No woman in the three-hundred-year history of the karyukai has ever come forward in public to tell her story — until now.
"Many say I was the best geisha of my generation," writes Mineko Iwasaki. "And yet, it was a life that I found too constricting to continue. And one that I ultimately had to leave." Trained to become a geisha from the age of five, Iwasaki would live among the other "women of art" in Kyoto's Gion Kobu district and practice the ancient customs of Japanese entertainment. She was loved by kings, princes, military heroes, and wealthy statesmen alike. But even though she became one of the most prized geishas in Japan's history, Iwasaki wanted more: her own life. And by the time she retired at age twenty-nine, Iwasaki was finally on her way toward a new beginning.
"Geisha, a Life" is her story — at times heartbreaking, always awe-inspiring, and totally true.
Paperback
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
No woman in the three-hundred-year history of the karyukai has ever come forward in public to tell her story — until now.
"Many say I was the best geisha of my generation," writes Mineko Iwasaki. "And yet, it was a life that I found too constricting to continue. And one that I ultimately had to leave." Trained to become a geisha from the age of five, Iwasaki would live among the other "women of art" in Kyoto's Gion Kobu district and practice the ancient customs of Japanese entertainment. She was loved by kings, princes, military heroes, and wealthy statesmen alike. But even though she became one of the most prized geishas in Japan's history, Iwasaki wanted more: her own life. And by the time she retired at age twenty-nine, Iwasaki was finally on her way toward a new beginning.
"Geisha, a Life" is her story — at times heartbreaking, always awe-inspiring, and totally true.
Description
No woman in the three-hundred-year history of the karyukai has ever come forward in public to tell her story — until now.
"Many say I was the best geisha of my generation," writes Mineko Iwasaki. "And yet, it was a life that I found too constricting to continue. And one that I ultimately had to leave." Trained to become a geisha from the age of five, Iwasaki would live among the other "women of art" in Kyoto's Gion Kobu district and practice the ancient customs of Japanese entertainment. She was loved by kings, princes, military heroes, and wealthy statesmen alike. But even though she became one of the most prized geishas in Japan's history, Iwasaki wanted more: her own life. And by the time she retired at age twenty-nine, Iwasaki was finally on her way toward a new beginning.
"Geisha, a Life" is her story — at times heartbreaking, always awe-inspiring, and totally true.
Critic Reviews
“Kirkus Reviews[A] valuable look at a little-known world, and an intimate glimpse into Japanese culture.”
Kirkus Reviews [A] valuable look at a little-known world, and an intimate glimpse into Japanese culture.
About the Author
Born in 1949, Mineko Iwasaki began training in the arts of dance and etiquette when she was five years old. Soon after becoming a full-fledged geisha, Mineko was lauded as the star geisha of the Gion Kobu of Kyoto. She held that position until retirement at the age of twenty-nine. Now fifty-two, Mineko has one daughter and lives with her husband in a Kyoto suburb.
This winter classic has enchanted children for over ten years and the BBC animation has become a favourite at Christmas time. With a sparkly foiled hardback cover and each copy signed by the author, this limited edition is something to treasure and keep. There was once a group of trees who were fed up with living in a deep, dark and crowded valley - so they moved to the enchanted forest. But as everybody knows, trees cannot walk without magic. From the creator of Hugless Douglas and The Kiss That Missed this stunning picture book tells the story of Jack, the small boy with the frozen touch. 'exquisitely illustrated and beautifully told' Primary Times
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