Undoubtedly, the traditional Geisha is a continuous source of interest for any foreign visitor to Japan and as their numbers decrease (it is reported that today there are no more than one or two thousand geisha), the foreign interest into their world increases…
Actually, there are just a few places today where you can still meet a geisha on the street, the best known being, of course, the old Kyoto district of Gion. In Tokyo, I saw geisha inside the Senso-ji Temple from Asakusa and I know that many of them are also working in Akasaka…
They are usually very camera-shy and I think that’s very understandable, considering the amount of tourists assaulting them with flashes, especially in Kyoto…
But that’s not always the case - one day, visiting the Keisei Nippori Station to assist at the inauguration of the new Keisei Skyliner AE train, I found myself face to face with a couple of friendly geisha - actually they were maiko (geisha in training) or more accurate hangyoku (the word used in Tokyo, maiko is a Kyoto term) - present here for the same festivities.
One of them caught my gaze, I smiled and showed her my camera and she smiled back, posing for me as I took a few photos. Unfortunately they were on the other platform, so I was able to thank her only with a bow and another smile…
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Yesterday’s Japan Photo:Narita Monzen-machi and a travel tip |
