How Would Geisha Ladies Look Like At Parties?

These are photos of a Japanese Sake Tasting Event held in Hachioji city. I have been introducing Hachioji Geisha at outside events, but originally their work places were mostly inside of buildings, specifically parties serving alcohol drinks. Since the event had a kind of party style, their usual parties maybe look similar to this event.

The Event was held at a long-established Kappo-restaurant, which is one types of the expensive Japanese cuisine restaurants (unfortunately this nice old building was already torn down for not meeting the requirments for current building regulations). Until 2014, it was an annual open event at the restaurant and anyone could make a reservation and join in with the entrance fee (12,000 yen, which is about $120).

The fee included Sake tasting (as much as you want), a Japanese cuisine course dinner, and Geisha service. Soon after people took their seats, the event was started and Hachioji Geishas came in. They sang songs, played traditional instruments, and showed traditional Japanese dance as they walked around to pour Japanese sake and to talk to people.

Needles to say, Geisha's service is not limited to men, but woman can also have a great time at parties with Geishas. The word "Geisha" means "entertainers", thus they are professional "Party Entertainers" specifically working for private parties. Though their culture would be a little different in each area or even in each district, they have their own styles. When Hachioji Geishas talk to male guests they call the guests "master", and when talk to female guests, they call older guests "big sister" and younger guests "little sister", so they don't have to ask guests' names, and basically that's one of Geishas' style to ensure that guests feel easy and relaxed at their private parties. 

What's more, the style helps Geishas to keep their clients' secrets even when they attend at a meeting between major politicians. In fact during the early days of Japan's modern times, many of important political meetings took place at expensive Japanese cuisine restaurants with Geishas. They were trusted to protect the confidentiality of their clients.