Geisha of Gion

‘Honest and authentic and entirely believable, a good read’ Adeline Yen Mah ‘It does offer readers a glimpse into the exotic, mysterious, tinged-with eroticism world of the almost mythical geisha’ * Daily Mail *‘This eloquent and innovative memoir from a woman who threw herself with energy, dignity and unwavering commitment into the exacting demands of the geisha lifestyle should be recieved with nothing but respect’ * The Times *‘A fascinating account…Her storytelling is charming and filled with fascinating details of her clients, her colleagues and Japanese cultural life’ * Big Issue *‘This beautifully written book gives a truly fascinating insight into a secretive world’ * Company Magazine *‘This marvellous factual memoir is written by the woman who inspired Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha’ * Good Book Guide *‘The extraordinary life of the Japanese geisha holds an air of fascination … To read this is to dip into the Japanses psyche and glimpse a world which Westerners still find difficult to understand’ * Worcester Evening News *‘Wonderfully romantic’ * TLS *‘I was left feeling both respect and sorrow for Mineko…her courage and fortitude at revealing what she has experienced and, myself personally, revulsion at the contrived and exploitative expectations imposed on someone at such a young age’ * Belfast Telegraph *‘Her memoir provides some startling details and wonderful insights…This superb translation is full of emotional ups and downs…very hard to put down’ * Tribune *

Born in 1949, Mineko Iwasaki was Japan’s star geisha until she retired at the age of twenty-nine. She now lives in a Kyoto suburb, with her family.