Globe-trotting geisha shares secrets in new book

By Elaine Lies

KYOTO (Reuters Life!) - Becoming a geisha is already hard enough for most modern Japanese young women, but Komomo faced more obstacles than most: she was born in Mexico and spent part of her life overseas, including three years in China.

Now the 23-year-old, whose name means "Little Peach," is the proudly elegant member of a centuries-old but fading profession of female entertainers celebrated for their beauty, skill at traditional dance and music, and witty conversation. Contrary to widespread perceptions, geisha are not prostitutes.

Komomo spoke to Reuters recently on the sidelines of a traditional dance festival in Japan's old capital of Kyoto ahead of the publication of "A Geisha's Journey," a book about her experiences in a world unknown to most Japanese.

Q: I hear you became a geisha to search for your Japanese roots after years overseas?

A: I wanted to know more about my own country and that's why I chose this world. I wanted to make Japanese history and customs a part of my daily life, not just wearing a kimono occasionally but every day, and living life as they did in the old days. This was my dream.

Q: You came into this world after living overseas. Has this helped you or hurt you?

A: When I first came here, I think I had some friction with ordinary life in Japan, and I was a bit cheeky. Here they say it's best to act as if you know nothing, but actually be really clever. To act as if you know everything is the worst.

The fact that I'd lived overseas is unusual for ordinary Japanese but especially for a maiko (apprentice geisha). So when people find out about they're very surprised and it's quite easy to make conversation.

Q: When you first became an apprentice, what was hardest?

A: At first, every single day, I seemed to be scolded all the time. That was my work, to be scolded. I'd just graduated from junior high school and I didn't really know what the real world was like. To suddenly go from being a student to go into training to become a professional, that was pretty tough.

When you go into a party you can't make any mistakes. This isn't something you can do just suddenly, so it has to be driven in as part of your daily life so you won't do anything embarrassing in front of the guests.

Q: Did you ever cry?

A: Our house didn't make you cry so much.

Q: What's a typical day?

A: I usually wake up between 9 am and 10 am. From 11 am I have lessons -- tea ceremony, rhythm, drums, shamisen, singing -- long songs and short songs. And flute, I study flute too. There are some days when lessons might be four hours or so. And then in the evening, around 5 pm, I start putting on my make-up, and then from around 6 pm I have parties. I return about midnight and go to sleep around 2 am to 3 am. I take off my kimono, taking off my make-up takes time, I take a bath. Before I know it, it's 2 am.