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Ia2day
Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Posts: 20
Location: Kyoto
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 Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:42 am Post subject: Geisha? Maiko? |
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I've been trying to understand the difference. Wikipedia defines Maiko as "a Japanese word for dancing girl and an apprentice geisha."
Several of my Japanese friends and students have disagreed with this explanation. They stated that while related, Geisha and Maiko were distinct concepts.
Not really sure what to make of that.
Looking forward to your thoughts. |
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ZennoSaji
Joined: 02 Feb 2010
Posts: 87
Location: Mito, Ibaraki
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 5:44 am Post subject: |
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My understanding is that even in Japan, "geisha" has been misconstrued and confused with prostitutes that paint themselves like geisha, and that's why they think Maiko and Geisha are not related.
Maiko are apprentices or Geisha in Training, as it were. Because of the misconception, they often refer to the true geisha as "Geikko" instead.  |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:43 am Post subject: |
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| For what it's worth, my wife (who is Japanese, and very well versed in traditional Japanese culture) is firmly of the opinion that a maiko is certainly a trainee geisha. Of course, the concept has become a little muddled in western consciousness.... |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: Geisha? Maiko? |
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| Ia2day wrote: |
| Several of my Japanese friends and students have disagreed with this explanation. They stated that while related, Geisha and Maiko were distinct concepts. |
Your friends and students are not helping you very much with such a vague definition.
Wikipedia is right. The direct translation is dance girl, but who cares? The point is, maiko are apprentice/trainee geisha. They dress differently. They undergo specific training (5 years), a lot just by observing what the geisha does (and has a "sister" or sempai guiding her and introducing her at banquets). Maiko are therefore much quieter.
http://www.jpassion.net/features_maiko_geisha.html
http://money.howstuffworks.com/geisha.htm
Read what this English teacher had to say about his experiences teaching maiko, and what they told him about their training (and differences with geisha/geiko).
http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/11/teaching-the-maiko/ |
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Ia2day
Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Posts: 20
Location: Kyoto
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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hmm...
Interesting. Thanks for the help! |
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