Back on biographies

I just can't seem to get away from a good memoir or biography. Most of the time I find them more interesting than something someone has made up. This weeks selection is no exception, I read "Autobiography of a Geisha" by Sayo Masuda, translated by G.G. Rowley.

I've read many biographical and autobiographical accounts of Geisha before, but they have all been about the glamorous Geisha of Kyoto and Tokyo. This is the first account I have read based on the life of a "resort" Geisha. Although they were trained in the arts of the Geiko like their glamorous cousins of the Kyoto and Tokyo Geisha district, they were the unglamorous ones who were often expected to have sex with clients for money. Many of these young girls were sold into Geisha houses, as was Sayo Masuda.

Born a bastard and therefore a disgrace, she was first lent out as a nursemaid to a wealthy family that abused her. She had no knowledge of a mother or family until she was taken by her uncle and sold to a Geisha house. There she was practically an indentured servant to the household while she learned the skills of her trade. By sixteen she made her debut and had the rights to her virginity sold five times to the highest bidder. Sayo or "Little Crane" never complained about the lot she was given because she had never known much kindness in her life. She suffered through horrific abuse, but never cursed her exisitence, until she found love. By finding love and losing it Sayo realized the cruelty she and others like her were facing. Unfortunately she had many more hurdles to face before finally finding her true self.

Sayo Masuda, who is barely litterate wrote about her life for a magazine contest in order to win some much needed money. A publisher saw the story and agreed to publish her full story. Lucky for the reader he managed to keep Ms. Masuda's voice, and through translation G.G. Rowley was able to do the same so the American reader can glimpse into this forbidden world. I would recommend this book to everyone. It's the type of memoir you just don't typically read. I wish I could describe it better, but I can't, only the words of Sayo Masuda can do that.

If you would like to read "Autobiography of a Geisha" by Sayo Masuda, translated by G.G. Rowley, you can purchase it from Barnes and Noble or borrow it from your local library.