The glamour of a geisha; wrapped in silk, a painted lovely face, grace beyond the average woman, and such kind eyes. The thing that men want, the envy of women, an elite life of secrets and beauty. This was a mysterious, yet intriguing time, but, as all eras, there came the silence of geisha...
Kiyoko Tanaka is one of the many geisha of the Kojima Palace, serving the royal family that resides there. The Kojima Palace is a richly made palace in the Kyoto region of Japan, home to the Head of Nation, Daiki Kojima, and his family. Daiki-sama is like all of the Japanese men during the Seventeenth-century, known to endulge in geisha pleasures, and that is exactly what the fine women of his palace do. Many of the geisha were forced from their homes, unwilling to be a geisha, whilst others went willingly into the geisha world. In a planet revolving around glamour, money and beauty, what is your role?
What is a geisha?
Geisha (芸者?), Geiko (芸子) or Geigi (芸妓) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.
Traditionally, Geisha began their training at a very young age. Some girls were bonded to geisha houses (okiya) as children. These girls were referred to as hangyoku and were as young as nine years old. Daughters of geisha were often brought up as geisha themselves, usually as the successor (atotori, meaning "heiress") or daughter-role (musume-bun) to the okiya.
A maiko is essentially an apprentice and is therefore bonded under a contract to her okiya. The okiya supplies her with food, board, kimonos, obi, and other tools of her trade. Her training is very expensive and her debt must be repaid to the okiya with the earnings she makes. This repayment may continue after the maiko becomes a full-fledged geisha and only when her debts are settled is she permitted to move out to live and work independently.
A maiko will start her formal training on the job as a minarai, which literally means "learning by watching". Before she can do this she must find an onee-san ("older sister": an older geisha acting as her mentor). It is the onee-san's responsibility to bring her to the ozashiki, to sit and observe as the onee-san is at work. This is a way in which she will gain insights of the job, and seek out potential clients. Although minarai attend ozashiki (banquets in which guests are attended by geisha), they do not participate at an advanced level. Their kimono, more elaborate than a maiko's, are intended to do the talking for them. Minarai can be hired for parties but are usually uninvited (yet welcomed) guests at parties that their onee-san attends. They only charge a third of the usual fee. Minarai generally work with a particular tea house (minarai-jaya) learning from the okaa-san (literally "mother," the proprietress of the house). From her, they would learn techniques such as conversation and gaming, which would not be taught to them in school. This stage lasts only about a month or so.
After a short period of time the final of training begins, and the students are called maiko. Maiko (literally "dance girl") are apprentice geisha, and this stage can last for years. Maiko learn from their senior geisha mentor and follows them around to all their engagements. The onee-san and imouto-san (senior/junior, literally "older sister/younger sister") relationship is important. Since the onee-san teaches her maiko everything about working in the hanamachi, her teaching is vital. There are 5 different hairstyles that a maiko wears, that mark the different stages of her apprenticeship. The onee-san will teach her proper ways of serving tea, playing shamisen, dancing, casual conversation and more. The onee-san will even help pick the maiko's new professional name with kanji or symbols related to her name.
There are three major elements of a maiko's training. The first is the formal arts training. This takes place in special geisha schools which are found in every hanamachi. The second element is the entertainment training which the maiko learns at various teahouses and parties by observing her onee-san. The third is the social skill of navigating the complex social web of the hanamachi. This is done on the streets. Formal greetings, gifts, and visits are key parts of any social structure in Japan and for a maiko, they are crucial for her to build the support network she needs to survive as a geisha.
Geisha are not prostitutes!
There are many misconceptions over what a geisha truly is because the tumultuous past of artisans, prostitutes, and pleasure quarters in Japan. “The world of the geisha, the "flower and willow" world, are very separate societies that are shrouded in mystery. The myths that have been created by outsiders about the environment and the lifestyle of the geisha world have, for the most part, been able to grow unchecked. And because it is a very private, elite world, most people would be uncomfortable speaking about it” . Other misconceptions are derived from true prostitutes in Japan, confused with the word geisha. During World War II, some prostitutes referred to themselves as geisha girls to the foreign military men who they spent time with. However, prostitution was legal in Japan until the turn of the twentieth century, which is another reason that people may be misinformed about geishas not offering sex to customers
There remains some confusion about the nature of the geisha profession. Geisha are regarded as prostitutes by many non-Japanese. However, legitimate geisha do not engage in paid sex with clients. Their purpose is to entertain their customer, be it by dancing, reciting verse, playing musical instruments, or engaging in light conversation. Geisha engagements may include flirting with men and playful innuendos; however, clients know that nothing more can be expected. In a social style that is common in Japan, men are amused by the illusion of that which is never to be.
Rules:
~Cursing is to a minium, please...
~At least one whole paragraph should be posted!
~Romance is encouraged, but PG-13 is our rating. :) Clearly, there'll be romance since they're geisha, but let's not be graphic. ^^
~Post at least every three days! If you are going to be ditching for a while, give me a heads up!
~Two Character Limit!
~If you read these rules, type Morganville Vamp! on your character sheet! ^-^
Palace Outline:
Okiya
As stated before, the Okiya is the geisha house were they live and train younger geisha(maiko).
Sleeping Quaters
The basic sleeping quaters of most of the geisha. A few of the favored geisha will receive finer, more extravagant rooms. This is only granted to those with my permission.
Bath House
The bath house is were all the geisha are to clean; they usually go in certain planned groups once a week.
Pleasure Quarters
This room is only in use for the men and geisha of the household, and also is used for private parties.
Vanity
Where the geisha apply make-ups and other acessories.
