The True Story Behind Memoirs Of A Geisha|The Life Of Mineko Iwasaki
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- čas přidán 26. 01. 2023
- Mineko Iwasaki was the most successful Geisha of her time before her shocking retirement at only twenty nine.
The Author of Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden interviewed her for research promising that her name wouldn't be attached to his book in any way.
He then thanked her by name in the acknowledgements, causing her to receive immense backlash from her former industry as the book was an inaccurate portrayal of the world of Geisha.
This is Mineko's story, as she told it in her own fascinating Memoir, Geisha a Life, or Geisha of Gion.
Thank you for watching, leave a like if you enjoyed this and subscribe for more history!
Until next time!
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Intro music: Lady fingers by Herb Alpert
Apologies for the mispronunciations, I did look most of them up but this video was made in two days and some recording was done before I had researched.
Thank you to everyone who corrected me!
If you want to support this channel, you can find me at www.buymeacoffee.com/indiascarlett
You did a wonderful job. And I am definitely going to get a copy of Mineko Iwasaki's book. Thank you.
Could you please give us the name of her book. I apologize if you said the name in the
Video.
@@leticiadelacruz9150 it's called Geisha of Gion in the UK or Geisha a life in the US!
@@marigeobrienDid you ever get a copy? I am about done with it and it is nothing like "MOAG" book or movie. The main thing I took away from it along with the completely different timeline but mainly that being a Geisha is a wonderful chosen life. Her book appears to be a way to save face in her community by downplaying and controversy within the Geisha community. I believe MOAG is more true to form of a life of a Geisha than her book. What do you think?
💛
I really wish her true story got just as much exposure than the movie that it deserves.
facts
it would have been good if she was a good writer and didn't have a narcissistic attitude. I mean, she earned the right to that attitude, but it is still hard to read
@@hannahdurga3277 agreed
It won't... Our media promote from male gaze perspective - its not flattering to males so it won't sell
A movie was made about Mineko, called Hana Ikusa, flower battle
I had no idea Mineko Iwasaki hadn't agreed and was opposed to the book. I'm going to look for her memoirs now, thank you so much for speaking about this! 🤗🙏
Unfortunately, her sister felt like she was.
The author was asked to leave information about the informant out of the book. The book would have been just fine all alone by itself and not connected to any single person. I enjoyed the movie and am adult enough to know that some things are always embellished.
So glad that this popped up in my CZcams feed as I didn’t know that Mineko Iwasaki had written her own story to correct the story of Memoirs of a Geisha. Based on what you have provided, her true story is even more fascinating than the book and or the movie, both of which I have read, watched and enjoyed. Thank you for this, I will now read the book and you have a new subscriber.
Evelyn Wald > I came here expressly to say this very thing! Can't wait to read the corrected version. I have also subscribed!
Me either I loved the book and the movie but I want to read the true story now I know it exists.
Look for Geisha of Gion. It’s a wonderful peek into a hidden world.
@@timefoolery will do p, thank you.
Mineko's book is completely different from Memoirs of a Geisha. Sometimes her story is quite dull... I don't see that much in common between two books, Memoirs of a geisha is a fantasy romance and Mineko's is more like a historical description how life of a geisha in Gion Kobu looked like. A book written by Liza Dalby "Geisha" was much more exciting, at least for me. But you should read all of them, have fun.
She looks so much happier in her marriage. I am glad life worked out for her
I am so happy you’re giving Mineko the credit she deserves! Her book is amazing!
I do love Memoirs of a geisha and Sayuri is my comfort character, but I absolutely love and admire Mineko too and agree that Golden should have kept her private as he promised. Such a fascinating woman, I once even actually did a presentation about her for my history class!❤
This is a very reasonable response.
but if his character doesn’t match mineko’s life, then he did keep it private, didn’t he? does he at any point say this is a story about mineko?
@@monicad99 In the book apparently he openly credited Mineko for giving him secrets about the geisha life
well, that’s not the same thing as saying “look, my character is mineko.”@@KikyoSamaLover05
Golden didn’t keep it secret. That’s why there was a lawsuit and he settled out of court with Mineko in 2003.
