The Alluring World of Maiko and Geiko

Judith Clancy has lived in Kyoto since 1970, studying the Japanese tea ceremony and flower arrangement, and becoming well-versed in the citys culture and history. In this book, she reveals the beautiful and graceful realm of the maiko and geiko, for which Kyoto is especially famous. These ornately decorated and kimono-clad young women are bound to the strict customs and tacit rules of the lifestyle to which they are committed. Using thoughtful writing and numerous photographs, Clancy documents every aspect of the history, talents and artistry, and conditions and expectations of the maiko and geiko, as well as the recent changes this venerated tradition has undergone.