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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
A MUCH better representation of a geisha's life than "Memoirs of a Geisha". Please pick up this book before you reach for Golden's.
Informative glimpse into the work of the geisha. Lovely read
Glad to have read her story over Memoirs of a Geisha. It was a bit long and repetitive, but I think it is so important to make the distinction between geisha and prostitute, as well as the incorporation of a tradition like the geisha in a 20th century world.
Is Mineko Iwasaki the most likable person in the world? No, but she is clearly strong, independent, capable, and not afraid to go after the things she wants. She takes no shit. And those are all extremely admirable qualities, especially in a time and place as patriarchal as Japan in the immediate post-war era. I am astounded and discouraged that these traits are overshadowed by criticisms of her entitled attitude and stubbornness.
I felt like this was a cultural gap in my knowledge that I am glad to have filled in reading this book.
Is Mineko Iwasaki the most likable person in the world? No, but she is clearly strong, independent, capable, and not afraid to go after the things she wants. She takes no shit. And those are all extremely admirable qualities, especially in a time and place as patriarchal as Japan in the immediate post-war era. I am astounded and discouraged that these traits are overshadowed by criticisms of her entitled attitude and stubbornness.
I felt like this was a cultural gap in my knowledge that I am glad to have filled in reading this book.
I've always had an interest in Geisha and Japanese culture. This is something I wish I had with me for reference when I was doing research on it back in Uni.
This was an awesome read about the life of a Geisha living in Kyoto and highlights how truly false Western understanding of who geisha are and what they do. I am happy Mineko shared her story, as it's truly tragic to see Arthur Golden take her story and turn it into this hyper sexualized over exaggeration of a very important piece of Japanese culture.
If you want a good and honest story of Geisha in Japan skip Memoirs of A Geisha and please pick up Mineko's story instead.
This story makes me miss being in Kyoto and traveling to the Gion Kobu to see a few performances. Truly an experience I will never forget.
This was an awesome read about the life of a Geisha living in Kyoto and highlights how truly false Western understanding of who geisha are and what they do. I am happy Mineko shared her story, as it's truly tragic to see Arthur Golden take her story and turn it into this hyper sexualized over exaggeration of a very important piece of Japanese culture.
If you want a good and honest story of Geisha in Japan skip Memoirs of A Geisha and please pick up Mineko's story instead.
This story makes me miss being in Kyoto and traveling to the Gion Kobu to see a few performances. Truly an experience I will never forget.
From the age of five Mineko Iwasaki was trained as a geisha, or as she refers throughout the book, a geiko, a term used around the Kyoto are of Japan. She started in the 1960's and begun to learn her trade. At the age of seven she was adopted by the owner of the oriya and lived there full time.
All through her training she was an enthusiastic student, but also had an independent streak, which occasionally meant that she caused herself more trouble. But she successfully learnt the dances and the other ritual elements of her profession, before her debut at the age of fifteen as a maiko.
She had a strong work ethic, and took to working extremely hard, with barely a day off and only three hours of sleep a night with the intention of becoming the best geiko of her time. And she achieved that, with her name and face becoming very well know.
But she was also forward thinking. In her position she tried to push for change as she felt that the rules, and lifestyle was not moving with the times, and at the age of 29 she announced her retirement from the profession.
It is a fascinating book, and details a culture that seems almost alien at times. The rules and protocols that they have to follow, from the different kimonos, the hair styles and the dances and ceremonies that have to perform. The writing is a little bit stilted, but then that may be something to do with the formal personality, and the translation, but I think it was worth reading.
All through her training she was an enthusiastic student, but also had an independent streak, which occasionally meant that she caused herself more trouble. But she successfully learnt the dances and the other ritual elements of her profession, before her debut at the age of fifteen as a maiko.
She had a strong work ethic, and took to working extremely hard, with barely a day off and only three hours of sleep a night with the intention of becoming the best geiko of her time. And she achieved that, with her name and face becoming very well know.
But she was also forward thinking. In her position she tried to push for change as she felt that the rules, and lifestyle was not moving with the times, and at the age of 29 she announced her retirement from the profession.
It is a fascinating book, and details a culture that seems almost alien at times. The rules and protocols that they have to follow, from the different kimonos, the hair styles and the dances and ceremonies that have to perform. The writing is a little bit stilted, but then that may be something to do with the formal personality, and the translation, but I think it was worth reading.
This was a great read for anyone wanting an accurate look into this particular portion of Japanese culture and history. Iwasaki is a fascinating person with an incredibly interesting story to tell. Although it is a translation, she recounts her life in a way that is entertaining and informative. I would especially recommend this book to anyone who has read Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, as it is filled with many inaccuracies.
From the age of five Mineko Iwasaki was trained as a geisha, or as she refers throughout the book, a geiko, a term used around the Kyoto are of Japan. She started in the 1960's and begun to learn her trade. At the age of seven she was adopted by the owner of the oriya and lived there full time.
All through her training she was an enthusiastic student, but also had an independent streak, which occasionally meant that she caused herself more trouble. But she successfully learnt the dances and the other ritual elements of her profession, before her debut at the age of fifteen as a maiko.
She had a strong work ethic, and took to working extremely hard, with barely a day off and only three hours of sleep a night with the intention of becoming the best geiko of her time. And she achieved that, with her name and face becoming very well know.
But she was also forward thinking. In her position she tried to push for change as she felt that the rules, and lifestyle was not moving with the times, and at the age of 29 she announced her retirement from the profession.
It is a fascinating book, and details a culture that seems almost alien at times. The rules and protocols that they have to follow, from the different kimonos, the hair styles and the dances and ceremonies that have to perform. The writing is a little bit stilted, but then that may be something to do with the formal personality, and the translation, but I think it was worth reading.
All through her training she was an enthusiastic student, but also had an independent streak, which occasionally meant that she caused herself more trouble. But she successfully learnt the dances and the other ritual elements of her profession, before her debut at the age of fifteen as a maiko.
She had a strong work ethic, and took to working extremely hard, with barely a day off and only three hours of sleep a night with the intention of becoming the best geiko of her time. And she achieved that, with her name and face becoming very well know.
But she was also forward thinking. In her position she tried to push for change as she felt that the rules, and lifestyle was not moving with the times, and at the age of 29 she announced her retirement from the profession.
It is a fascinating book, and details a culture that seems almost alien at times. The rules and protocols that they have to follow, from the different kimonos, the hair styles and the dances and ceremonies that have to perform. The writing is a little bit stilted, but then that may be something to do with the formal personality, and the translation, but I think it was worth reading.
emotional
informative
slow-paced
I read this in one day. The prose was clear, frank and accessible, not at all dry as some reviewers suggest. If you want dry, try reading an academic paper on the subject. The details she went into about the structure of the establishments at Gion were fascinating and cleared up many misconceptions about the Arts she practiced. I especially enjoyed the anecdotes of her time working in the ochaya (pl.) I can see how it may come across as self promoting and aggrandising, if it weren't for the fact that she actually was highly successful. Applying our own tall poppy syndrome and false modesty to another culture is inappropriate. For those with a genuine interest in traditional Japanese culture, this is a must-read.
informative
medium-paced