I stumbled upon her memoir shortly after the release of Memoirs of a Geisha. Not only is it beautifully written, but Mineko herself is such a fascinating person. I've read Geisha, A Life numerous times and I think I may have to give it another read after watching this
I have her biography and it remains one of my favorites to this day. I always reread it every now and then because it's strangely comforting.
I also find the book comforting. She lived a truly beautiful life. She did not have any horrific trauma like most autobiographies reveal, so it's a feel-good story.
The Inoue Yuki's book "Memoirs of a Geisha" and Mineko Iwasaki's book "Geisha: Life" ... Those books are so intense, powerful and REALLY explain the life (even as harder as you cannot imagine for someone who saw only the movie) of Geisha/Geiko.
one part of the book that always stuck with me was when she had a fan and some celebrity took it from her and autographed it, she thought he had ruined a beautiful piece of art and history (it was an antique). That always stuck with me because its not about vanity or fame, it's about expression and hard work that matters most in the end and are truly things to consider being beautiful to admire
Yes, it was actually Prince (now king) Charles who did that. It moved me the same way
OMG so rude, how can he think he is more importand than precious art
@@indiascarlettHow very ignorant (not to mention pretentious)🤨 of the prince. Even if the fan were not an antique, he had no business to take it from her without her offer or consent.
Just from looking at her with no makeup, she is to me extremely beautiful with an impression of a great mother spirit and deeply wise/worldly beauty that can only emanate from how she thinks and how she carries herself. Someone who looks to have a pure heart, has the upmost respect of the profession AND really, a dedication to the highest form of it's art of the profession called Geisha. Thank you for letting the world know your journey.
Iwasaki’s biography is my favorite book to this day. I found it in a Goodwill Bookstore when I was fourteen and something about her storytelling was so comforting to me. Like hearing your grandmother tell you about her life. I reread it every few years. So glad that her story is getting a little more attention
Yes! This is exactly how I felt about it.
Which book of hers did you read??
@@coffeeisdrugs "Geisha, a Life" (or "Geisha of Gion". They are the same book, but it has two different names for different regions).
Awww thats a big compliment 'like hearim your grandmother tell you about her life'. Now I gotta order and read the book
@@sadia2395 me to!
I read her book last year. Once I heard about it, any interest I had in approaching Golden's book vanished. I'm glad I went this route. The true story is wonderfully compelling and educational. She is a remarkable woman.
This is a fantastic video. Thank you for posting it. As a student of Japanese culture. I learned about Japan from Japanese friends and from my father who was stationed in Japan back in the 1950s when he was in the army. And he got a different impression what Japan is like when he was there. That movies about Japan stereotype the Japanese into something less than what they are.
I had read the book geisha a life by mineko iwasaki. And through her eyes I understood more about the geisha. And I'm sorry she had problems with the writer of memoirs of a geisha Arthur Golden. I would like to leave a message here for Mineko -san saying thank you for allowing us to see a glimpse of the world of the geisha. And I will treasure her book.
Thank you for introducing us to the lady who inadvertently sharing her pearls with a fool. She is a very brave person who stood up and stood out for her contribution.
The book was always claimed to be a fiction, and was allowed to share details in his book. He messed up by including her in the "honorable mentions" when she did not want to be included at all. I enjoy both.
@@kaylanozawa4798 his mess up is a pretty big one though. Quite foolish, don't you think? 😉
@@mimio008 I’m not saying it wasn’t a big mess-up. It obviously impacted her life! I’m just saying that the author never acted like the things she shared were FACT. He obviously used the details for inspiration, hence why it’s a fiction.
@@kaylanozawa4798 ok I thought you were directly responding to Gina Takagawa's comment and defending him... I guess he did say he was writing fiction but it doesn't really factor in here does it? Have a nice day 😊
The tradition of Geisha is fascinating. Although in modern times, we tend to look down on things like this. But the Geisha were actually talented businesswomen, at a time when most women were destined to only get married and have babies. It wasn’t an easy life, but compared to living in poverty at that time, it wasn’t so bad.
