Sayuki [Geisha of Australian nationality]

Wishing to correct a wrong notion about geisha

Shown the way into a room at "Haute Cuisine: Hisago-an", we found Sayuki in kimono wear sitting straight on the tatami mat.
Now conversant in fluent Japanese, she came to Japan as an exchange student when she was fifteen. After graduating at a Japanese high-school and a college, she started working in a Japanese company as a journalist. Advancing her study at the University of Oxford, she completed an MBA course. It was a marvelous achievement that she accomplished a master's degree. Then, why is she looking to the geisha career?
"Geisha girls – so well-known that every one knows of. Their preconceived idea is so evident, however, that no one among Europeans has ever tried to dig it out to understand their life-style or inside of their mind. My determination was, as a social anthropologist, to jump into this world and see for myself what it is all about."
Through introductions from a person to another, she began the first step of entering this society of a Japanese courtesan district as a serving lady at "Haute Cuisine: Hisago-an", where she was interviewed this time. Working in early days, she was just carefully watching the gestures and actions of geisha girls day by day. It was then around April of 2007 when she was given opportunities of starting actual practices and training.
"Geisha girls, in olden time, used to be often kept and trained at Okiya (geisha houses where geisha girls are lodged and dispatched to tea-houses or restaurants at customers' requests), however, today they undergo training in a different way to polish their performing skill for a year. Though I am the first foreigner here, there is no different treatment to me than to others. It's never an easy going challenge."
In spite of her long-living experience in Japan, well versed to the local style of life and custom, a question was thrown to her, "What is your most burdensome to you so far?" She murmured in response, "Hmmm… that's sitting straight."

A new aspect of culture for youngsters wearing yukata (a casual style of kimono) or jinbei (summertime clothing for men and boys)

Following her successful geisha debut in December, 2007, she is now working on a project to video-record the real geisha world. In spare time during busy days, she has been making her geisha life recorded in this documentary picture, which will be, when completed, publicly on show in her country, Australia, as well as several other countries around the world.
There is no denying that Japan's traditional culture appears on the wane, while western culture has become widespread to be part of post-war Japan. Under such situation, Sayuki favorably looks at the on-going trend of 'reviewing Japanese culture' movement.
"More and more young people are seen on the road walking in yukata or Jinbei clothing these days. It's great. They have found fascinating feature in what has existed since long time ago, and they are now spreading it as new culture. I would be more than happy if I could reach the depth of Japanese culture, and more Japanese are motivated by me to show their appreciation to it."
On a final note, how much do we know, first of all, about 'geisha'? Geisha, in a dictionary, is quoted as "Japanese women professionally skilled in performing Japanese arts such as classical music and dance."
Well, Geisha is an occupation, not simply formal beauty. It is a geisha girl as a professional that is skilled in performing diverse Japanese arts such as singing, dancing and playing shamisen (a three-string instrument) to let customers enjoy themselves in pleasant atmosphere.
"Gei-sha means literally 'a person possessing skills to perform arts.' It is a life-long pursuing process. I will not set a goal to end my pursuit, saying 'Here, I am done.' To become a self-reliant geisha is my first step to send my appreciation to those who have so far supported me in getting in this world."