{"title":"Mineko Iwasaki","description":"\u003cp\u003eMineko Iwasaki, celebrated for her captivating memoir, is a distinguished figure in the realm of Japanese culture. As one of Kyoto's most prominent geishas, her life offers a rare insight into the often-enigmatic world of geisha traditions. Her book, \u003cem\u003eGeisha of Gion\u003c\/em\u003e, also known as \u003cem\u003eGeisha, A Life\u003c\/em\u003e in the US, is a compelling biography that delves into her life story with grace and authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis narrative invites readers into the exclusive hanamachi district, where Iwasaki recounts her experiences from being a curious young girl to becoming a revered geisha. Her memoir dispels myths and brings readers up close with the dedication, talent, and discipline involved in this fascinating tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMineko Iwasaki's works reside in the Biography \u0026amp; Memoir category, offering informative and intriguing insights into a cultural practice that remains mysterious to many. Her storytelling is not only personally revealing but also educational, making her books both enlightening and evocative for lovers of history, culture, and human experience.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"geisha-of-gion-by-mineko-iwasaki-9781471195105","title":"Geisha of Gion","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A glimpse into the exotic, mysterious, tinged-with-eroticism world of the almost mythical geisha'\u003c\/em\u003e — Val Hennessy, \u003cem\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'[An] eloquent and innovative memoir'\u003c\/em\u003e — \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe extraordinary, bestselling memoir from Japan's foremost geisha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'I can identify the exact moment when things began to change. It was a cold winter afternoon. I had just turned three.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEmerging shyly from her hiding place, Mineko encounters Madam Oima, the formidable proprietress of a prolific geisha house in Gion. Madam Oima is mesmerised by the child's black hair and black eyes: she has found her successor. And so Mineko is gently, but firmly, prised away from her parents to embark on an extraordinary profession, of which she will become the best. But even if you are exquisitely beautiful and the darling of the okiya, the life of a geisha is one of gruelling demands. And Mineko must first contend with her bitterly jealous sister who is determined to sabotage her success...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCaptivating and poignant, \u003cem\u003eGeisha of Gion\u003c\/em\u003e tells of Mineko's ascendancy to fame and her ultimate decision to leave the profession she found so constricting. After centuries of mystery, Mineko is the only geisha to speak out. This is the true story she has long wanted to tell and the one that the West has long wanted to hear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46843755069676,"sku":"9781471195105","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/22174363482711.jpg?v=1758811284"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/mineko-iwasaki.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}