They used what they had to make a life for themselves. It’s honorable.
You might have a too westernized lens of how women in Japan were "oppressed" to only be housewives or relegated to the home/childrearing, but if you actually do research many women also became monks or temple priestesses, some blind/disabled ones also worked as traveling folk singers, many also farmed.
@@redfullmoon Nun, a life of chastity, as the alternative to being given to a man you hardly know and surely have not really chosen. And yes, of course, rural women worked in the fields as well, their kids tied by a rope at their waist to a tree so that they wouldn't wander too far. What you describe was also the reality for Western women, once upon a time, so it's well known to us. So yes, they were oppressed, no quotes there. Their choices were veeeery limited, usually their family and situation chose for them. It's no big deal to recognize that in Japan it used to be that way as well, you don't have to feel bad about it.
After reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" I also knew the story of Mineko Iwasaki and am now almost finished her book. You have given a very faithful and enjoyable representation of her story. Geisha are fascinating as they look so other-worldly. The make-up and hairstyles horrify me as they are so artificial. The kimono, ornamentation and dancing are very beautiful.
I'm so happy this came up on my feed. Thank you
You did such a great job at explaining the story in a way anyone can understand. I love the pictures you used, and your tone! I watched the movie so many times so it’s great to learn the new story. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to do this. I love the book, and have always wondered how accurate it was.
I was very honoured to attend her book signing, talk and performance in Glasgow a number of years ago ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the post! Very interesting!
Thank you for telling this part of the story . I adored Memoirs of a Geisha mainly because I could identify with the controlling and tragic romantic aspects. It really was beautifully told. My heart broke and felt whole again. I read the book many times. I wish I had looked more into the life of the inspiration, Mineko Iwasaki though, like you did. Thank you for bringing her story to light. I'm going to find her true memoirs right away.
I'm subscribing because I hope to see more deep dives like this!
Wonderful update, one of my favorite books. So glad I'm being set straight. I'm a huge fan!
What an incredibly respectful accolade to such an interesting lady. I can't wait to read this! She was a true artist, and these are rare.
Thank you for writing about Iwasaki! Her memoir is one of my favourite books, and like many who have commented here, I've read it many times over the years.
I am SO happy someone made a video about this! I read Mineko's book years ago and it made me so mad that one of my favorite books/movies were ripped off of her life! Thank You!
I read Mineko's book back in college. Definitely a page turner. Highly recommend.
Beautiful photography and interesting content. Thank you!
Awesome. Can't wait to read Mineko's book. Thank you IndiaScarlett.
Gosh, her sister was a real piece of work! I don't know how she managed to keep it together during her career because the constant silent catfight in the background would have exhausted me. Glad to have run across this video! I already knew about a lot of it, but the further detail was appreciated. I bet she would have been so interesting to talk to, even if it wasn't about her career. 28 seasons though, yikes. Didn't know that!
So happy your channel came up in my recommendations. Your storytelling is excellent. I’m loving your videos very much. Thank you for sharing 👍✌️🙏❤️✨
Love your channel! Thank you for this video and the book recommendation. I read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned so much and found the history fascinating.
The channel, Shogo Your Friend in Kyoto, has several videos on this part of Japanese culture, including his wife being dressed as a geisha at a Kyoto kimono/photoshoot shop.
I love his channel. I've learned so much about modern day Japan and its social issues. It seems a challenging time for them, but I suppose it is for all of us now.
I love that channel!
@@indiascarlett your channel ROCKS. You have a great intro, and your voice is a terrific instrument. You do diligent research and you're a damned good story teller. Just sayin.
@@NinjaGrrrl7734 Thank you so much!
I loved show cute she looked as a maiko! (Geisha in training) i believe she was dressed as a 1st year maiko in that video.
