Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki''s definitions

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

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

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

Maiko

Maiko literally means 'dancer'. A maiko is an apprentice geiko (geisha). Maiko exist in Kyoto only. Maiko have an older sister, bound to them. They call their older sisters onesan. The word maiko is pronounced: (my-koh)

I am a geiko of Gion Kobu, but last year I was still a maiko.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' December 12, 2008

Iwasaki Mineko

The most famous geiko in all of Japan. She was raised to be the atotori. She had the most publicity, and the most customers. Her yearly salary broke a record for all the maiko and geiko. Young maiko today call her legend. Mineko-san retired when she was only 29, a shock to everyone around her. She is also know as the geisha, Memoirs of a Geisha is based on. But, Arthur Golden cruelly twisted her story. So, Mineko-san wrote her own memoir, Geisha a Life, also know as Geisha of Gion. Mineko-san lives with her artist husband in a Kyoto suburb, and the two have one adult daughter.

Iwasaki Mineko danced many years ago before Prince Charles.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' December 10, 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

-san

Attachable suffix used in Japanese language, usually with proper nouns or pronouns. Most often attached to the end of a personal name or surname, but never a nickname. For nicknames, see -chan.

'Iwasaki-san? Are you coming?'

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' January 16, 2007