Foreign readers may not be very familiar with the professional traditional entertainers called geisha, but nowadays it’s not unusual even for older Japanese to be unaware of what geisha actually do.

SHIMODA, Japan — With a few hesitant steps and the swoosh of kimono against a tatami-mat floor, it isn’t long before Awagiku finds her rhythm, moving with what comes close to perfection by the end of ...

Gaining access into the enigmatic world of Japan’s modern-day geishas is no easy task, but award-winning French photographer Philippe Marinig has managed to pull off just that. His new book, “Secret ...

As early as late 600s Japan there have been 'female entertainers' hosting gatherings, pouring sake and offering company to men. Known as 'saburuko' - translated as 'serving girls' - some of these ...

For decades, a pic’s international marketing followed the cues of the all-important domestic launch. But the Japanese campaign for “Memoirs of a Geisha” is more lavish — and on a much faster track — ...

A geiko (Kyoto geisha) named Mamechika dances in Gion, Kyoto, on on August 30, 2007. (Joi Ito photo/Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/joi/1284204434/in/photostream ...

Her voice sounded melodic, soft and soothing. She glided across the tatami mats, dancing traditional steps that she had performed thousands of times. Her apprentice, fresh with youth and wearing a ...

We’ve talked before about geisha as one of Japan’s distinctly female professions, so this time we’re going to share with you a few fun facts about the geisha and their floating world. How many of ...