Watch Geisha dances in Furumachi Niigata

Experience interacting with Geisha in Furumachi, Niigata.Play games with them, and watch them dance and sing.

What are Geisha?

Geisha are elegant and beautiful—if, by luck, you see them on the street, anyone would stop and look twice to appreciate their graceful movements, elaborate kimono, distinctive make-up and hair-do.

Geisha are mysterious— if you ask a Japanese person how Geisha live, most people will not have an answer. But one thing is clear. It takes many years of hard work to become a full-fledged Geisha.

If you look at the word Geisha, you will see that it is made up of two Japanese words, “gei” meaning “arts” and “sha” meaning “person”. It literally translates to arts person, a name that best fits the geisha: professional female entertainers. They dance, sing, play traditional Japanese instruments, and display traditional Japanese hospitality, skilfully and elegantly, mesmerising many women and men.

Some may wonder about prositution. In history, some Geisha did engage in prostitution, and some prostitutes did call themselves Geisha to woo customers. However, prostitution has never been thought of as their traditional role.

Now is a good time to enjoy Geisha performances in person. If you were in Japan 40 years ago, you were most likely unable to be in the same party as them without the connections. And 20 years from now, we don’t know if Geisha will still be around. Competition with hostess bars, and other entertainment has led to a decline in the number of Geisha, and it is said that there are only about 1,000 active Geisha left in the country.

Geisha communities exist in various parts of Japan but three of the most prestigious areas are: Gion of Kyoto, Shimbashi of Tokyo, and Furumachi of Niigata. Today we introduce a casual opportunity to meet and interact with the Geisha of Furumachi, Niigata.

Geisha in Furumachi, Niigata

Niigata is located in central Japan, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of Tokyo, and faces the Sea of Japan. Furumachi is a business district in Niigata city, and has been a flourishing port town since Edo period (1603-1868). Since then, Geisha have been entertaining their clients at Furumachi’s Ryotei (traditional Japanese luxurious dining). In recent years, they also perform at more casual venues and events to promote Geisha culture.

Furumachi Geisha are called “geigi” which is another word for “geisha.” With over 200 years of history, the Furumachi Geigi has come to represent Niigata culture. Their dance mainly originated from classical Japanese dancing "Nihon Buyo"'s Ichiyama style which is a mainstream style with a history of over 120 years in Niigata. Furumachi Geigi entertain guests with dances influenced by the "Ichiyama" style.

There are levels in Geisha too. In Niigata, an apprentice Geigi is called a "tomesode", where kimono sleeves are shortened, and a full fledged Geigi is called a "furisode" where kimono sleeves are kept long. In other parts of Japan they have different names for the positions. You can tell the difference between a "tomesode" and a "furisode" also by the length of their kimono ("tomesode" drag their kimono while "furisode" doesn’t), and their obi belt are different too.

The dances they perform, the design of the kimonos and fans they hold, their obi belt-- all have significant meaning. So lean back and enjoy the performances, and try to figure out the message behind the dances.

Enjoy Niigata, Enjoy Geisha!

One other thing to mention is the tasty food in Niigata. Niigata produces top quality rice and sake in the country and what better way to enjoy the sake is with a Geigi on your side. In the summer, enjoy watching Furumachi Geigi-- at the "Saito family summer villa.”

Built in 1918 by a wealthy merchant, Mr. Kijuro Saito, the "Satio family summer villa" is carefully built to view a traditional Japanese garden. The villa was designed to let wind flow, so that one can feel a sense of coolness inside, and enjoy the beautiful greenery and flowers outside. This villa by itself is scenic and a must-see if you are in Niigata. It is now preserved as a cultural heritage that represents Niigata's prosperity.

With such a beautiful setting, you may be thinking, what should I wear? Don't worry too much because it's a casual event, but many people like to show respect by wearing conservative clothing. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to wear socks with no holes-- you’ll be sitting on tatami mats with your shoes off.

Don't miss out on this special opportunity to watch Furumachi Geigi dance and sing skillfully. With an affordable admission fee of 3,000 yen for adults, 2,700 yen for elementary and junior high school students, the duration is 45 minutes. Interact, play games, and take a photo (it would be rude to ask for a photo on the street). Enjoy the highest level of Japanese entertainment at Furumachi, Niigata.

How to Visit

http://saitouke.jp
http://www.niigata-cci.or.jp/geigi
http://enjoyniigata.com/en/detail/page/detail/5112
html http://saitouke.jp/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/english.pdf