Who is mineko iwasaki

Since her time as a maiko , she showed an outstanding performance and never took a day off from the ozashiki banquets in which guests are attended by geisha. In , she retired and closed her okiya. Thereafter, she planned to renovate the building and open an esthetic salon, however she married a budding Japanese artist and had two children one of them died early.

I love the detail she gives on traditions of a geiko as well as the intricacies associated with each year and season and the symbolism and immense cost of each important occasion and dress of a geisha's career.

This book is drastically different from memoirs of a Geisha and makes you wonder how both of these stories are about the same thing. This is definitely not a re-read of Memoirs of a Geisha and stands on its own If you are interested in learning more about geisha, and as known in Kyoto as geiko, I highly recommend giving this book a read. View 2 comments. Sep 19, Rowena rated it it was amazing Shelves: asia , favorites.

One of my favourite books ever! Mineko's story is so fascinating, filled with tragedy, love and intrigue.

Also great introduction to Japanese culture. Mineko herself as a child is what we in the West would call a precocious little brat, but is more of a misinterpretation of the class system. The text states that a Shamisen is played like a Viola The second thing was Mineko's assertion that she doesn't pass wind, or fart as we call it in these parts.

Either it was to save face in front of her doctor, or she actually did believe that she hasn't farted in her whole life. The latter would explain why Toshio wouldn't leave his wife for her, he probably couldn't bear to spend the rest of his life with a woman who was perfect throughout the day, but would blow him across the futon at night with her trumpet bum.

The whole story is pretty much a culture shock. But an enjoyable read if you have an interest in other cultures. For people who don't know about Japanese culture maybe geisha for them has 'negative' image. But it's all wrong. Geisha don't sell their body. They sell arts! And this book tells the very detail about Geisha and their life. Geisha really are the real artist! They learn various traditional Japanese culture since they were very young.

And being Geiko Geisha is not an easy thing. They have to take so many lessons, performing those arts dancing, singing, playing traditional music instruments, etc w For people who don't know about Japanese culture maybe geisha for them has 'negative' image.

They have to take so many lessons, performing those arts dancing, singing, playing traditional music instruments, etc while wearing heavy kimono. The kimono itself can weigh pound! The author is a really amazing person. I can imagine who hard it is to be a success Geisha like her. And I'm so proud of Japan because of those beautiful cultures! Dec 19, Tracey rated it liked it Shelves: libraryread. So I checked this book out from the library and I now see where her concerns lie.

Mineko born Masako Tanaka joined the Iwasaki okiya as a child, due to some family issues. She was fascinated by the dance, striving to reach perfection as the only way to make everything right. She debuted as a minarai, or apprentice geisha, at an unusually young age and worked herself nearly to death for the next few years. As she matured, she became one of the most popular geisha of the Gion area. Eventually, she started to burn out and made the decision to end her career rather early.

Falling in love may have had something to do with her decision as well. The two sections of pictures were very helpful to identify certain elements of the dress, as well as get a feel for the flow of her life. The writing style is relatively plain and straightforward, what I would expect of an autobiography, as opposed to a work of fiction. Some of the fine points of the social standings and rituals got a little confusing, however.

It was interesting to read these two books back to back - seeing what small incidences in Iwasaki's life Golden chose to modify into major plot elements, and vice versa. For example, Golden chose to move his story back one generation Iwasaki was born in , probably in order to add WWII as a dramatic plot point.

The attribution of a certain ritual of the oiran courtesans to the geishas was probably what made Iwasaki upset. Recommended to anyone looking for a more realistic portrayal of the waning "flower and willow world" of the geisha. I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. I think it's a very real glimpse into a world many know very little about but like to think they know more than they do.

I liked the insight to traditional Japanese culture, something I've been interested in since my youth. Mineko lead a life that most women can not comprehend, and many would probably find appalling or undesirable, but Mineko lived it well, I think. The misconceptions about geiko are long lived and sad. It's also sad that their very own culture feeds the misconceptions with similarities between the geiko and oiran "ceremonies".

I think the geiko geisha life is very interesting and beautiful. It is, of course, not without its flaws. Like any other society or art form. When people are involved especially people of different personalities are involved there will always be discord in some way. Mineko's story showed me that even back in the "good old days" there were still people who did not take their jobs seriously.

That they didn't value their heritage and the traditions of their jobs and cultures. That is something you could never say about Mineko.

She certainly valued the traditions, even while trying to modernize and improve them ie: more academic education for the girls especially in foreign language courses.