Wow loved this! Thank you for sharing her story
So in love w the fact you've brought about the true arc and complex reality that's been long over due this brilliant soul . love n respect to you both , ousss!
This was very interesting! Thank you for all your research. I'm placing my order for her biography. I'm highly looking forward to reading it.
Thank you for sharing this. Can't wait to read Her story!
Thank you so this wonderful podcast ❣
So interesting and so well told . Thank you.
Thank you for helping to set the record straight.
I loooove your channel and the stories you choose to tell. ❤
So enjoyed this video...I was fascinated by Memoirs of a Geisha....thank you for telling her truth...I loved hearing your voice as you related this story...your voice reminds me of Princess Diana...I admired her greatly and was saddened that she left us so soon.....thank you for the gift of your voice!!!
Thank you for making the video. Very informative 😊
She's still very beautiful at 74. She's lived an incredible life, including entertaining Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Along with many dignitaries and other royals. I would suggest her book Geisha: A Life.
I been waiting for a vlog! Let me get a glass of Stella ready!
Thank you for this.
Thank you so much for telling Mineko's story and giving her the respect she deserves. You did an amazing job with this video!
Thank you so much!
I borrowed this book from my local library years ago but don’t remember much of it. Another great video packed with info I had no idea about. Thank you 🙏✨
thank you for this video ❤️
Now in the age of people redoing movies , can we please have her movie redone 🥰🥰🥰
Oohh, I would actually love this!
that's what i'm hoping for netflix to do. i would love to see another geisha series based on her memoir. with japanese actors. it's an injustice that chinese actors played most of the characters.
This was a wonderful video so glad I found your channel
Thank You for sharing this ! What an extraordinary life .. Shame on Golden for breaking his promises and disrespecting her .. I am purchasing her true story immediately ♥️🕊🎶💪
I'm just gonna say this... I enjoyed the real story more than Memoirs of a Geisha.
Mineko is a legend. Thank you for this video! More people need to know about her
Just subbed! Really happy I found this channel! ❤
It is a fascinating story and quote inclusive. Thanks so much, for sharing few of her life experiences and traditions, as you read it on her memoir.
This was so helpful to find more about Mineko iwasaki. Thankyou Indian Scarllet.
I will definitely read this biography! It sounds really interesting. A long time retired geisha by the name of Sawako Takahashi who worked both before and after the war shared her experience in a 1996 article. It also showed the professionalism and talent needed in her work, playing several different musical instruments , being proficient in dance and up to date on news and politics
I still appreciate Memoirs as a fictional story that could have happened to someone else. His true mistake was mentioning her name when she clearly asked him not to. Their stories are different and both valid, one for its interesting fictional, fantasy aspects, and the other for its realistic portrayal. Although I always thought it was unrealistic for the girls to be beaten because it would damage their bodies I don’t find it far fetched that some people would take advantage of a beautiful young girl in this position and go through similar events. I appreciate both stories and still watch the movie occasionally. Lovely video!
Thank you very much for this very informative and special presentation.
This was such a wonderful video to stumble upon. I didn’t know about all of this. I saw the movie years ago when I was a teenager and I enjoyed it but I will seek out the original book to read now I know it exists. Thank you so much
Great video! Will definitely read her Mineko’s book👍
A great watch, thanks!
Thank you for this video. I LOVED reading Mineko Iwasaki's book, and have re-read it several times. I would love to travel to Kyoto and see the walls of the old Gions and see what is still left in its traditional forms
Excellent doc and what a beautiful voice that narrated it
Geisha: Life is such a great book! I accidentally encountered it in the library, took it to just skip through the pages, read there and there, look at the pictures, but it sucked me in so bad and so instantly! Red it the same day. It's so well written, in such an engaging style, conveying a compelling and intricate personal story, revealing social complexities at the time (which makes the book so significant, as there are so many conflicting layers covered, can even say political in a sense). Very thoughtful, too, good food for thought. The quote I still remember is when she, as a working geisha, asked a client, an art critic during the evening event at the house, how to ('correctly') interpret art: he said "see what you see and feel what you feel". It's been such a brilliant simple advice!
