Memoirs of a Geisha Entry 1 (Chapter 1-3)

The Memoris of a Geisha starts out with the reader being addressed directly by the narrator. The narrator is a geisha who is known as Sayuri. Sayuri narrates the story of her life as she explains that she wasn't always a geisha and starts to tell the story of her childhood. Sayuri is born in a poor fishing village of Yoroido (at that time, she is called Sakamoto Chiyo). Chiyo, Satsu (her older sister), and her parents live a simple life. When Chiyo is nine, her mother becomes very ill. Chiyo is very worried and one day, on an errand, she falls and hurts herself badly. Tanaka Ichiro, a wealthy owner of the Japan Coastal Seafood Company helps her and Chiyo tells him about her family’s difficult situation. A few days later, Tanaka Ichiro visits Chiyo’s father, and Chiyo thought that Tanaka is going to adopt her and her sister after their mother dies. However, when Tanaka takes the two girls on a train trip to the faraway big city of Kyoto, Chiyo and Sastu are separated; Chiyo is sent to train to become a geisha in the district of Gion, but Satsu is rejected and later becomes a prostitute. Chiyo begins her new life in an okiyaor the place where geisha lives. She begins work as a maid working under “Mother”, “Granny” and “Auntie”, the three older women who run the okiya. Later, Chiyo meets Hatsumomo, the only geisha in her okiya. However, Chiyo soon realizes that Hatsumomo is not as nice as she has imagined; Hatsumomo has terrible temper and a mean heart, but she is one of the most renowned geishas in the district of Gion. Chiyo is miserable being away from her family and fears that she will never see them again; however, is lucky to becomes friends with Pumpkin, another girl her age who is currently working as a servant while she is waiting for geisha training. Auntie tells Chiyo that if she works hard, she might get the same opportunity.  

 Personally, I think the first three chapters are really exciting because it sets up the things that we need to know. My heart almost broke when Chiyo was separated from her sister, Sastu. I think I really could feel her pain, especially by that time, she is only a nine years old kid.However, at the same time, I really like the part where Mr. Tanaka takes Chiyo to Gion in where she is going to train as a geisha because it indicates that Chiyo’s life is going to be dramatically changed. I have always been fascinated about the lives of geishas. Before I read this book, I had always thought that geishas were no different from prostitutes. However, after I read this book, I learn that there is a huge difference between being a geisha and a being prostitute. A geisha is a Japanese woman trained to entertain men with conversation and singing and dancing. The training for a geisha is a rigorous two years and geisha don’t sell their bodies. This book is a great book to read if you’re interested in historical events or the mysterious geishas’ lives.

       The Memoirs of a Geisha is a colourful and interesting book. The novel is written in first person of view. It is told from geisha’s point view: she tells the readers the events leading her to become a successful geisha starting from her childhood days. The story also gives the readers a vivid and intriguing account of Japanese culture, especially of geisha culture. The author, Arthur Golden, creates a perfect image of the city of Gion through his writing. Arthur Golden also describes his characters in direct presentation; he has clearly described the hardships that Chiyo is facing and how she deals with them.