Literally translating to ‘arts person’, geisha (芸者) are highly trained in Japanese traditional arts, including music, singing and dancing. By contrast, geiko (芸子) is primarily used to refer to geisha from Kyoto. Although geisha formerly referred to only those from Tokyo and its surrounding areas, it has now become the general term for all geisha.
Geiko vs. Maiko
Maiko (舞妓) translates to ‘dancing girl’ or ‘child’, and refers to apprentice geiko. They undergo about 5 years of training in various arts, before graduating to become geiko. Outside of Kyoto, the hangyoku (半玉) in Tokyo would be the closest equivalents to maiko. Hangyoku literally means ‘half jewel’ and are trainee geisha, although little is known about their training process. So summed up, the difference between geiko and maiko can be described as the difference between accomplished “master” of their art and an apprentice.
Here is a photo collection shows the normal life of Maiko and Geiko girls in Kyoto in the 1910s-20s.
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| A group of Maiko girls on a balcony overlooking the Kamo River in Kyoto, ca. late 1910s |
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| A group of Maiko girls playing a game, ca. 1920s |
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| A group of Maiko girls standing on the riverbank, ca. late 1910s |
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| A Maiko girl taking a photograph with an early Kodak folding camera, while being guided by another Maiko, ca. 1920s |
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| A Maiko playing with a ball, ca. 1920s |
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| Admiring a folding fan, ca. 1910s |
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| Beautiful girls in a hot summer evening, ca. 1920s |
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| Beautiful Japanese girls going out for a walk, ca. 1910s |
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| Climbing an escarpment, ca. 1920s |
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| Drinking Kirin beer, 1920 |
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| Five Maiko girls posing for a shot, ca. 1920s |
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| Fourteen Maiko girls in Komonos, ca. 1920s |
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| Geikos on a summer balcony, 1920 |
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| Maiko dancing with a mai-ogi (dancing fan), her obi (sash) decorated with dragons and pearls, ca. 1910s |
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| Maiko girls have an afternoon tea, ca. 1920s |
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| Maiko girls in a Takase-bune, 1926 |
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| Maiko girls with dolls, ca. 1920s |
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| Maiko girls with umbrellas in the 1920s |
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| Maikos at a waterfall, ca. 1920s |
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| Maikos by the river in the 1920s |
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| Maikos in Kimonos in the 1920s |
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| Maikos with dragon obi Kimonos in the 1920s |
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| One Maiko taking a photograph of another withe an early Kodak folding camera, ca. 1920s |
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| Playing the Taiko and the Kotsuzumi, ca. 1910s |
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| Playing Toryanse, ca. 1920s |
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| Portrait of a Maiko with Sakkou hairstyle in the 1920s |
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| Posing for a shot by the Kamo River, ca. 1920s |
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| Relaxing on a balcony in the 1920s |
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| Taking a break and fixing their make-up on a park bench, ca. 1920s |
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| Three Maiko girls with a camera, ca. 1920s |
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| Twelve year old musicians, ca. 1910s |
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| Two Maiko girls from behind, ca. 1920s |
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| Two Maiko girls with obi of Nishijin Silk, 1917 |
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| Two young girls on a street in the 1910s |
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| Two young girls sitting on a park bench, ca. 1920s |
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| Wisteria obi dancing, ca. 1920s |
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| Young Maiko girl, ca. 1920s |
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