Geisha and maiko (teenage apprentices training to become geisha) are women who perform Japanese traditional arts such as singing, dancing and playing instruments to entertain customers while they ...

Misconceptions about geisha that stem from highly sensationalized stories from Western perspectives flatten the complex cultural artistry of the profession. Detail of a Katsura, a geisha wig.

The powerful image of the geisha - scarlet lips across an alabaster-white painted face, a glossy black wig and ornate kimono - has been associated with Japanese culture since the 17th century.

Another lantern bears the name ‘Tsuruya’. Ganrin-in was once Nara’s busy geisha district, but today Tsuruya is the only geisha house left in the city. I’ve come to meet its last mistress ...

Japanese geisha are taking to the stage in Tokyo for the weeklong Azuma Odori festival. This year marks the centenary of the annual event, which has carried on a tradition despite dwindling numbers.