So Long Sayuki

[Mulboyne]

Daily Telegraph: First ever Western geisha leaves the 'sisterhood'
The first ever Westerner to be admitted to the closed world of Japan's geisha hostesses has left after being accused of bringing the movement into disrepute. Oxford-educated Fiona Graham, 47, was the only foreigner in 400 years to be accepted into the ranks of the geisha, whose skills in traditional Japanese dance, poetry and music are a revered part of national culture. But now, having gone through rigorous training to enter a profession long considered off-limits to non-Japanese, she has parted company with its professional organisation after clashes with fellow members. The Sunday Telegraph understands that Ms Graham, who took the name "Sayuki" (transparent happiness) after making her debut as a geisha in 2007, was accused of refusing to follow its customs, failing to attend obligatory classes in music and dance, and spending too much time on self-promotion. Worst of all, insiders claim, in a world that is built on traditions and adherence to conventions, she refused to show respect to her elders. "She was in the association for more than three years, but she did not take part in lessons and she did not follow our rules," another geisha, who asked not to be named, told The Sunday Telegraph. "And she was always fighting us....She says she is a flute player but she does not go to lessons and said she was already good enough," said the fellow geisha. "But to perform in front of guests is very important. You have to be good enough and you need to have permission. No-one would give her permission because she was not good enough - so she became hysterical, yelling at everyone. That is not our style. We have a traditional way of thinking and we have to obey our older 'sisters'"...Peter MacIntosh, a documentary maker who has studied the secretive world of geisha for 18 years, said: "I have refused to call her Sayuki. When she starts acting like a geisha, then I'll call her by her geisha name"...more...

Original FG Thread: Sayuki of Asakusa - 1st f'd gai-geisha

[Coligny]

Sumbody tells them' bitches we all saw Ally McBeal on the telly and know all them'bullshits usually told when them bitches feel insecure and threatened in their puntanghood.

And they display here all them symptoms... now STFU and back the zee kitchen...

.Peter MacIntosh, a documentary maker who has studied the secretive world of geisha for 18 years, said: "I have refused to call her Sayuki. When she starts acting like a geisha, then I'll call her by her geisha name

Translation: I left my balls in the locker and if I say anything going against the wolfpack will I'm'a' gunna be outa job...

[Mulboyne]

Translation: I left my balls in the locker and if I say anything going against the wolfpack will I'm'a' gunna be outa job...

We've come across MacIntosh before on FG.

[Mulboyne]

A reporter on twitter has mentioned how Sayuki was one of the most difficult interviewees he ever met and says other reporters felt the same way.

[TennoChinko]

I met her once at a sports charity event in 2009. Some misguided loony British friend of hers apparently thought it would be a good idea to bring her but he (and she) didn't quite understand that most of the people there simply could not give a fuck. She looked exactly like what she was supposed to be -- an over the hill 40-something white woman dressed up in some Madame Butterfly garb. Fucking hideous. Reminded me of the parallel version in the film 'Tai Pan' where the Chinese wife loses face by dressing up in a Western ballroom gown. Hideous. However, unlike the film, I had absolutely no desire to pull that Fiona bitch over my knee and give her a proper spanking.

[Yokohammer]

Sounds like Sayuki is a bit of a prima donna. But what really sucks is that she has provided more evidence that will bring an I-told-you-so smirk to the faces of the "no foreigner could ever truly understand Japan and wabi-sabi" pure Yamato spirit theorist crowd.

I don't know the details and it's probably not my place to judge, but: stupid bitch.

[Mulboyne]

She sounds like a prickly customer but there was probably a mismatch between what she thought she was doing and what other geisha though of her.

She became a geisha from her interest in anthropology. She probably saw herself primarily as a cultural ambassador for the profession but it seems the sisterhood thought she needed to be a serious geisha first and let everything flow from that. I seem to remember that she tried to get permanent residence based on her work but immigration didn't see it that way.

I can imagine her thinking "look at all the publicity I'm getting introducing overseas customers to geisha, why are they sweating the small stuff". Meanwhile the association is thinking that sweating the small stuff is the very definition of being a geisha.

