In 1998 he saw the release of Arthur Golden novel "Memoirs of a Geisha» (Memoirs of a Geisha). He drew everyone's attention to one of the most confusing and difficult to understand Europeans aspects of Japanese culture (partly this interest can be explained by the absence of such an institution in the European cultural tradition). Geisha were not only in works of art. They exist in contemporary Japan and thriving craft. However, in today's society play a geisha is not as important as before.

They are so modest lifestyle that attracted the attention of only the ubiquitous tourists with cameras that see them as one of the exotic attractions. In fact, most women who get into the lens cameras, are classified as maiko (apprentice, who are preparing to become a geisha), or is it the tourists themselves, a few hours made-up and looking for adventure.

Like the samurai, geisha continue to fascinate and attract people to Japan from around the world, as a geisha is one of the symbols of the mysterious and timeless Japan. Of course, prostitution is considered the "oldest profession", and the story of a Geisha dates back several centuries. While many believe that the "Geisha" - Japanese equivalent of an ordinary prostitutes would be better to use the term "courtesan", but even this definition can not convey all the nuances of the craft of a Geisha (especially if you know the history of the geisha). The word "geisha" is literally translated as "a man of art." In fact - the first geisha were men who served as toastmaster, entertaining guests dancing, playing musical instruments, reading poetry. This is what initially reduced professional duties of a Geisha.

The two most famous hanamichi (so-called "red light districts" geisha quarters) are located in the ancient and modern capital of Japan, Kyoto and Tokyo. In the medieval city of Edo, formerly known as the Tokyo, there were neighborhoods pleasure Yoshiwara, where the actors of the traditional Japanese kabuki theater and artists side by side with the emerging class of shopkeepers (traders). During the Edo period (1600-1868), Japan was somewhat divorced from the rest of the world and closed to outside influences, so this period, the final Japanese Middle Ages, is considered the heyday of Japanese art and culture. Actors, sumo wrestlers and geisha were often characters prints ukiyo-e, carried out on wooden boards, whose name literally means "pictures of the floating world" - a wonderful euphemism for the world of carnal desires and passions.

In Kyoto entertainment district located near Shimabara. Even today, geiko (geisha so-called Kyoto) and maiko entertain guests in traditional tea pavilions.