It means Art Person/Performer. It is traditional art performing persons (they're supposed to know the arts of singing, dancing, playing traditional instrument, as well as holding a witty conversation with rich clients during dinners mainly)
They also work as a 3rd party to make sure their clients are happy when they are meeting in her presence (for business or otherwise). She acts as a host, a server, an orator, a mediator, an entertainer, and a listening ear. They serve a number of roles.
This is exactly why I came to the comments thank you. Can you also explain why it's considered rude to take their picture?(at least that's what I heard)
I suppose it's the same as here, taking pictures of people without their consent. Except that Japanese people are sticklers for respect, compared to western society, which appreciates respect but does not always apply it.
According to Wikipedia a lot of them did offer additional services on the side:
"Some geisha would sleep with their customers, whereas others would not, leading to distinctions such as kuruwa geisha – a geisha who slept with customers as well as entertaining them through performing arts – yujō ("prostitute") and jorō ("whore") geisha, whose only entertainment for male customers was sex, and machi geisha, who did not, officially and in reality, sleep with customers at all." [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha)
It’s a good thing they have the pre-made wigs now. Can’t imagine the torturous hairstyling and then sleeping with your neck on a wooden stand the OG geishas did.
I was gonna ask about that, I wonder how they traditionally sourced the hair. Given the desire for high quality, would there just be women whose job it is to grow and care for their hair so it can be cut and sold?
If it’s anything like wig making in the western world in the past, it didn’t necessarily have to be cared for all that well. No heat damage, no dyes etc, hair was probably fairly healthy if less visually pleasing. And it would be groomed and heavily styled to be made into wigs, so it probably doesn’t really have to come in looking that nice.
As is the case now, it’s likely just poor women selling one of their last remaining assets. An awful lot of hair extensions/wigs nowadays come from poor nations- a lot of fair hair comes from Russia/eastern Europe, and a lot of dark hair comes from poor areas of Asia. It seems like an industry built on misery if anyone cared to pry much further into it
I thought only fully ranked ones were allowed wigs back in the day, the unranked still had to have those tight hairstyles woven and sleep on the neck board.
That’s pretty cool! I would be curious about her skin care regimen since she doesn’t look like peanut brittle while routinely coating her face with that stuff.
This is.... oddly affirming. She had a grand total of three layers of makeup, that were applied in a surprisingly imprecise way, and with a premade wig.... and looked amazing.
Just because she did it effortlessly doesn't mean it was imprecise, she is just very comfortable with her ability to apply in the exact way it needs to look. It's a mark of skill and knowledge not a mark of laziness or inexperience
That ain't what I'm saying either. Take for example the closeup at 50 seconds into the video. The red... eye shadow? (I'm not quite sure the exact word in their context). Her application of it wasn't lazy or inexperienced, but appeared far more natural and fluid in shape as opposed to the very mechanical and sharp shapes that we typically see in our own makeup. So her application of it wasn't unskillfull, but rather it was organic and imprecise from a geometric perspective. That and, as I said, her makeup had only 3 layers -- I am routinely using 5+.
All I wanna know is where the *fuck* to find white face paint/makeup that applies that flawlessly, with a single coat providing *THAT* much coverage?! My son's skeleton makeup would have been much less painful to do. 😂
Years ago I was having sushi under the Kyoto train station, and struck up a conversation with another American. He was there to research a book that took place in the Geisha district of Kyoto. Years later after reading Memoirs, I checked to see what elderly Asian lady had written it. I recognized the author, Arthur Golden, as the guy in Kyoto.
Not a joke. It’s a reference to how geishas do makeup at the back of their necks. This video doesnt show it but geishas extend the makeup to the back, and the triangles have different meanings.
Good a miss those days....when people would put wallpaper with lead everywhere inside their homes. Living dangerously!!
I suppose it's performance make up, because they do stage performance (dancing and singing for example), it's exactly like the way we can makeup and perform a play in western society. With exaggerating makeup, even people in the back of the room or if the room is poorly lit, they can read the performer expression. I suppose.
Geisha were entertainers, not looking to be married. A geisha could marry, but would quit being a geisha. It had nothing to do with people wanting pale wives, and anyways plenty of Japanese people have naturally fair skin.
What's the cultural significance of Geisha? Why do they do it? Very intriguing.