One of the roots of the problem is probably that she came late to the work. I don't know if she really is 47 but she's seems old enough to have a few life goals and ambitions which wouldn't necessarily fit with putting in the work to improve her skills. You'd have to blame the teahouse her took on her to some extent. There was some unconfirmed talk that she was kicked out of Izu before Asakusa took her in. If that's true, then Asakusa should have known who they were dealing with and what she wanted out of the work.

She should have dropped the idea of being a fully-fledged geisha herself and tried instead to carve out an ambassadorial role based on having undergone the training. That wouldn't have been an easy job at the best of times but even tougher now with fewer people around.

[TennoChinko]

Perhaps that fat loser Peter Mackintosh will step in to fill Fiona's shoes.

Before:


After:

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I don't like to judge books by their covers, but if she's anything like any other Australian woman I've ever met with a postgraduate education (if that's what you can call a PhD in social anthropology), she probably has very strong feminist beliefs, and hairy-legged manhaters probably aren't gonna be a great match for the demands of the floating willow world of the geisha.
Like 'hammer pointed out, it's sad that she wasn't able to make it and thus reinforces the belief that gaijin are just fucking barbarians (which we are anyway...at least I am...).
Being the devil's advocate here, though, maybe she's failed because she wouldn't play the shakuhachi the way the dannas wanted her to play?

[plaid_knight]

It's a shame that people are unable to get along with each other.

[TennoChinko]

Fiona Graham's interview with the Australian:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6frg6nf-1226069744853

No place for you, Aussie geisha told


Fiona Graham says the Asakusa Geisha Society 'would not allow me to become independent soley because I am a foreigner'. Picture: Ben Robins Source: The Australian

Rick Wallace, Tokyo correspondent From: The Australian June 06, 2011 12:00AM

AN Australian who became Japan's first Western geisha has rejected reports she has split with her professional association after losing its endorsement and intends to continue performing in the role.

Fiona Graham, who made history when she entered the mysterious world of the geisha in 2007, hit out at press reports she was being forced to leave the "sisterhood" after clashes with other members.

Ms Graham, who has taken the name Sayuki, told The Australian the Asakusa Geisha Association had rejected her request to operate independently after the "mother" of her geisha house fell ill and was unable to continue operations. "I asked the geisha association, given the circumstances of my mother, if they would allow me to become independent in December," she said.

"I was told very directly that the reason I couldn't have tenure was because I was a foreigner.

"Being the first white geisha was the hardest thing I have had to do.

"I have worked very, very hard, so it's a very hard thing when the geisha association would not allow me to become independent solely because I am a foreigner."

She said despite the refusal she would continue to operate as a geisha. "It's possible that I might have to move to another geisha district. But there are geisha districts who are willing to allow me in," she said.

"My current situation is unclear. The official papers saying I am no longer a geisha has not gone out from the geisha office yet.

"But I have the strong support of many of some geisha sisters both inside Asakusa and other districts."

Ms Graham said by March she was fully booked for the rest of the year and was continuing to fulfil her engagements with the other geishas she worked with.

Geishas focus on providing entertainment to guests over meals. The ancient art includes performing genteel tea ceremonies, drinking rituals, poetry, music and calligraphy.

Ms Graham shrugged off anonymous claims in a British newspaper that she had fallen out with the association after clashing with members.

"I have had enormous support from Japanese customers and I certainly plan to continue being a geisha," she said.

Ms Graham came to Japan at the age of 15 on exchange and fell in love with the culture. She went to a Japanese high school before attending Keio University and completing a doctorate in social anthropology at Oxford.

[Taro Toporific]

... She looked exactly like what she was supposed to be -- an over the hill 40-something white woman dressed up in some Madame Butterfly garb...

Daily Telegraph: First ever Western geisha leaves the 'sisterhood'
...geisha did not normally wear the traditional white make-up after around the age of 30 and that Western guests are not going to want to see a 47-year-old Western woman in makeup...


[YT]ARwi-ArpiCA[/YT]

[TennoChinko]

An outrage! Where is that activist Debit Arnoldo?

Send in the gaijin geisha butai!

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Sayuki, sayuki would probably be more successful if she started thinking "suckee, suckee."

