At the age of five Mineko left home to study traditional Japanese dance in Gion, Kyoto and by 21, she was considered Japan’s best dancer and maiko.
I was pleased to have found these clips on youtube.
The first clip shows Mineko Iwasaki’s introduction to the okiya – geisha house as a child.
Fabulous picture of Japan's most famous geisha
Thanks to ImmortalGeisha and Naomi no Kimono Asobi for the photo.
The second clip provides an insight into the problems surrounding the publication of the best-selling book, Memoirs of a Geisha. Iwasaki was interviewed in the process of researching this book and the interview in the second clip discusses the apparent broken promises of the author. In the interview, she explains that this caused her much grief.
Mineko Iwasaki later wrote her own book, Geisha of Gion, and sued Arthur Golden for breach of contract and defamation.
I wonder how many of you have read Mineko Iwasaki’s book?
Geisha_of_Gion
For some more photos of Mineko Iwasaki as a maiko and geisha, go to this flickr account.
For more info on geisha, I suggest a very recent post on Evening with a Geisha by @shanesakata – thenihonsun At the age of five Mineko left home to study traditional Japanese dance in Gion, Kyoto and by 21, she was considered Japan’s best dancer and maiko.
I was pleased to have found these clips on youtube.
The first clip shows Mineko Iwasaki’s introduction to the okiya – geisha house as a child.
Fabulous picture of Japan's most famous geisha
Thanks to ImmortalGeisha and Naomi no Kimono Asobi for the photo.
The second clip provides an insight into the problems surrounding the publication of the best-selling book, Memoirs of a Geisha. Iwasaki was interviewed in the process of researching this book and the interview in the second clip discusses the apparent broken promises of the author. In the interview, she explains that this caused her much grief.
Mineko Iwasaki later wrote her own book, Geisha of Gion, and sued Arthur Golden for breach of contract and defamation.
I wonder how many of you have read Mineko Iwasaki’s book?
Geisha_of_Gion
For some more photos of Mineko Iwasaki as a maiko and geisha, go to this flickr account.
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I have lived and worked in Japan for the past twenty five years off and on. I have seen many changes and enjoyed the various paradoxes and anomalies of everyday Japanese living.
Thank you – good comments
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
I love these clips, especially the film about mineko’s life –
- i think the ideas of geisha have changed little despite Mineko’s story, Arthur Golden’s book and the stephen spielberg film have set in stone the stereotype that geisha are little more than glorified prostitutes (we have enough of those here in the united states so its easy to see why this is ‘accepted’ anyway) At the least, you would think that Arthur Golden would have had the same sensitivity he used in writing the characters in his book as he would for keeping in with Mineko’s humility – whose name he obviously had no other reason to reveal than for her fame. its so crass and humiliating to talk about fine details of ANY woman’s personal life out in public.
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Thank you for sharing this – much appreciated
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
found some lovely clips of mineko iwasaki http://bit.ly/FTtdW
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
famous geisha videos RT @KimonoBox: found some lovely clips of mineko iwasaki http://bit.ly/FTtdW
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
@shibuya246 thxs for RTof Japan’s most famous geisha http://bit.ly/FTtdW
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
I did! I did!! I did read her book! Though i did not read memoir of a geisha, but i think i will not like it! =.=
I did! I did!! I did read her book! Though i did not read memoir of a geisha, but i think i will not like it! =.=
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
tweet thoughts? @jascination Geisha of Gion and Memoirs, regardless of validity is Golden a better storyteller? http://bit.ly/FTtdW
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Thanks for dropping by kimonobox. Good to hear you read her book. The actress who played her character in the youtube clip is very cute!
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Reading: “Mineko Iwasaki | kimonobox.com” (http://twitthis.com/tlxuf5)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT @shibuya246: famous geisha videos RT @KimonoBox: found some lovely clips of mineko iwasaki http://bit.ly/FTtdW
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT: @KimonoBox about Mineko Iwasaki, the geisha behind Memoirs of a Geisha and Geisha of Gion http://bit.ly/78Vri
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT RT: @KimonoBox about Mineko Iwasaki, the geisha behind Memoirs of a Geisha and Geisha of Gion http://bit.ly/78Vri
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT @AlexGervais: Nice videos and infos from @KimonoBox about Mineko Iwasaki, the geisha behind Memoirs of a Geisha http://bit.ly/78Vri
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Read both, and actually prefer Geisha of Gion rather than Golden’s book.
