Kiyo in Kyoto: From the Maiko House - Vol. 16 Ch. 169 - Sumire and Her Mother

[ricebao]

pretty cold relationship with mother. suu-chan only comes home once per year but is still going to kiyo-chan's place even though they basically see each other every day?

 

[toothbrush]

Ahh yeah. I do agree that 15 is a very, very young age to decide a profession, especially one like becoming a maiko. Both sides are sound in their reasonings, but I'm glad the mom's not stopping her or anything.

 

[Pika]

@tinysilverstar
In one of the older chapters someone linked an article about Maiko and Geishas in the past. Maiko will need to have sex (first time) with her client in the end in order to graduate.
But of course that has changed nowadays.

 

[Esasaeriri]

As a mother of a daughter, I understand Suu's mother. While maybe there's some background to the story, but it's not about punishing her for going against her wish, it's about my teenage daughter dropping out of school and leave the state to be a glorified courtesan/escort attending to drunk old men. I'm not sure what the future holds for such profession either, what happens after you're too old to be Geiko? Not everyone can be Mother or instructor. Suu probably could, but it's not guaranteed.

 

[kuma]

she can't support her decision but she didn't stop her. pretty reasonable parents by asian parent standard.

 

[Heimdal]

@pika @tinysilverstar
In one of the older chapters someone linked an article about Maiko and Geishas in the past. Maiko will need to have sex (first time) with her client in the end in order to graduate.
But of course that has changed nowadays.

I remember all that though there was something also said that the sex thing might still be happening behind closed doors and a blind eye is turned to it in relation to prostitution laws Japan has now as it is traditional. I can't remember if it was just guessing or something more to it.

 

[roseofquartz]

I don't think people understand how Maiko/Geiko are treated in Japanese culture, which is... surprising, like, we're 169 chapters in, guys. C'mon.

You are an escort basically, yes, but they're treated with SO much respect and reverence. It's not like you can hire a maiko or geiko for a dinner party (keep in mind the flower fee is around 50,000yen PER maiko, that's about $500 for her just to show up to your dinner party, not for the cost of dinner itself either. A mid-tier geiko, like Momo-nee-san is probably closer to 200,000yen/$2000. That's for maybe an hour or two of just her company) and then make sexual remarks or man handle her or whatever. She'll sit beside you, she'll refill your beer, listen to you gripe, dance or perform for you, play drinking games with you or compliment you.

You CANNOT outright pay a geiko for sex, it is NOT a service you can purchase. She can certainly suggest a sexual relationship, but only if she wants to (and yes, it does usually come with the expectation of a gift, maybe not necessarily money, but certainly something like new jewellery, new kimono, etc.).

Maiko/Geiko are traditional hostesses (btw you also can't 'buy' sexual services from hosts or hostesses) basically, but also double as actresses and performers.

 

[Nunally]

@Esasaeriri she can be a model, or an actress, or an idol, or news host. She already has the face and experience in front of camera after all, plus as professional Maiko she needs to take care of her body & face as strictly as professional model or actress does.

@Pika @savagebj @rtrtrt I suggest you read Kusuriya no Hitorigoto if you want to learn about high ranking Oiran, because basically China and Japan has close culture regarding this after all.

 

[d_a_renoir]

@Esasaeriri You are never "too old" to be a geisha, not even if you're 40, 50, 60. There is a geisha named Kokin, for example, who is still performing and she's 98 years old.

Geisha often retire to marry, or just leave the profession to go do something else (e.g going to uni), but it would be by the geisha's personal choice and there is no cut-off age. Some geisha can go become a professional in Japanese traditional art after retirement, like a shamisen or koto player, and make a career out of that.

 

[alacaelum]

I don't think people understand how Maiko/Geiko are treated in Japanese culture, which is... surprising, like, we're 169 chapters in, guys. C'mon.

You are an escort basically, yes, but they're treated with SO much respect and reverence. It's not like you can hire a maiko or geiko for a dinner party (keep in mind the flower fee is around 50,000yen PER maiko, that's about $500 for her just to show up to your dinner party, not for the cost of dinner itself either. A mid-tier geiko, like Momo-nee-san is probably closer to 200,000yen/$2000. That's for maybe an hour or two of just her company) and then make sexual remarks or man handle her or whatever. She'll sit beside you, she'll refill your beer, listen to you gripe, dance or perform for you, play drinking games with you or compliment you.

You CANNOT outright pay a geiko for sex, it is NOT a service you can purchase. She can certainly suggest a sexual relationship, but only if she wants to (and yes, it does usually come with the expectation of a gift, maybe not necessarily money, but certainly something like new jewellery, new kimono, etc.).

Maiko/Geiko are traditional hostesses (btw you also can't 'buy' sexual services from hosts or hostesses) basically, but also double as actresses and performers.

Exactly.

I see the beauty in the artistic part of this job... but you would need to be blind and deaf not to know the historical roots of the Geiko/Maiko.

And as you said, just because you can't directly "buy" the "extra" service doesn't mean all the "gentlemen" that "sponsor" those girls are well... gentlemen, if this denomination ever really held any meaning.

Personally... if I was in Suu-chan's mother's place, I don't know if I would be able to confidently send my daughter to try her luck with such a "career", in this fluffy story I know anything will ever happen... but the author weaves some subtle hints that despite she making this strictly as a "feels good" story, she knows what really happens.

 

[Kaitensatsuma]

Harsh but understandable.
Sumire may be killing it but it's a harsh path so the fears of Sumire's mom are not unfounded. I mean, look at how hard Kiyo failed. It's only through luck and coincidence she ended up filling the cook's spot.

Right, but what is waiting for Kiyo in Aomori?
Or for Sumire?
Even Kenta was taking a wild chance at baseball

Demographic flight from the countryside is a very real thing in Japan, to the point that there are almost entirely abandoned countryside towns.