She took her job very seriously and she expected others to as well. Mineko says herself that geiko is a dying art for various reasons, economic not being the least of them. This is a sad fact to me. I would love to see it continue for many more generations.

View all 3 comments. Feb 13, Juushika rated it really liked it Shelves: status-borrowed , genre-non-fiction , genre-memoir-and-biography. The autobiography of Mineko Iwasaki, the most famous geisha in Japan until her sudden retirement at the height of her career. This is written partially in response to Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha although it never says so directly ; as such, it's made accessible to a foreign audience and does much to explain the controversy surrounding Memoirs , particularly the liberties that book takes with Iwasaki's life story, as well as the way it elides geisha and prostitution.

This is also a memoir The autobiography of Mineko Iwasaki, the most famous geisha in Japan until her sudden retirement at the height of her career. This is also a memoir in its own right. Iwasaki relies heavily on anecdotes; her memory is precise, her language evocative, her personality changeable and occasionally smug.

She simultaneously loves and criticizes the hierarchical social structure, restrictiveness, skill, artistry, and effort that contribute to a geisha's craft, particularly as interacts with gender and as it has failed to change with the times; her experience and opinions are fervent and complex.

This throughline isn't as solid as it could be--in particular, it wants for a stronger conclusion, perhaps an argument about what she believes the future of geisha should look like. But it's a compelling effort, and especially valuable in a world where Memoirs of a Geisha is such a problematic and popular text. You should read this book if - You've read Memoirs of a Geisha, but now want something more. You're considering reading Memoirs of a Geisha, but didn't realise this was the true story.

You wouldn't consider reading Memoirs of a Geisha, because of the twisted western stereotyping. View all 6 comments. Jun 27, Lady rated it it was ok Shelves: true-stories , memiors. I'd give this 2. The author is stuck up, spoiled and full of herself.

She Disparages both the Queen of England and Prince Charles for trivial things that a normal person would never even consider. She acts like shes better than everyone around her and bosses people around from a young age. She spends the entire book slamming the entire geisha system and is terribly offended that everyone doesn't change and do her things her way instead.

If you're readi I'd give this 2. If you're reading this because this is the woman that memiors of a geisha is based off of I wouldn't bother, Very little of her life was directly used in the book and most that was has been changed around so you may not catch it anyway. Mineko is nothing like Sayuri in any way. I spent most of this book being kind of disgusted at her holier than thou attitude. At one point when shes a child she takes off her shoe and expects another little girl to scratch her toe for her!!

This was a pretty good book, but it was a little dry, probably due to the translation. Main point: Geisha are NOT prostitutes. I am very fascinated by all aspects of the Japanese culture and bought this book believing that it would be an authoritative source of information about the Geisha world. The author - a successful former Geisha who inspired the popular novel 'Memoirs of a Geisha' - declared to have been disappointed by the inaccuracies in Golden's book, and commits to giving a real and honest depiction of Gion's life; I was therefore expecting and objective account of her upbringing and lots of information about I am very fascinated by all aspects of the Japanese culture and bought this book believing that it would be an authoritative source of information about the Geisha world.

The author - a successful former Geisha who inspired the popular novel 'Memoirs of a Geisha' - declared to have been disappointed by the inaccuracies in Golden's book, and commits to giving a real and honest depiction of Gion's life; I was therefore expecting and objective account of her upbringing and lots of information about the traditions on which her profession is based. However, this book does not fulfill her promise and disappointed me. There are many descriptions of jewellery, ornaments, and kimono patterns, and long accounts of her dance lessons and recitals, but it does not go any deeper than that.

Being so knowledgeable about the topic, she skips over details and explanations which are obvious to her, but probably not to her reader, who could have used them to better understand the complex world and traditions that she is distractedly painting. Narrating her story in first-person, the protagonist comes off as detached, spoilt, and superficial, which prevented me from connecting with her and her story.

The whole book is just as full of drama, jealousy, and gossip as the novel she wanted to distance herself from, leaving me confused: it is neither a novel nor an essay, and as a biography it lacks the openness and emotion to instill empathy in the reader. I understand that this may be due to the reserved and modest attitude which is customary in Japan, but this was just not the book I was hoping to read. I have read a few books on Geisha's and always found them interesting so when I saw this recommended on a forum I ordered it.