Living in Kyoto right now, and enjoy strolling by some of the streets Iwasaki might have walked through.
Read both, and actually prefer Geisha of Gion rather than Golden’s book.
Living in Kyoto right now, and enjoy strolling by some of the streets Iwasaki might have walked through.
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Have you read Geisha of Gion? Better than Memoirs of a Geisha. RT @KimonoBox: found some lovely clips of mineko iwasaki http://bit.ly/FTtdW
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT @KimonoBox: Mineko Iwasaki | kimonobox.com http://bt.io/2MF I remember the movie, but have never read the book.
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT @KimonoBox: Mineko Iwasaki | kimonobox.com http://bt.io/2MF I remember the movie, but have never read the book.
Have’nt kept up with much on this subject. Hope this goes through we’re having sort of a storm at the moment. Thunder lightining and rain. North Tx is in a bit of differt weather patern last week and this one. Have gone from hot and humid to weather I just mentioned. Power has cut off twice so far.
RT @KimonoBox: Mineko Iwasaki | kimonobox.com http://bt.io/2MF I remember the movie, but have never read the book.
Have’nt kept up with much on this subject. Hope this goes through we’re having sort of a storm at the moment. Thunder lightining and rain. North Tx is in a bit of differt weather patern last week and this one. Have gone from hot and humid to weather I just mentioned. Power has cut off twice so far.
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Two months ago I have been to Kyoto and visited the Part of Gion were the Geishas live. Narrow streets with elegant wodden houses, poorly lit. Few people. Only a few big limosines drove by. I was impressed by the athmosphere.A big contrast to the busy mainstreets nearby. Thanks for your blog. I will try to read the recomendet book. It’s not so easy to get it In Germany, I suppose. I have seen the film, not bad, but of course verry much Hollywood.
Two months ago I have been to Kyoto and visited the Part of Gion were the Geishas live. Narrow streets with elegant wodden houses, poorly lit. Few people. Only a few big limosines drove by. I was impressed by the athmosphere.A big contrast to the busy mainstreets nearby. Thanks for your blog. I will try to read the recomendet book. It’s not so easy to get it In Germany, I suppose. I have seen the film, not bad, but of course verry much Hollywood.
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Reading: Mineko Iwasaki http://bit.ly/4zrMtj @KimonoBox
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Superb photo and very nice videos. I learned a lot… Thanks!
Superb photo and very nice videos. I learned a lot… Thanks!
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
@AustinOtaku thanks glad you enjoyed http://bit.ly/FTtdW
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Thank you for your comments – Kyoto is a great city to wander through and re-capture a time gone by through finding back narrow streets – I will have to organise another trip again soon
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Dear me – hope the power is back on – Good to see so much interest in Kyoto, Geisha and Mineko Iwasaki’s world
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Good to hear from Kyoto – where are your favourite places to visit in Kyoto?
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Many thanks for the RTs
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
I love these clips, especially the film about mineko’s life -
- i think the ideas of geisha have changed little despite Mineko’s story, Arthur Golden’s book and the stephen spielberg film have set in stone the stereotype that geisha are little more than glorified prostitutes (we have enough of those here in the united states so its easy to see why this is ‘accepted’ anyway) At the least, you would think that Arthur Golden would have had the same sensitivity he used in writing the characters in his book as he would for keeping in with Mineko’s humility – whose name he obviously had no other reason to reveal than for her fame. its so crass and humiliating to talk about fine details of ANY woman’s personal life out in public.
I did not know until tonight that Mineko Iwasaki wrote a book… I see that I will be heading to Chapters tomorrow to buy it!! I can’t wait…
Thanks for dropping by kimonobox. Good to hear you read her book. The actress who played her character in the youtube clip is very cute!
Thank you for your comments – Kyoto is a great city to wander through and re-capture a time gone by through finding back narrow streets – I will have to organise another trip again soon
Dear me – hope the power is back on – Good to see so much interest in Kyoto, Geisha and Mineko Iwasaki’s world
Good to hear from Kyoto – where are your favourite places to visit in Kyoto?
Many thanks for the RTs
Thank you for sharing this – much appreciated
Thank you – good comments