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Maiko Masquerade
Crafting Geisha Girlhood in Japan
Jan Bardsley
- 300 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Maiko Masquerade
Crafting Geisha Girlhood in Japan
Jan Bardsley
About This Book
Maiko Masquerade explores Japanese representations of the maiko, or apprentice geisha, in films, manga, and other popular media as an icon of exemplary girlhood. Jan Bardsley traces how the maiko, long stigmatized as a victim of sexual exploitation, emerges in the 2000s as the chaste keeper of Kyoto's classical artistic traditions. Insider accounts by maiko and geisha, their leaders and fans, show pride in the training, challenges, and rewards maiko face. No longer viewed as a toy for men's amusement, she serves as catalyst for women's consumer fun. This change inspires stories of ordinary girlsâand even one boyâstriving to embody the maiko ideal, engaging in masquerades that highlight questions of personal choice, gender performance, and national identity.