Thanks for a great story ❤
Fascinating. Thank you.
Wow! So interesting! I’ve really been enjoying learning about the whole new world of old Japanese entertainment! Fascinating history!
Thank you for posting this beautifully crafted, respectful video. I too was terribly disappointed when i realized the lengths Golden went by through to defame and use Mineko Iwasaki. I appreciate your dedication in setting the record straight while still telling an interesting story.
She is so beautiful. Memoirs was one of my favorite movies of all time. But I was unaware of everything that happened thereafter unfortunately, as that would've been the first thing I'd done was read her story, had I known. So, thank you for this information as I'm definitely going to read now. :) Also, new subscriber.
This was a great video. I never read Memoirs of a Geisha, but I did see the movie. I really enjoyed the movie. I was completely unaware of the controversy surrounding it. I am now interested in reading Miniko's book after seeing this. Thanks for sharing.
I’ll have to check out Mineko’s book, I’d love to hear the true story from her own words, I didn’t even know she had a book, you learn something new every day. Thank you 🙏
Well told! I had no idea that Memoirs was piecemeal fact and fiction, I just fell into a compelling story without interrogating the facts. I'm sure to add Mineko's real memoir to my to-read list.
I’m so happy to learn this true info about such an amazing Lady!
The book was fascinating, but now im looking-forward to reading Moniko’s Own autobiography!!!
Thank-You!
I have just ordered the book, thanks for this. That last quote, so very true.
I just remembered I read her book! Great video❤
Thank you for the video, I have watched the movie and wanted to find out more about the backstory.
India had a similar culture centuries ago. The female performers had contributed to the development of classical music and dance that are practiced in the country today. They have been misunderstood too
I going to definitely read the book
Really? What were they called? Do you have any book recommendations?
@@jordannrivera9950 Not op, but he's probably talking about the Tawaif
Love this! Thanks for this informative video. I used to be so scared of Geishas growing up because of the Geisha doll in my grandparents house. I used to get nightmares because the doll would come alive in my dreams. But now as an adult and because of videos like these, I appreciate their culture and all the hardwork it requires to be a Geisha. ❤
Thank you so much for this information!! I have read her book and I love it so. I also read Liza Daly’s book. I wish I had this video 10 years ago.
Thank you for this video
I read both Golden, Iwasaki, and Liza Dalby's book and found the truth to be something in between for Golden and Iwasaki. Mineko was designated atotori from the time she joined. She lead much more of a charmed life than others who didn't have her rank. So her story is not typical and even reads as someone who is a bit spoiled and naïve at times. It was indeed wrong for him to use her name when she said not to though.
Thats what I'm getting just from this video tbh, I like Mineko was lucky to be taken in the way she did and her family life. Memoirs, though a fictional story was set during a different time in Japan and I'm sure lots of little girls got sold by their families and had to work off debt to become apprentices/Geisha. Some girls probably got sold off to work as servants or cooks and never even got a chance to become Geisha. I doubt the okiya would only have a couple Geisha, and the "Mother" they'd need someone to cook, clean, wash up and take care of kimono
I did not like her. The things that appear wholesome about her are all really things she tells us but didn't convey in her actions. I noticed the way she mistreated all her peers, lost every friend she had and ended up alone in America. She also ruined another girl's life once and talks about it in the book. I suggest some people reread the book and pay attention to how she speaks to others. It's not good.
@@knives81x I didn't like her at all. She was spoiled and very greedy. Her parents were selling their daughters. I thought that stopped after the prostitute quarters of Yoshiwara and Shimabara were closed. I have studied every book in English about geisha and courtesans that I could get my hands on. If these woman expect a man to pay for everything that a geisha needs, the men also expect sex. Thus, they are prostitutes. If the man buys her an apartment or bar, he's certainly expects sex, thus they are selling their bodies. They barely use the arts any more. Save that mess about "not selling their bodies" BS. They wanted to sell their profession as "artists." Well, those men aren't paying for art.