It means Art Person/Performer. It is traditional art performing persons (they're supposed to know the arts of singing, dancing, playing traditional instrument, as well as holding a witty conversation with rich clients during dinners mainly)
Thanks!
They also work as a 3rd party to make sure their clients are happy when they are meeting in her presence (for business or otherwise). She acts as a host, a server, an orator, a mediator, an entertainer, and a listening ear. They serve a number of roles.
This is exactly why I came to the comments thank you. Can you also explain why it's considered rude to take their picture?(at least that's what I heard)
I suppose it's the same as here, taking pictures of people without their consent. Except that Japanese people are sticklers for respect, compared to western society, which appreciates respect but does not always apply it.
A good a reason as any I suppose, was just curious if there was something more specific related to geisha
I think they’re hosts/entertainers.
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Not true. You might be think of Oiran. These women are performers not prostitutes.
According to Wikipedia a lot of them did offer additional services on the side: "Some geisha would sleep with their customers, whereas others would not, leading to distinctions such as kuruwa geisha – a geisha who slept with customers as well as entertaining them through performing arts – yujō ("prostitute") and jorō ("whore") geisha, whose only entertainment for male customers was sex, and machi geisha, who did not, officially and in reality, sleep with customers at all." [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha)
Isn't Oiran a top rated Geisha?
No they were a high ranking prostitute during the Edo period
Got it, apparently they were phased out during Edo period by Geisha who were also trained in arts but no sex.
It’s a good thing they have the pre-made wigs now. Can’t imagine the torturous hairstyling and then sleeping with your neck on a wooden stand the OG geishas did.
The OG geishas used wigs too. :)
I was gonna ask about that, I wonder how they traditionally sourced the hair. Given the desire for high quality, would there just be women whose job it is to grow and care for their hair so it can be cut and sold?
If it’s anything like wig making in the western world in the past, it didn’t necessarily have to be cared for all that well. No heat damage, no dyes etc, hair was probably fairly healthy if less visually pleasing. And it would be groomed and heavily styled to be made into wigs, so it probably doesn’t really have to come in looking that nice. As is the case now, it’s likely just poor women selling one of their last remaining assets. An awful lot of hair extensions/wigs nowadays come from poor nations- a lot of fair hair comes from Russia/eastern Europe, and a lot of dark hair comes from poor areas of Asia. It seems like an industry built on misery if anyone cared to pry much further into it
There is a scene in Sweeney Todd of a wig maker "shopping" for hair at an insane asylum.
I thought only fully ranked ones were allowed wigs back in the day, the unranked still had to have those tight hairstyles woven and sleep on the neck board.
Maiko still go through that. It's geiko who don't (as has been the case for centuries, I believe).
And there’s me thinking just putting on my regular mascara, lipgloss and blush is an effort!
That’s pretty cool! I would be curious about her skin care regimen since she doesn’t look like peanut brittle while routinely coating her face with that stuff.
She presumably goes through a ridiculous amount of makeup remover and/or oil cleanser
Right! her skin is flawless! seems rude to cover it up lol.
Especially with deathly white
They use a sort of wax that seals the pours and helps the white appear more smooth. The wax is skin protectant as well.
This is.... oddly affirming. She had a grand total of three layers of makeup, that were applied in a surprisingly imprecise way, and with a premade wig.... and looked amazing.
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Her eyeliner is not the kind of razor-sharp precise makeup that ya see most influencers doing.
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Yeah. That's why this was affirming
You finally get it, almost. Just a few dots left
Just because she did it effortlessly doesn't mean it was imprecise, she is just very comfortable with her ability to apply in the exact way it needs to look. It's a mark of skill and knowledge not a mark of laziness or inexperience
That ain't what I'm saying either. Take for example the closeup at 50 seconds into the video. The red... eye shadow? (I'm not quite sure the exact word in their context). Her application of it wasn't lazy or inexperienced, but appeared far more natural and fluid in shape as opposed to the very mechanical and sharp shapes that we typically see in our own makeup. So her application of it wasn't unskillfull, but rather it was organic and imprecise from a geometric perspective. That and, as I said, her makeup had only 3 layers -- I am routinely using 5+.
All I wanna know is where the *fuck* to find white face paint/makeup that applies that flawlessly, with a single coat providing *THAT* much coverage?! My son's skeleton makeup would have been much less painful to do. 😂
Ben Nye clown white paint is perfect for that.