I thought it was a really good insight in to the Japanese culture, customs and traditions. What really came across was Mineko's self discipline and work ethic and on reflection of her career how important it was to dispel the myth of a what a Geisha actually does. I enjoyed this book and read it in two large chunks and the photographs included really added to the images f I have read a few books on Geisha's and always found them interesting so when I saw this recommended on a forum I ordered it.

I enjoyed this book and read it in two large chunks and the photographs included really added to the images formed. A book I would certainly recommend to anyone who has ever looked at the stunning pictures of these women and just wondered. Jun 23, K. The culture Iwasaki reveals is more than enough for me to give her a pass on the somewhat stilted writing - she isn't an author by trade, after all.

I especially enjoy the fact that she pretty much wrote this as a big "fuck you" to Arthur Golden, who ignored her request for anonymity when she helped him with Memoirs of a Geisha ; it's worth noting that Golden also misrepresented many facts about the life of geisha in general. I could not handle such a career - the lack of good sleep for such a lon The culture Iwasaki reveals is more than enough for me to give her a pass on the somewhat stilted writing - she isn't an author by trade, after all.

I could not handle such a career - the lack of good sleep for such a long period alone is enough to make me cringe sympathy. Ever since I read "Memoirs of a Geisha" I've wanted to read this one, as Arthur Golden mentions this book as being one of his inspirations.

On my way to Italy I found it at the airport, and immediately bought it. It did not disappoint. Where MoaG takes place around World War 2, this one describes the life of a Geisha in the 60s and 70s.

You get to read about how Mineko meets Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth and several other celebrities that we 'know'. Fascinating book. Mar 13, Crystal Navarro rated it liked it Shelves: historical , owned. This book, like most non-fiction, had a bit of a slow reading pace. There were a few events that truly drew me into Mineko's story, though my review is going to be mostly about about the comparison of this book to Memoirs of a Geisha.

It's kind of upsetting to me to see so many people say they changed their view of the fiction novel because of this book. Memoirs of a Geisha is a work of fiction- not everything is portrays will be straight on.

The biggest confusion present is the use of mizuage-- This book, like most non-fiction, had a bit of a slow reading pace. The biggest confusion present is the use of mizuage-- instead of being about income, in Memoirs it follows the form of mizuage which is used for the high-end prostitutes and courtesans, where they are ceremoniously deflowered by the highest bidder as explained by Mineko.

I personally believe this to have been a stylistic choice of the author. Fiction is meant to entertain-- and that was a choice the author made, still based somewhat fact, as it is a true use of mizuage, even if it is not that of Geisha. I can forgive this. It is a work of fiction- fiction does not have display full truths.

That is why it is fiction. It's not fact. I personally think this is a good that people should read after reading Memoirs, but that they should also retain their love for the fiction book because it was written to entertain. Mineko's book was written to inform, and the two can coexist.

I personally hold a respect for both. I was eager to read this, so eager that I read it in French--the only copy I could find. The translation from English and previously of course from Japanese was easy to read, in spite of a couple of hiccups--as a former professional translator myself, I know those are impossible to avoid.

The French translation must be gentler than the English version, as there is quite a lot of self-deprecating humour included in the tales of her beginnings as maiko, and her bid for independence when she get I was eager to read this, so eager that I read it in French--the only copy I could find.

The French translation must be gentler than the English version, as there is quite a lot of self-deprecating humour included in the tales of her beginnings as maiko, and her bid for independence when she gets her first apartment at twenty-one and tries to learn to shop and cook for herself. An odd book, by an odd person. We learn that from toddlerhood until well into adolescence, the author voluntarily spent hours if not days on end shut up in any cupboard within reach. Wouldn't a normal parent, realising they are bigger than the child, just lift her out of there?

We also learn that well after the age of 5 she "needs" to suckle someone to be able to fall asleep--and is allowed to do so by her onesan or the maid, for quite some time, though neither of them have any of your actual breastmilk the onesan being by this time past middle-age. The beginning of the book is confusing; first we are told Mineko accepted adoption into the world of Gion because she just had to be a dancer; then we find out she was only about five or six when she left her parents to be adopted legally by the teahouse.

She seemed to do this out of a sense of economic responsibility to her parents--who, by the way, basically sold three of their daughters into Gion, though they hung onto all their male children. I'm sure Mineko tells it the way she chooses to remember it, but how can such a young child make such a life-changing decision and really know what she is doing?

I can only imagine that either "everyone" in Japan knows so much about what it means to become a geiko that she didn't feel the need to go into much detail, or that Gion is a closed world, where those who don't "belong" aren't meant to know. She does talk about kimonos, hairstyles, ceremonial passages from one stage to another, but it's all pretty superficial.

