Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki''s definitions

atotori

Heir to an okiya. An okiya is a lodging house for maiko and geiko (geisha). The owner (Okasan, or Mother) of the okiya, must adopt or give birth to a girl qualified to take over ownership of the okiya. It is one of her duties as Okasan of the okiya. The girl she gives birth to or adopts becomes the heir, or atotori.

As Okasan become older, she was frantic to secure an atotori.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' December 12, 2008

Onesan

In the world of geisha, the word onesan (pronounced oh-neh-sahn) means 'older sister'. Every maiko (apprentice geisha) has an onesan. When a maiko has her misedashi (formal debut) she goes through san san kudo. San san kudo is a binding ceremony, where a maiko and geiko (geisha) are legally bound as sisters. A maiko's onesan gives her advice and helps her in the complicated world of geisha. A maiko's onesan is always in the same hanamachi (geisha district).

Right now I am only a minarai, but when I have my misedashi, I will be formally bound with my onesan.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' December 12, 2008

okiya

A lodging house specifically for geisha. The inhabitants may include: Okasan (Mother, owner, proprietress), Geiko, Maiko, Shikomi, and Maids and/or Cook. Contrary to popular belief, men (except priests and dressers) are not allowed inside the okiya. Sexual relations in an okiya is frowned upon and rare.

When the two maiko finished class, they returned home to the okiya.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' January 10, 2007

gei

The Japanese word for art. Every geisha, geiko, maiko, or taikomochi has one or more gei. (Note: the word gei, is not pluralized, because it is of Japanese origin. Japanese words have no plural form.)

I am going to the Inoue School to study my gei, mai dance.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' January 10, 2007

Diamond Dog

Courtesan/Can Can Dancer at the 19th Century dance club, Moulin Rouge.

Nini legs in the Air is a Diamond Dog.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' January 16, 2007

Okasan

1. Japanese word for Mother.

2. The owner or proprietress of an okiya. Always female. The maiko and geiko always call her Okasan (mother) out of respect.

Okasan greeted the maiko and geiko as they came inside her okiya.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' December 9, 2008

Onesan

In the world of geisha, the word onesan (pronounced oh-neh-sahn) means 'older sister'. Every maiko (apprentice geisha) has an onesan. When a maiko has her misedashi (formal debut) she goes through san san kudo. San san kudo is a binding ceremony, where a maiko and geiko (geisha) are legally bound as sisters. A maiko's onesan gives her advice and helps her in the complicated world of geisha. A maiko's onesan is always in the same hanamachi (geisha district).

Right now I am only a minarai, but when I have my misedashi, I will be formally bound with my onesan.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' December 9, 2008