Illusion versus reality in the geisha world

Setting

Set primarily in Kyoto, Japan, Memoirs of a Geisha spans several decades of the 20th century, beginning in 1929 and continuing through World War II and its aftermath. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Japan's transformative years, capturing the nation's shift from traditional ways to modernization.

Much of the novel takes place in Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district. This bustling area, with its narrow streets and traditional wooden machiya houses, serves as the stage for Sayuri's journey from a young girl to a renowned geisha. Golden vividly depicts iconic locations within Gion, such as the Ichiriki Ochaya, a high-class teahouse frequented by geisha and their patrons.

While Kyoto forms the heart of the narrative, the story briefly shifts to other locations. A portion unfolds in the coastal fishing village of Yoroido, where the protagonist Sayuri spent her early childhood, offering a stark contrast to the refined world of the geisha. Later, during World War II, Sayuri finds herself in the northern reaches of Japan. The novel concludes with scenes in New York City, reflecting Japan's post-war connections to the Western world.

Characters

• Nitta Sayuri: The protagonist and narrator, formerly known as Chiyo Sakamoto. A famous geisha in Gion with unusual blue-gray eyes.

• Mameha: An experienced and successful geisha who becomes Sayuri's mentor and “older sister."

• Hatsumomo: The beautiful but cruel lead geisha of the Nitta okiya, who sees Sayuri as a rival and tries to sabotage her.

• Chairman Ken Iwamura: The kind businessman who shows young Sayuri compassion and becomes the object of her love and devotion.

• Nobu Toshikazu: The Chairman's business partner, scarred from burns, who becomes Sayuri's primary patron.

• Pumpkin: Another young girl in the okiya who becomes Hatsumomo's protégée and Sayuri's rival.

• Mother: The strict and business-minded proprietress of the Nitta okiya.

• Auntie: A former geisha who helps run the okiya and shows some kindness to Sayuri.

• Granny: The elderly and often grumpy resident of the okiya.

• Dr. Crab: A wealthy doctor who bids for Sayuri's mizuage (virginity).

• The Baron: Mameha's primary patron, a wealthy and powerful man.

Quick facts

• Memoirs of a Geisha took Arthur Golden six years to write, including three complete rewrites.

• Golden studied Japanese language and culture at university, which helped inform the book.

• The novel's first-person narrative is written from the perspective of Sayuri looking back on her life.

• The character of Mameha, who becomes Sayuri’s mentor, was loosely based on the real-life geisha Mineko Iwasaki.

• As part of his research for the novel, Golden interviewed several geisha, including Mineko Iwasaki, who later sued him for breach of confidentiality.

• The novel explores themes of identity, love, and social hierarchy in pre-WWII Japan.

• Memoirs of a Geisha spent two years on The New York Times bestseller list.

• Memoirs of a Geisha has been translated into more than 30 languages.

• The 2005 film adaptation was directed by Rob Marshall and starred Zhang Ziyi as Sayuri.

• Controversy arose over the casting of Chinese actresses in Japanese roles for the film.

About the Author

Arthur Golden (1956-) is an American writer best known for his bestselling 1997 novel, Memoirs of a Geisha. This acclaimed work of historical fiction spent two years on The New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into 32 languages. The novel was adapted into a 2005 film, directed by Rob Marshall, which won three Academy Awards.

A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Golden holds degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and Boston University in art history, Japanese history, and English respectively. His study of Japanese culture and language laid the foundation for his acclaimed work of historical fiction. The creation of Memoirs of a Geisha was a laborious process, spanning six years and requiring three complete rewrites. Golden's meticulous research included interviews with former geisha, most notably Mineko Iwasaki, who later sued the author for breach of confidentiality. The case was settled out of court.  

Golden lives in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, with his wife Trudy Legge and their two children.