By Chloe Sipeki
A book holds the power to transport the reader into a different world and a different time. This power is undeniable in Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha.
Set in Kyoto in the 1930s, Memoirs of a Geisha is told by the fictional character Nitta Sayuri, the most celebrated geisha of her time. The book, which was made into a movie in 2005, is based on the experience of real geisha that Golden interviewed for his work.
Despite the book being known as a literary sensation, I was introduced to it because it has been my mother’s favourite since the early 2000s. She recently gifted it on to me, telling me it was colourful, honest, and totally unforgettable.
Prior to turning the first page, my knowledge of traditional Japanese geisha extended as far as kids movies and images of women with painted faces in fancy dress. In other words; very little. The mystery of the geisha is revealed to the reader as they are immersed in the novel through Sayuri’s narration. From the beginning to end, all things she experiences and learns, you do also.
While taking its reader on a journey to a parallel universe, the writing itself captures a certain whimsy of Japan in the 1930s. Through detailed descriptions it conjures images of antique architecture, cherry blossoms on the breeze and the authentic atmosphere of life in Kyoto. All is underpinned with the unique instrumental twang of a traditional shamisen, which Sayuri learns to play in the novel.
Memoirs of a Geisha, which was originally published in 1997, put the world of geisha under the spotlight for western cultures. While there has been controversy surrounding the authenticity of precise details in the novel, it is still an honest depiction of the hardships women like Sayuri would have faced in their career and the immense perseverance required as a geisha. It was something that definitely struck a chord with me.
In a world of waning attention spans and investments in all things low effort, the story of someone who has spared no effort to find their place in life truly makes an impression.
Despite countless setbacks, Sayuri persisted with pride and passion that seems unknown in the 21st century. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the traditional roles of geisha, but Sayuri’s perseverance is arguably the most important lesson of all.
It is estimated that there were almost 80,000 practising geisha in Japan in the 1930s. Today there are less than 1000.
The westernisation of Japan has led to the decline of many cultural traditions. This has taken such a toll on the profession of geisha that it is now a dying art.
While the future of geisha is up in the air, Arthur Golden has taken a piece of that world and frozen it in time.
Almost 30 years since its publication, Memoirs of a Geisha gives readers a story that is not only relevant, but unforgettable.
Featured image: Modern Geisha practice untouched traditions. Photo: Wang Xi/CC/Unsplash
