In Sohunglo, Chugoku Prefecture, (just down the road from Hiroshima) the geisha house of Okiya Yumyum made the best of a bad situation by introducing the art of contortion to their young shikomi trainees. No longer would wealthy men have to wait while their geisha tiptoed their way to the gig in their ridiculously restrictive clothing. Now they could be carried.
In time, the art of the geisha was corrupted, and many of the women no longer performed the traditional role of geisha — a cultured presence to smooth out the rough edge of scotch-swilling businessmen with classical music and dance — and instead became prostitutes.
It was about this time the Mama Tao Consortium took over the Okiya Yumyum house, and introduced The Portable Geisha Delivery Service — when it absolutely, positively has to “be” there overnight.
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I always learn something from your blog! I found more info on the picture. Apparently her name was Pique Neek. Born in Fukushima, she worked first worked advertising the local postal service. Every morning would find her on the street outside the main post office crying “Fukushimail! Fukushemail!”
I’m deeply concerned that you always learn something. I’m also intensely amused by Ms. Neek’s early career.