Geisha & Maiko of Kyoto: Beauty, Art, & Dance

by John Paul Foster, ジョン・ポール・フォスター

Geisha & Maiko of Kyoto: Beauty, Art, & Dance is a collection of photographs and interviews that focuses on four of Kyoto’s most beautiful geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha). The women were photographed at Kyoto’s largest geisha dance performances and other important dances, including Miyako Odori and Kyo Odori.

Next, portrait sessions were held with each to capture the kata (forms or poses) of her favorite dances.

The geisha and maiko were then interviewed about their photographs, giving the reader rare insight into their artistic training. The result is a collection of 149 gorgeous photographs that shed light on these elegant entertainers like no other book before.

Genres: Japan

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2009

About the author

John Paul Foster is a photographer of the Floating World. He creates images of the rare beauty of geisha, maiko and tayū and the bittersweet sorrow of Jizō and other Buddhist icons.

He is the author of four books on traditional Japanese culture: Now a Geisha (2017), Geisha & Maiko of Kyoto (2009), One Hundred Views of Kyoto (2008), and One Hundred Views of Maiko and Geiko (2006).

Reviews

[HH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and photography, first of all. The interviews were pretty good, but no new information. It was a bit of a disappointment, and would definitely not have been worth the excitement were it not for the beautiful imagery. Get this only if you are very interested in the flower and willow world (and I'm talking when even every other book hasn't satisfied your curiosity!) Decent overall, but nothing amazing.