Memoirs of a Geisha

By Arthur Golden

Author’s Background

Arthur Golden• Born in Chattangooga,

Tennessee• Attended Harvard, receiving a

degree in art history, specializing in Japanese art

• Earned M.A. in Japanese history from Columbia University

• Traveled to Asia, spending a summer at Beijing University and working in Tokyo

• Earned M.A. in English from Boston University

• Currently lives in Brookline, Massachusetts with his wife and two children

Golden’s Inspiration• Lived in Japan• Studied Japanese culture• Had connections with a retired geisha• Interested in the secret world of geisha’s lives

Setting

Yoroido

• The story begins in the small ocean side village of Yoroido.

• “This town only had one road leading right to the front door of Japan Coastal Seafood Company”.

Kyoto• In the city of Kyoto there is a district that also

makes up most of Kyoto. This district is Gion.• The Shirakawa Canal, runs through Kyoto.• “To shut out the pain… I turned toward the

Shirikawa, but cruelly, even its waters glided along with purpose.

Nitta Okiya• The Nitta Okiya is the home of the Geisha:

Hatsumomo, Sayuri(Chiyo), and Pumpkin.• Mother takes over the Okiya when

Grandmother dies.• Sayuri and Hatsumomo have adjacent

rooms in the Okiya.• There are several other rooms such as the

Kimono Storage Room, the pantry, the kitchen, and the maids rooms. However those rooms are hardly mentioned in the book.

Gion

• The district of Gion in Kyoto is home of many Okiya.

• There are many Teahouses in Gion such as the Ichirika Teahouse.

Important Characters

in Memoirs of a Geisha

Characters

• Chiyo Sakamoto /Nitta Sayuri

• Mr. Tanaka• Satsu• Mother• Granny• Auntie• Hatsumomo

• Pumpkin• Chairman• Mameha• Nobu• Baron• Dr. Crab• General Tottori

Junnosuke

Main Characters

NobuChiyo/Sayuri

Pumpkin

The Chairman Mameha

Plot

Plot• Chiyo is taken to the

geisha district• Pumpkin and

Hatsumomo• The Chairman• Geisha Training School• Mameha

• Teahouse party• World War II• Does she reach her

goal?

Geography of Japan

• Japan was mainly formed by the volcanic activity by the many volcanoes near and on the island.

• This volcanic activity also causes most of the earthquakes that bombard the island nation.

• Due to the earthquakes and erosion, the valleys of Japan were formed.

• Each valley provides a “nesting” spot for the future cities to be built.

• Japan being a mountainous nation however has trouble expanding their larger cities.

• Japan also has many rivers in Japan.• Such as the Shirakawa Canal.

Cultural Background

Some Japanese Terms:

• Okiya: geisha boarding house

• Danna: A geisha's patron, somewhat like a husband

• Geisha: a traditional Japanese artist-entertainer

• Jorou-ya: brothel, place of prostitution

• Mizuage: Sexual initiation of an apprentice geisha, her virginity

Cultural Background• Memoirs takes place during

World War II• Japan had already been at war

with China in 1937• Japan joined the Axis powers

which included Germany and Italy

• Japan aimed to dominate Asia• Japan attacked the U.S. at Pearl

Harbor in 1941

• The U.S. bombed Japan in 1945

• Japan officially surrendered to the Allies on Sept. 2, 1945

The Kimono

• A bright, outer kimono, two under kimonos, and 11 obis (sashes)

• Worn daily by geishas• Different styles on

different occasions like tea ceremonies, parties, funerals, and other events.

• The type of kimono depends on a geisha’s status.

Quotes • “But this one was a water blue with swirling lines in ivory to mimic the

current in a stream. Glistening silver trout tumbled in the current, and the surface of the water was ringed with gold wherever the soft green leaves of a tree touched it. I had no doubt the gown was woven of pure silk and so was the obi, embroidered in pale greens and yellows.”

20th Century Japanese Society

Differences Between Fishing Villages and Large Cities

1930’s Fishing Village 1930’s Kyoto

Life in a Fishing Village

Life in a Japanese City

•“The difference between life at the Tanaka’s house and life in Yoroido was great as the odor of something cooking and a mouthful of delicious food” (31)

•… “she wore a soft pink kimono with white flowers… the broad obi tied around her middle was orange and yellow… I’d never seen such elegant clothing… none of the women in Yoroido owned anything more sophisticated than a cotton robe…” (32)

Upper Class in Japan

“Some nights, wealthy businessmen or aristocrats threw geisha parties just for themselves” (336).

Upper Class Men

Dr. Crab

Nobu

The Chairman The Baron

•“Doctor Crab considered himself something of an aristocrat…” (285)•“But I knew what he meant; he thought of the Baron as a relic of the feudal age” (291)

Japanese Women’s Place in Society

“I certainly can’t afford to have a powerful man upset with me… if a powerful man makes up his mind to destroy me, well, he’ll do it!”

(344)

GeishaWorking Class

Women

Prostitutes (being displayed in a

window)

Japanese Marriage

•“They wore kimono and hair ornaments similar to geisha, but their obi were tied in the front… a mark of a prostitute” (94)•“We do not become Geisha to pursue our own destinies. We become Geisha because we have no other choice.”

Economic

Before Being a Geisha

• Geisha’s typically come from a background of poverty

• Some of them have no option

• Domestic work in the house first

• "I hadn't held a coin of any kind in my hand since coming to Kyoto" (96)

Geisha

• Supplies the money for their headquarters or “okiyas”

• “…I don’t like to be associated with trash…” (56)• They have to pay back the people that financed

them once they start working as geisha.• They will work for the men that offer the

highest bid.• The better a reputation a geisha has, the more

they’re paid.

The Men• The men are usually very rich.• They do it because it is the popular thing• Danna• They typically don’t geisha• "You'll be very fortunate ever to become a

graphics with sufficient statues for a man like Nobu..." (247)

More Economic Factors

• Memoirs of a Geisha takes place during WWII and the Great Depression (1932)

• The Japanese currency at that time was called yen