The Geisha has always fascinated me. Maybe it is their extreme discipline to strive to be the perfect woman or their unwavering dedication to their chosen art form of dance or music.
It is truly amazing to see these women who dedicate their entire lives to this ideal image.
There are great misconceptions that geishas are prostitutes but this is not the case.
Geishas are some of the strongest and most financially successful women in Japan.
After several years of traveling to Japan I was finally been able to make the short trip to Kyoto in 2009 to search for the elusive geisha.
Every night between 6-8 pm in the Gion district of Kyoto, Japan most of the last remaining authentic geishas leave their homes to go to work.
I was able to witness this phenomenon first hand one evening as they raced from their apartments into cars and through the streets to the local teahouses and restaurant parties where they entertain Japan’s most elite clientele.
It was crazy to see how people chase them down the street with cameras like paparazzi chasing celebrities in LA.
I have to admit that I got caught up in the madness taking photos and met people from France, Brazil, UK, and many other parts of the world hoping for their own special geisha citing.
As soon as you see one in person you need to find another one just to get a glimpse.