MINEKO IWASAKI on LIVING AMONG OTHER COMPETITVE GEISHA

MINEKO IWASAKI

Chapter 25 pages 4-5 of 36 of the e-book  EXCERPT:


"It's hard to imagine living in a world where everyone - your friends -  your sisters - even your mother - is your rival. I found it very disorienting.  I wasn't able to distinguish friend from foe.  I never knew who or what to believe.  Inevitably,  all of this took a psychosocial toll and I began to experience emotional problems.  I suffered periodic anxiety, insomnia, and difficulty speaking."

Mineko writes that in Japanese culture, harmony is the most prized way of living.  A peaceful co-existence is emphasized.  Everyone is to get along and especially so when a geisha.  She must learn to communicate with everyone even if she does not like them, project warmth but without inviting sexual intimacy, to be diplomatic and entertaining.  She is not expected to play dumb.  The geisha and management of the house research the people they will be entertaining so that they will know something about them and what to talk about before they even meet the guests.  They are expected to be humorous, make intelligent commentary, and exhibit some witt.
In her book, Mineko says that she is by nature a shy and private person who does not like people.  Becoming social was a challenge for her and she sees it as a way of overcoming her nature.