Why geisha paint their faces white

The s saw a marked move away from emulating the West, as more and more women sought to express their own identity as Japanese in various areas of their lives. Cosmetics were no exception. With jet-black straight hair and almond-shaped eyes, Yamaguchi Sayoko, a Japanese model and actress who made it on the international scene, served as a symbol of this new way of thinking and an inspiration for young women back home.

Pola The Beauty, Ginza shop. Since the s, consumers have become interested in what the products are made from, how they work, and why they are effective. Tomizawa feels, however, that the Japanese belief that well-cared-for skin is a key to beauty—a belief that remains unchanged from the Heian period—will remain at the foundation of attitudes to beauty no matter what the contemporary trends may be.

Nevertheless, women still want to have skin with a smooth texture; skin like glass. Originally written in Japanese by Ushijima Bifue.

Even today, amid the ebb and tide of makeup trends both domestic and foreign, women continue to pursue a pale ideal of beauty. This article looks at the origins and evolution of conceptions of skin beauty in Japan. A Deep History The desire to be beautiful is as old as history. Coming Full Circle? They have been around since as early as A. Trained in fine arts such as dance, singing, playing the shamisen, dining manners, and friendly conversation, the Geisha has become an icon of Japanese culture.

Extremely popular among foreign visitors who hope to catch a glimpse of them on their travels, Geishas can still be seen on the winding streets of Kyoto and in other parts of Japan, and do seem to continue many of the traditions of Geisha training and performance which have continued for hundreds of years in this fascinating country.

Read on to find out why they wear this makeup, and what it means in Japanese culture. A Geisha is a female entertainer and performer with origins dating back thousands of years in Japan. Traditionally, they performed for and hosted wealthy Japanese nobility, and achieved their status after a grueling training process which takes years. There exists a geisha hierarchy, and the highest of the Geishas are said to reside in Gion Kobu, Pontocho, the Kamishichiken districts in Kyoto.

Their training teaches them how to dance, sing, play musical instruments, and make entertaining conversation with customers. In the past, Geishas were known to be mistreated, imprisoned, or employed as concubines. Today, this has thankfully died out and what remains is a community of traditional professional Geishas who offer great entertainment in elegant dining establishments. Sometimes a red lipstick is used around the eyes, too.

Finally, the red lipstick beni is applied. In the case of the first-year maiko except Pontocho district , the red can be applied only on the lower lip. For other maiko and geiko, both lips are painted. The lips are painted smaller than they actually are, so they look cute and proportional. At the end of the day, geisha wipe off the makeup with a dissolving oil. Wiping off takes only minutes. Travel Experiences.

Page updated: November 2, Contact us : info mai-ko. Readers of this article also read Geisha are like sumo wrestlers! Geisha Kyoto Events Calendar Geisha Kyoto Events Calendar Throughout the year, there are several events, that happen every year and have a significant meaning. Cancellation Policy Privacy Policy. Corporate inquiries: info mai-ko. The rules differ slightly for geisha in Kyoto , where okiya can legally take on apprentices between the ages of 15 and Doing so when the time is right for them.

Girls must have graduated from middle school, but women can start their careers after college, or into adulthood. Even before debuting as a maiko, apprentices will live at the okiya as a shikomi. Which is basically a trainee, at this stage in the journey the young woman is there to learn. The shikomi are taught by their house mother and observe other geishas at okiya. They attend to the needs of the house and need to learn how to live with their geisha sisters.

This is where they have the opportunity to learn the skills required of a maiko. A girl will be a shikomi for up to a year at which point they can be taken on as an apprentice and become a maiko. Traditionally this stage lasted a much longer time, particularly for children that were bonded to an okiya. As a girl becomes a maiko and is bonded to the house, that means she is under contract. Training is very expensive and there are different ways this can be covered.

The okiya can loan everything to the maiko, food, a room, her kimono, the tools she needs. However, this all needs to be repaid, which means that her wages will go to the house until the debt is cleared. There are also options to pay for it yourself or get it a loan. With the start of formal training, the maiko will begin as a minari at a geisha party known as ozashiki. The role of a minari is just to observe how other geishas interact with customers.

They are meant to participate in the party, but rather to sit quietly and learn. After about a month as a minari, the maiko will be ready to debut.

In an official ceremony, the maiko will be bonded to a geisha that will be known as her older sister. Training will include serving drinks, holding a conversation, and some artistic training. There are specialist music and dance teachers that will contribute to the maikos training.

Maiko will also be expected to learn from more senior maiko. Maiko will be expected to learn a variety of different things. The entertainment element is best learned by observing the older sister. Watching how her older sister interacts with the guests.

A very important part of geisha training is learning how to navigate the complex social requirements of the hanamachi. Hanamachi is the term meaning the geisha district. Each district has different rules and expectations. After spending a few years as a maiko, the woman will graduate and obtain geisha status in a ceremony called erikae. After graduating there is no more formal training, however, a geisha is expected to top up her training and refresh.

Geishas are known for working well into old age. It is not uncommon to see a geisha in her nineties. Some do retire at which point they will take on the house mother role, or as a specialist teacher. With their training, they are there to make the guests feel comfortable, participate in conversation, play games, and perform. Not only do they help to keep your glass filled, they add a lot of pep to the evening. Guests and geishas will engage in plenty of different games, where usually the loser has to down their drink.

They will spend time with guests and are well versed in casual conversation, able to make people feel at ease.