Slip into the backstreets of the Gion District of Kyoto and you'll find the old teahouses where for centuries geishas have entertained their clients with conversation, song, and dance. Normally it takes years of training to become a geisha but, as writer Sharon Moshavi discovered, for a couple hundred dollars anyone can give geisha-dom a try. Sharon found, however, that trying on a different culture isn't always the most comfortable experience...

Geisha for a Day

By Sharon Moshavi, 6/01/2001

Listen with RealAudio          Need audio help?

Sharon Moshavi dressed as a geisha.