Geisha Houses
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Within the capital there are 5 large Geisha houses each with around 4-10 related minor houses and 2-6 dedicated craft houses.
These craft houses are, except for two exceptions, not actually tied to work for just one geisha house; instead selling their wares to any bidder willing within the professions.
The members of the Geisha houses are trained in high culture with the sole purpose of entertaining their guests. Only a minority of geisha are born into the house, most are adopted from clan children sent by their parents to "audition" at a particular geisha house; though some outcast children have also found a place within their halls.
Once within the Geisha halls the old clan ties are cut and the Geisha house becomes a new clan for the prospective geisha.
Though the majority of Geisha houses train only women, one of the five major houses trains their male equivalent Taikomochi.
Geisha Vocabulary
Danna - a man who financially backs the geisha's expenses Hanamachi - a geisha district Maiko - Kyoto term for apprentice geisha Obi - decorative sash tied around a kimono Okasan - head of geisha household (addressed as "mother") Okiya - geisha household O-nesan - older geisha sister Shamisen - stringed instrument used by geishas