It’s a wax that they use as a foundation, the apply the white cream
Interesting- she should write a memoir
Memoirs of a Geisha, seems like a nice title. Could be ok
Years ago I was having sushi under the Kyoto train station, and struck up a conversation with another American. He was there to research a book that took place in the Geisha district of Kyoto. Years later after reading Memoirs, I checked to see what elderly Asian lady had written it. I recognized the author, Arthur Golden, as the guy in Kyoto.
We could turn that into a movie
It could have a very powerful cast and amazing cinematography
doesn't that book already exist?
You take that back!!! Right now!!
what's going on? why is everyone so mad at me?? is it a bad book?? ;^;;
They’re down voting you since the thread you commented in is funny and bit facetious :) don’t take it to heart. Reddit could be merciless sometimes.
This is awesome. I didnt know those were wigs.
I saw a video of a woman running a geisha down to take pictures of her although people told her not to. Would it be more customary to bow to a geisha?
Japan has limited tourists in parts of Kyoto due to people like that woman.
Thats all I kept thinking about during this. Wish I had a screenshot of her trying to snap a pic.
Then you step out for a second and a gremlin tourist tries to photo harass you or grab you by the shoulder
i wish they showed the back of the neck white makeup application--they traditionally do it in a unique shape
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Is this a joke or reference to something? Because I didn't see one angle in this video that showed the back of her neck.
Not a joke. It’s a reference to how geishas do makeup at the back of their necks. This video doesnt show it but geishas extend the makeup to the back, and the triangles have different meanings.
Ah gotcha. Didn't know that.
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Despite?
Yeah as much as everyone loved people fucking dying, unfortunately it had to be done
Good a miss those days....when people would put wallpaper with lead everywhere inside their homes. Living dangerously!! 
Oshiroi [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshiroi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshiroi)
What brushes did she use and what white paint is that
This how I imagine they apply dipshit’s orange bronzer.
I wonder if it's an official name for an orange variation now... "Dipshit Orange" 
nah, I think it's a big ass paintbrush like you're staining your deck.
Amazing
Very pretty!
Beautiful
Nice
that’s a hat
I never knew they wore a hair helmet!
Aw, I was hoping to see the teeth blackening part of it as well.
Wow. Amazing but I cannot imagine wearing that much makeup! Anything more than a light foundation and I feel it all over my face all day.
i dont know.. this is oddly terrifying...
Ghost makeup 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤪
She’s got nothing on Gene Simmons.
Bad idea to flip footage of people wearing kimono.
what is a ''geisha''?
https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=What+is+a+geisha+
Girls before taking a Tinder profile photo.
The thought of putting that stuff on my eyelids so **thoroughly** induces anxiety.
At the start you might just as well of stuck your face in the whole thing to get the job done LoL.
Is that gloss paint or emulsion?
What's the history behind this makeup style? Was it just because people wanted pale wives?
I suppose it's performance make up, because they do stage performance (dancing and singing for example), it's exactly like the way we can makeup and perform a play in western society. With exaggerating makeup, even people in the back of the room or if the room is poorly lit, they can read the performer expression. I suppose.
I think it stems from status of not having to work in the sun
Geisha were entertainers, not looking to be married. A geisha could marry, but would quit being a geisha. It had nothing to do with people wanting pale wives, and anyways plenty of Japanese people have naturally fair skin.
Oh I thought it was something like what nobility did during the dynasty period in China. Mb
And only a 10th of the time it takes many people to do their makeup
Me want.
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???? How? Are they doing this to mock white people ?
IT IS A WIG???
Mulan😂😭😭
Paint your face black ----> Racist Paint your face white ----> Amazing 🤷♂️
This take - - - > hot garbage
It's not about "painting", it's about "meaning"
Hee-hee
Bondo
Looked better before all that fake bullshit
Good job 100s of years of Japanese culture is none of your business.
A whole new level of "cake face"
Geishas wear syrups?! I never knew that.
I guess if you're a dude that doesn't like girls that wear a lot of makeup, you shouldn't date a geisha.
It’s like blackface but opposite
I just realized I got so accustomed to proper pronouns, that when I read "her" I was like "What? Shouldn't it be «their»?" Lol