Memoirs of a Geisha

Arthur Golden

What an interesting book! Although fiction, Memoirs of a Geisha sounds so realistic that the reader is tempted to find the geisha, Sayouri. Golden researched the history and lives of a geisha in the 1930's and 1940's, their last golden years, quite thoroughly. He was able to interview a geisha who was willing to describe the life she led. He brings pre-World War II Japan to life.

Sakamoto Chiyo was born in a small fishing village, younger daughter of a poor fisherman. At the age of nine her mother was wasting away of cancer. Chiyo and her older sister, Satsu, were sent to Kyoto where they were separated. Chiyo was sent to an okiya where geishas were trained and lived. She was to learn the art of the geisha.

Chiyo immediately becomes an object of bitterness of the current geisha living in the okiya. This novel is told from Chiyo's point of view, so she can only speculate why Hatsumomo hates her. Hatsumomo is the only wage earner in the okiya at the time, and Chiyo is attractive enough as a child to be a rival. Chiyo starts her geisha training. Then she makes an unforgiveable mistake and is withdrawn from training, becoming a virtual slave in the okiya. Eventually Chiyo is able to overcome her misfortune and learn the arts of a geisha.

Memoirs of a Geisha is not to be missed, with unexpected twists and turns. I know it's fiction, but it appears to be a believable biography.