. I have no regrets, and I'm sure I can find a use for the pictures- although I do have to live with a partner who now insists on calling me a G.P.F. (Geisha Porn Fan). Enjoy!