Even in Dalby's book mizua-age is referred to as a sexual initiation; beyond saying this is not true, and saying she herself had the rite, no more is said. And no, I'm not terribly interested in that aspect. What is clear is that from a very young age the author knew how confined and rigid the world of a Kyoto geisha was in the s, when she joined it; so why did she continue there?

We're told that she repeatedly tried to change conditions for the geiko, and "no one listened"--well, what did she expect? In the end, it all comes down to economics; she tells the reader just how extremely lucrative it was to be a geiko at the time she was practically Kyoto's poster-child.

I did recognise the photographs of Mineko, and thought "I've seen those pictures somewhere before. The author does explain that this is why geiko are not prostitutes--they are so hugely well paid, they don't need to sell their bodies, though some accept kept-woman status--or did in the days the big businessmen could afford it.

She would have the reader believe that she worked and rehearsed nonstop for nearly ten years without a single day's break--but again, no one was forcing her to work every night, she repeats several times that she was so competitive that she chose to do so. I myself at the ages of tried to burn the candle at both ends, and had at least one breakdown in the process.

I know from experience, she had to be getting more than "one hour of sleep a night". Even with four or five, I collapsed eventually. Other geisha certainly took time off, took vacations etc. All memoirs are selective, this one perhaps more than some.

Bored or tired of the life she chose, she decides to retire at age 30; she says that the ochaya she was adopted to "inherit" has become worn and her geiko sisters not her, you notice! The reason she gives for rejecting the young girls who come asking to join the teahouse is, "This is such a rigid profession, no one will respect you.

Looks like her onesan made an unfortunate choice, as Mineko is quite content to continue to delegate all administration decisions on her "mama"; at no time does she evince any understanding of what the position of heir was meant to involve, except of course her own privileges. Once her decision to leave is made, she is quick enough to bail out and start her own business es , using the contacts she made as a geiko to ensure her own material sucess.

There again, a new incoherence arises; first we are told she "left to get married"; then that she didn't meet Mr Wonderful until after she had already retired. Three and a half stars. I had hoped to make it four, but by the end of the book I was rolling my eyes here and there at her constant "poor me" line. As a side note, if Mineko was the real "inspiration" behind Memoirs of a Geisha no wonder she was annoyed by that I was too. Dec 11, Jensownzoo rated it really liked it Shelves: biographies.

I enjoyed this peek into a fascinating culture. I read the fictional Memoirs of a Geisha by Golden first which is based on Iwasaki's life so was looking for some additional background reading when I found this autobiography.

Definitely seemed much more like real life than the novel! I would like to introduce you to the book you should be reading instead of Memoirs of a Geisha. According to Iwasaki, she agreed to speak with Golden on the condition that her involvement would be kept confidential, but Golden revealed her identity by mentioning her name in the book's acknowledgments as well as several national interviews.

After Memoirs was published, Iwasaki received criticism and even death threats for violating the traditional geisha code of silence. Iwasaki felt betrayed by Golden's use of information she considered confidential, as well as the way he twisted reality.

She denounced Memoirs of a Geisha as being an inaccurate depiction of the life of a geisha. Iwasaki was particularly offended by the novel's portrayal of geiko engaging in ritualized prostitution. For example, in the novel the main character Sayuri's virginity called mizuage in the novel is auctioned off to the highest bidder. Iwasaki stated that, not only did this never happen to her, but that no such custom ever existed in Gion.

Part of Iwasaki's displeasure with Memoirs may have been because the character Sayuri seems obviously modeled on Iwasaki, with many of the book's main characters and events having parallels in Iwasaki's life.

These people and experiences are often portrayed negatively in Memoirs , even when their real-life counterparts were positive for Iwasaki. Iwasaki later gave public interviews citing that many established geiko criticized her interview with Arthur Golden, causing a rupture with the geisha tradition of secrecy to the outside world.

Furthermore, Iwasaki has mentioned that she had lost some friends and relationships due to the scandal of her being known due to the book, along with certain inconsistencies and fallacies about Gion which were mentioned in Memoirs of a Geisha. Iwasaki sued Golden for breach of contract and defamation of character in , which was settled out of court in After the publication of Memoirs of a Geisha , Iwasaki decided to write an autobiography, contrasting with the fiction of Golden's book.

It became a worldwide bestseller. Updated on Oct 21,