The Secret World Of Geishas – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary

1.[Music] geisha are an iconic symbol of Japanese culture instantly recognizable around the world assumptions and stereotypes about geisha are rampant but you might not know the real story behind the cultural phenomenon the first geisha were men geisha translates to arts person and these men provided entertainment for people in the pleasure districts of Japan from around the 1600s the first woman geisha was documented in 1751 becoming a Geisha takes years of training an apprentice geisha is known as a Maiko and will train for 3 to 5 years mastering traditional skills like calligraphy musical instruments flower arranging and the art of conversation they continue to practice these arts every day for the rest of their careers geisha sometimes paint their teeth black as hundreds of years ago this was considered beautiful the practice was banned in 1870 as part of a government effort to modernize the country but some geisha still practiced teeth whitening at the ceremony where Michael become deja vu sha is for life geisha normally continue working as long as they can some into their 80s and 90s generally a Geisha cannot marry unless she chooses to leave the profession as the roles of wife and geisha are not seen as compatible but a Geisha may have lovers and even bear children geisha is a dying way of life in Japan there are far fewer geisha today than before in the 1920s there were over 80,000 geisha in the country but now the figure is estimated to be between one and five thousand so while she might be lucky enough to spot a Geisha in the street or performing at a public event being entertained by geisha is a privilege only for high status individuals in fact people pay up to 2,000 u.s

2.dollars per person to attend the exclusive tea houses of the Geisha [Music] perhaps that's why the world of the Geisha is one of such intrigue to the outside