[Mulboyne]

I don't think she covers herself in glory in her interview with the Australian. She says she hasn't been kicked out but this appears to be based on not having physically received the official notification. It's clear she expects to be getting this which means she has already been told she's out.

I don't know what her options are, really. If she can't remain affiliated with Asakusa, even if another place would have her, it wouldn't be in Tokyo which would make it difficult to do anything for tourists. They aren't going to want to schlep very far and I doubt Kyoto wants her.

It's a shame she plays the discrimination card. If she can point to examples of other geisha who have been allowed to go independent with her level of experience then she might be on a firmer footing but I doubt there is anyone who has done so.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

She can always take a similar path other women in her position have taken in the past and that's to become what's called an onsen geisha.
That may really test her love for the profession, though, as the image some people have of the geisha being prostitutes does have considerable basis in fact...arising from the activities of the onsen geisha, who (largely but not exclusively) had to resort to turning tricks to survive.
Ms. Graham's got a PhD from Oxford, an experience that can't be bought for money and, it seems, loads of self-belief. She may not have a great future in the geisha world, but she's a woman and should have no trouble living out the rest of her career on student grants....

[Greji]

She may not have a great future in the geisha world, but she's a woman and should have no trouble living out the rest of her career on student grants....

She can also turn a few tricks if she wants to pick up some loose change....

[Yokohammer]

According to the article, Graham "entered the mysterious world of Geisha" in 2007. That would mean she's only been at it for three or four years. I seriously doubt that any native Geisha would be given full franchise after such a short period of time.

[Mulboyne]

Sponichi has a report (Japanese). It quotes Graham from her interview with The Australian. The also have comments from Asakusa. The Association says they expelled her in February. They also say that they do have a Japanese nationality restriction but made an exception for Graham since she seemed so keen to put the effort in. They didn't have any indication from her at the time that she would want to set up independently.

In one sense, then Graham is right. The association sounds uncomfortable with her going solo as a foreigner. However, they felt they went an extra mile but letting her into the association as a foreigner in the first place. Whether her experience and skills are another factor, as the Telegraph report suggests, is not addressed in the Sponichi piece.

[Yokohammer]

... They didn't have any indication from her at the time that she would want to set up independently. ...

The inverse might also be part of the problem. Did they inform Graham that she wouldn't be allowed to go independent when they "accepted" her?

[Mulboyne]

The Sponichi report is actually from Kyodo and the same piece has been picked up by a number of outlets now. It's interesting that it always refers to Sayuki by her geisha name.

[chan]

'I don't know the details and it's probably not my place to judge, but: stupid bitch.'

Line of the month.

[Mulboyne]

[Greji]

I have a little more sympathy for her situation than I did at first. I still don't think becoming a geisha is a marvellous aspiration

Don't be too harsh on her Mulby. When they've been smacked with the ugly stick at birth, some girls have to go to extreme lengths in order to get laid.....

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

....some girls have to go to extreme lengths in order to get laid.....

If that's the case, they need look no further....I will take one for the team and service any of them at the merest request (provided I can refuse to put my mouth to either set of their lips if they're unbearably ugly).

[Greji]

If that's the case, they need look no further....I will take one for the team and service any of them at the merest request (provided I can refuse to put my mouth to either set of their lips if they're unbearably ugly).

Don't be a prude Hair! Ugly pussy is grateful pussy......

[Taro Toporific]

[Greji]

MOVE OVER SAYUKI---HERE COMES ONOU.".....Many people have commented that Fukutaro is more Japanese than many Japanese..... "

Gee! What an original comment!

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Maybe they could become a tag team in English-speaking cuntries where people don't know how to pronounce Japanese names? Just imagine it...Suckee, Fuckee...

[***]

She's had an agenda all along, and also a narcissistic personality it seems.

Wikipedia:

Liza Crihfield Dalby (born 1950) is an American anthropologist and novelist specializing in Japanese culture.[1] In 1975, she traveled to Japan to research the geisha community.[2] Her book Geisha (filmed as American Geisha) is based on her experiences with the geisha community in Kyoto's Pontochō district.

By the way, anyone know why did the film used a Chinese woman for the Memoirs of a Geisha movie instead of a Japanese actress?