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 9, 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

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

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

Satine and the Penniless Poet

1. True Love

2. Fictional Characters in the (2001) acclaimed film, Moulin Rouge.

Satine and the Penniless Poet fell in a deep love.

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' January 16, 2007

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 pronouced: (my-koh)

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

by Mimosa 'Mineko Iwasaki' December 12, 2008