Theater
Grand theater located on Kojima properity, the place where the geisha are to preform. (Inside the theater.)
Non-playable Characters:
Daiki Kojima
Calm, wise, kind and gentle, the Head of Nation over Japan.
Aika Kojima
Daiki-sama's wife, very proud and high.
Hiraku Kojima
Daiki-sama's daughter of 12 years, very clever and wise for her youth.
Ichiro Kojima
Playful, teasing son of Daiki-sama.
Chieko "Auntie" Kojima
Sister to Daiki-sama, she is like Aika and thinks very fondly of herself, yet not as badly as Aika does. She also requires the geisha and maids to refer to her as "Auntie", although she is kin to none of them.
Tomoko Ito
Head Geisha of the house, mentor to many of the maiko. Very motherly and kind, yet is stern and beats when necessary.
Playable Characters:
The Geisha of Kojima
Kiyoko Tanaka-Taken by Litria Death
Akemi Suzuki-
Hakuro Yamamoto-
Junko Ohayashi-
Kayo Wantanabe-
Maiko Kato-
Reiko Kichida-
Izanami Kobayashi-
Mieko Takahashi-
Maids of Kojima
Chika Yoshida-
Eri Kiyomizu-
Hana Kimura-
Geisha of Other Courts
Hoshi Hiyashi-
Kastumi Ine-
Kazuko Saito-
Michiko Abe-
Rika Hashimoto-
Friends of the Royals
Noriko Ikeda-
Female :High judge of law, a kind friend to all of the household, including the geisha.
Akihiro Mori-
Male :A best friend to Ichiro, he shares with Ichiro's love of teasing, and especially messing around with the geisha.
Jun Ohayashi-
Male :Twin brother to Junko, a kind friend to the royal family. Encouraged Junko to become a geisha.
Kohaku Tanaka-
Female :Younger sister to Kiyoko, visits the palace as often as possible.
Kichiro Goto-
Male :Kind country man and farmer, Goto-san is secretly in love with one of the geisha of the Kojima court.(If applying for this role, you are alloud to choose his lover.)
Ken'Ichi Ogawa-
Male :Local businessman and accountant to the royal family, he is perticularly fond of spending time with Daiki-sama in the pleasure quarters.
Character Sheets:
Geisha:
- Code: Select all
[left](Realistic Image Here!)[/left]Name at Birth:(Name similar to Characters Name here!Ex: Keiko)
Professional Name:(Name of Character here! EX: Kiyoko)
Age:
BOD:
Year of the:(rat, monkey, snake, etc.)
Height:
Weight:
Signature Style:(Kimono, fan, hairpiece, instrument, etc.)
Most Skilled In:
[b][u]Family[/u][/b]
Mother:
Father:
Siblings:
Home Village:(Can be a large city, like Kyoto, or a small village.)
[i][b]Skills[/b][/i]
Shamisen: (Ranking 1-10)
Singing:
Dancing:
Socaility:
Tea Serving:
Usual Outfit: ([url=]Photograph(s) here![/url])
Rank:(Full-fledged geisha? Maiko? Apprentince geisha?)
Mentor:(If Maiko, please type your mentor. You may either use Tomoko or PM one of the older geisha. If this doesn't apply to you, please put a ~ in the space.)
Secrets: (At least two.)
Accomplishments:(This is for the older geisha, those who have been around longer. Put things like, "Known as best shamisen player in all the local teahouses", or, "Popularly known on the streets".)
Goals:
Time in Kojima: (If you are of the other Courts, leave his blank, or create your own Court to belong to and put how many yrs you've been there.)
Maids:
- Code: Select all
[left](Realistic Image Here!)[/left]Name:
Age:
BOD:
Year of the:(rat, monkey, snake, etc.)
Time in Kojima:
Home Village:
Experience:(Rank 1-10)
Working Standard:
Ability to Listen:
Usual Chores:
Maids Uniform: ([url=]Photo here![/url])
[b][u]Family[/u][/b]
Mother:
Father:
Siblings:
Secrets:
Family Friend:
- Code: Select all
[left](Realistic Image Here!)[/left]Name:
Age:
Gender:
BOD:
Year of the: (rat, monkey, snake, etc.)
Occupation:
Connection to Royal Family:
[b][u]Family[/u][/b]
Mother:
Father:
Siblings:
Secrets:
Usual Outfit:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Professional Name:Kiyoko Tanaka
Age: 19
BOD: 4-13-1802
Height: 5"10
Weight: 110 lbs
Signature Style: Her extravagant dancing with gold and silver, silk woven fans.
Most Skilled In: Dancing, singing, preforming in general.
Family
Mother: Takara Tanaka
Father: Jorou Tanaka
Siblings: Kohaku Tanaka(Younger sister), Hiro Tanaka (Older Brother, Deceased)
Home Village: Cape Omaezaki
Skills
Shamisen: 8
Singing: 9
Dancing: 10
Socaility: 8
Tea Serving: 7
Usual Outfit: Beautiful Silk Kimono :)
Rank:Apprentince geisha at recent; during the RP she'll complete the mizuage ceremony.
Mentor:Tomoko-sensei
Secrets:
~Is in love with a local fishermen
~Sometimes sabotages others fine kimono.
Accomplishments: Known as one of the finest dancers in all of Japan, Kiyoko is constantly begged to preform at parties and teahouses. Her talents are known all over the reigon.
Goals: To train as many geisha as possible.
Time in Kojima: Brought into Kojima at age 10, she was taught the ways of geisha in the Kojima Okiya. She has been on the actual properity for nine years, but for the first two she was constantly in the okiya.