, also known as, were the original male geisha of Japan.
The Japanese version of the jester, were once attendants to (feudal lords) from the 13th century, originating from the Ji sect of Pure Land Buddhism, which focused on dancing. These men both advised and entertained their lord and came to be known as ('comrades'), who were also tea ceremony connoisseurs and artists. By the 16th century, they became known as or ('storytellers'), where they focused on storytelling, humour, and conversation. They were sounding boards for military strategies and they battled at the side of their lord.
A time of peace began in the 17th century and the and no longer were required by their lords, and so they had to take on a new role. They changed from being advisors to becoming pure entertainers, and a number of them found employment with the, high-class Japanese courtesans. ("Laughs to Banish Sleep"), a collection of comic stories written by Sakuden Anrakuan, was compiled during this time.
"Geisha" means "arts person", while was the formal name for "jester". was a less formal name for these men, which literally means "drum bearer", though not all of them used the drum. It could also have been a corrupted way of saying "to flatter someone". These three terms came into use during the 17th century. In 1751 the first (female geisha) arrived at a party and caused quite a stir. She was called ("arts girl"), which is still the term for geisha in Kyoto today. By the end of the 18th century these outnumbered to the point that, having become so few in number, they became known as ("male geisha"). The geisha even took over from the due to their artistic skills, their contemporary outlook and their sophistication. The men continued to assist the women – this time the geisha – in the entertainment field.
In Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World, Lesley Downer wrote that in Yoshiwara in 1770, there were 16 female geisha and 31 male geisha. In 1775 there were 33 female geisha, but still 31 male geisha. But in 1800 there were 143 female geisha and 45 male geisha. The females started to take over the field and the role of the males was again changed – this time the males took on the role of supporting the women at parties.
There were between five or six hundred in Japan during the peak of their popularity. Since then, the geisha have started to decline due to the popularity of the (café girls) in the 1920s and to westernisation. This in turn, caused the decline of the . Their decline sped up with World War II, and the continue to decline today. Although there are still small communities of geisha in Kyoto and Tokyo, there are only eight in Japan. Four are in Tokyo, one is in Kyoto.
In Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World, Lesley Downer interviewed Shichiko, a from Tokyo. She calls the party masters who ensure that the guests have a fun time at the party by telling jokes, telling erotic tales and acting out skits, playing games and drinking . These parties, like with geisha, can be very expensive. Shichiko joked that – that a man who spends all of his time and money on will fall into ruin and his wife will kick him out, and he will have nothing left to do but become a himself. Apparently this is why a lot of men became in earlier times.
As part of his repertoire, Ms. Downer was shocked by one particular skit – one that is a classic erotic skit. The pretends to be talking to a pretend (patron) who obviously wants to have sex. The explains that he is not homosexual, and that he is called a geisha, but the pretend is impatient. So the gives in to please the client, and acts out (half hidden by a screen) the sex with moans and rolling of eyes, until the climax. The then gets a tissue to 'clean up'. The audience roared with laughter because they all knew that this was a joke, making fun of how geisha and please their customers.
The Kyoto, Taikomochi Arai, wants to promote this traditional art both in Japan and around the world. He entertains at (geisha parties) with and geisha as well as striking out on his own, to try to keep his profession alive. He tells sophisticated erotic stories and is well versed in performing arts for the parties, keeping the party lively and fun for the guests. This sort of entertainment is grounded in the fertility related banquet linked with the agriculture of ancient Japan. He also plays games at the as well as acting out stories, singing or dancing – making a merry and enjoyable party for the guests. Outside of these, he responds to requests for his performance and appearance at various events including home parties for women which focus on the history and culture of . He also gives lectures at the Asahi Culture Centers in Osaka and Kobe, writes newspaper columns and has his own radio show about Japan's traditional entertainment culture. He has also published a book, ("The Essence of Timing in Performing Arts"). He was involved with giving advice for the character in the movie . He runs his own web site about his profession, and hopes to share the history and culture of the with the world. He comments:
Geisha:The Secret History of a Vanishing World, Downer, Lesley, 2001, Headline,