The Japanese culture is rich and full of zest. One huge part of this culture is the performing art world of the Geisha. Fortunately, this world is captured in many Japanese books and in books about Japan. Popular books about the Geisha include "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden, "Geisha: A Life" by Mineko Iwasaki, "Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World" by Lesley Downer, and "Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan" by Cecilia S. Seigle. "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a story about a poor nine-year old girl sold to a Geisha house and cruelly treated as a slave. The story flows until she becomes a renowned Geisha amidst the difficult world of wealth, war and politics she entered. "Geisha: A Life" is a realistic and thoughtful look onto the life of a real, full-time geisha celebrated as the most successful Geisha of her generation. At five years old, Mineko Iwasaki left her parents' home to enter the world of the Geisha. Working as a Geisha for the next twenty-five years, she was hailed as one of the most prized Geishas in Japan's history - enchanting kings, princes, and titans of the entertainment world. "Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World" is a general portrait of life in Japan and is a personal account of the author's experience with geishas and those involved in the industry. "Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan" talks about the district of Yoshiwara, a haven of prostitution in the early days. The book takes a closer look at Japanese sexuality in history. Let us talk about the basics of the Geisha. The Geisha is a professional female entertainer who performs traditional Japanese arts. Much apprenticeship is required of girls who wish to become a geisha. They have to learn various traditional arts such as playing instruments, singing, dancing, as well as conversation and other social skills. The Geisha often wears red, as the use of the color in clothing and makeup has much significance in Japanese society. Symbolizing beauty and happiness, red is also regarded as erotic to men. Hence, the geisha often wears bright red lipstick and crimson lining under her kimono. This is due to the Japanese belief that red undergarments reduce menstrual pain and keep female reproductive organs functioning well. Geisha hairstyle has evolved much over the years. From hair down in the early years to hair tied up to hair parted in the center, Geisha hair fashion has changed as much as Japanese culture. However, the traditional Geisha hairstyle is still the shimada, wherein the hair is pulled back in one section. The makeup of the Geisha remains her most striking feature. It is a sharp contrast to popular, contemporary makeup as this type of makeup plays a lot with heavy and bright colors. This means golden yellow brows to pure white foundation to bright red lipstick applied only in the center of the lips to emphasize femininity and delicacy. Being a Geisha is probably the only profession in Japan where women are ranked higher than men. The profession also allows women to work as such until their golden years. Preservation of the traditional art and culture of the Geisha is much emphasized in Japan, one such method of which is the release of books that tell various geisha stories which continue the legacy.

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