@@knives81x it's honestly not surprising. it's a brutal world there.
I have the book and movie, always nice to hear how things really happened, thank you for sharing 💞
This was ace, I'll get the audio book but honestly I doubt I'll enjoy it as much as listening to you. You've got such an engaging voice. I loved Memoirs and I appreciate the way you've simply highlighted the differences without disparaging the book. As much as I agree with what you're saying ultimately Memoirs is there only foray into this life most people will ever have, if those in it don't talk someone else will tell their story and as stories go Arthur Golden at least tried to be accurate. I'm just disappointed I've never heard of her story until now.
I’m so glad this popped into my feed! I’ve read Memoirs of a Geisha so many times I don’t know how the book is in one piece and I’ve watched the movie quite a few times. I had no idea the geisha that the author spoke to had written her own book! I’m going to be looking for this today to see if I can find or order it. I must read it!
thank you for this!! i chose this book to do a literary criticism too for school, assuming it would be inaccurate of the actual history- will be using some of this to help :)
Another well done video. I learned so much.
Thank you so much for this. I am going to find her memoir and read that
Read both Golden’s book, Linda Dalby’s book, Mineko’s book. The book and film based of Golden’s research were very frustrating to me because of his misconceptions. I’ve been fascinated by geisha and the floating world since I was a child. I am eternally grateful to Mneko for reveal her world to me. I still marvel at the concept of being art as well as being an artist.
It wasn't misconceptions - he didn't like that Geishas aren't sexual toys men can buy and couldn't handle how Feminised this line of job it was...
So he deliberately LIED to flatter own and other males ego.
@@morganablackwater2017
He made up so much crap just because he didn’t like the truth and she ended up paying for it :(
I heard Mineko's criticism of Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha before I ever read the book so I decided not to touch it. She deserved better
I suggest reading it as a novel....and making your own decision.
Except that it's a voyeuristic pain porn treatment of the Captain Save-A-Ho trope and the book is extremely harmful to the reputation of Geisha as a whole and to the one he stole the best parts of his sad little attempt at a novel. I read it and despised it at the time, and the moment I heard the truth it all made sense why.
@@AvaNightingaleyou forgot the fact he made the Japanese girls eyes BLUE.. because Western men prefer blue eyed women
@@user-od5fh3gn4d that too! Egregious. Also wouldn't be considered attractive in their culture at the time. A total lack of color in the eyes or hair was something attributed to demons!
I always felt like Memoirs of a Geisha was icky when I first watched it during high school. I’m now in my late 20’s and I saw Geisha, a life in the library on sale and it looked like a legit story. And it was, I’m so glad I found Iwasaki’s story through her own words. I had to find books reviews for this! Thanks so much for this video.
Great commentary of my favorite movie
They were treated like life sized dolls to play with, that's no way to live. I'm glad her story has a happy ending
Yup. Japanese loved dolls
I’m now a subscriber. Loved this video. I’ve never read the book or seen the movie. Now, I won’t do either but I will buy Mineko’s book. 🙏🏽
It’s so wonderful story. Thanks 🙏💕💪💕👍💕👏💕💯💕❤️🙏😊
Thank you for sharing this! I knew "Memoirs of a Geisha" is based on a real woman and that the author twisted the information he got from her, which led to a lawsuit. But I had zero idea that this woman wrote a book herself!
I read "Memoirs of a Geisha" at 15 for the first time. Had I known this book exactly, I would have read it back then. Off I am to find it now ❤
I do not think this is true. The author said it was his imagine. Probably she had the same experience as the girl character. There are so many stories based on my life, I would never sue anyone. Its enjoyable when someone says " reminds me of you" when I'm sure that my work inspired it.
Hello I am so happy that I watched your video. This has also been one of my favorite movies of all time and glad that you talked about her books that talk about how there life really was. I was wondering if you could give me the names of the books again so that I can find them and read them. Thank you so much.
Wow, that was so interesting. I'll have to read her book!