This page is for people who are trying to figure out the difference between Tayū, Oiran, Yūjo, and Geisha. Since it’s hard to get straightforward answers in English (heck, it’s hard to find them in Japanese sometimes), I hope that this page will help you in your research. All sources used can be found at the bottom of the page.



Due to popular demand the essays on the roles of okasan/okamisan, the geisha union, and the kenban have been added to this tab.



People Who Worked In The Sex Trade





A woman dressed as a yūjo at an Edo-themed amusement park



Yūjo 遊女 - “Woman to Play With”

This was the all-encompassing term for prostitutes in Japan. Although there were various ranks, only the lowest were called yūjo specifically. They had some basic artistic knowledge (in the more well known areas), but it was not a requirement. Prostitution was outlawed in Japan in 1958, so yūjo no longer exist.





A woman dressed as an oiran at an Edo-Themed amusement park

Oiran 花魁 - “First Flower” or “Flower Leader”

The highest rank of yūjo. They were mostly centered in Edo (modern Tokyo) in an area known as Yoshiwara (吉原). They were trained in the arts of the nobility but also had sex with their customers. An oiran, however, commanded a much higher price than a yūjo. Oiran wore their obi trailing over in the front in a waterfall-style knot. The image of an oiran is kept alive today in traditional celebrations of Japanese history, where a special woman around 20 years old dresses up and walks in a parade as an oiran.



People Who Did Not Work In The Sex Trade





The geiko Tomoka of Pontocho in Kyoto

Geisha 芸者 ”Person of Art/Artist" or Geiko 芸妓 “Woman of Art”

Female entertainers who practiced the arts of the common people. These included kabuki style dance and the shamisen. They wore their obi tied behind them to symbolize that they did not sell sex and this eventually became the standard way to wear an obi for all women.





The maiko Takasuzu of Gion Kobu in Kyoto



Maiko 舞妓 - “Woman of Dance” or Hangyoku 半漁 - “Half Jewel”

The names for apprentice geisha. “Maiko” is used in Kyoto, Nara, Gifu, Nagoya, and Osaka, while “Hangyoku” is used in Tokyo and some other smaller cities. Maiko are between 15-21 years of age while Hangyoku are usually 18-25.





People Who Did Both





A furisode (apprentice) tayū of Shimabara in Kyoto



Tayū 太夫 - “Excellent Person”

Female entertainers who learned and practiced the arts of the nobility. Located in the Shimabara (島原) district in Kyoto, they were often the lovers of court nobles as they were considered equals. They tie their obi in the front in a heart-shaped knot.



Similarities Between Oiran and Tayū

Both wore 7 inch geta with three “teeth”

Both did not wear Tabi (socks)

Both walked in a “figure eight” pattern

Both walked in lavish parades known as “Dochu” (道中)

Both were trained in the art forms of the nobility

-These include court-style dance (Noh inspired), tea ceremony, incense burning, flower arranging, calligraphy, and “refined” instruments such as the koto

-These include court-style dance (Noh inspired), tea ceremony, incense burning, flower arranging, calligraphy, and “refined” instruments such as the koto Both wore multiple heavy layers of kimono that were a simplified version of the traditional “Junihitoe” (十二単衣 - Twelve Layer) outfits of court ladies

Both wore large and elaborate hair styles that denoted their rank

Both were the consorts of nobility and the samurai class

Both wore large and elaborate obi tied in the front

Both had young girls known as Kamuro (禿) who acted as their attendants. These girls would eventually become Oiran and Tayū themselves

A woodblock print of an oiran with two kamuro





Differences Between Oiran and Tayū

Oiran were located in every major city with an emphasis on Yoshiwara (吉原) in Edo (Tokyo) while Tayū are located in Shimabara (島原) in Kyoto

Tayū later focused on practicing art while Oiran were mostly in the business for sex

Oiran wore mostly Bekkō (鼈甲 - Tortoise Shell) Kanzashi (簪 - Hair Ornaments) while tayū wear kanzashi that are similar (but much more elaborate) to a maiko and some bekkō kanzashi

Oiran no longer exist since prostitution is illegal while tayū still exist (albeit in small numbers and no longer engage in sexual activities)





An old photograph of an oiran with her hair full of bekkō kanzashi accompanied by a kamuro



Similarities between Geisha and Yūjo

Both were limited to three layers of kimono

Both were limited to shimada (島田) based hair styles

The shimada hair style of the geiko Mamechiho of Gion Kobu in Kyoto



Differences Between Geisha and Yūjo

Yūjo were often not educated in any arts while geisha were dedicated only to art

Yūjo were prostitutes and worked for sex while geisha were not prostitutes and sex was not a part of their job

Yūjo tied their obi in the front like housewives of the time while geisha tied their obi in the back so as not to be confused with yūjo

Yūjo held their kimono hem in their right hand as a sign that they were available for sex while geisha held their kimono hem in their left hand as a sign that they are closed to sex

The geiko Taneju of Miyagawa Cho in Kyoto holding her kimono in her left hand





Similarities Between Tayū and Geisha

Both focused on their pursuit of art

Both wore similar styles of kanzashi

Both still exist today

A bridge-style kanzashi that both maiko and tayū wear, with maiko daikan (frontal) kanzashi



Differences Between Tayū and Geisha



Tayū practiced the art forms of the nobility while geisha practiced the art forms of the common people

Tayū wore elaborate outfits similar to that of court nobility while geisha wore outfits similar to those of the common people

Tayū paint their faces in a heart shape while geisha paint their faces in an oval shape

Tayū wear very high geta (wooden sandals) while geisha wear lower geta and zori (maiko will wear 4 inch high wooden sandals known as “Okobo”)

Tayū had kamuro attendants while geisha had none

Tayū were considered members of the sex trade while geisha were not

The okobo and zori of maiko and geiko in Kyoto

For more in-depth information about Tayū please read my post titled “A Random PSA About Tayū” that has been posted below in its entirety (so you don’t have to go fishing through the blog).



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Apparently even in English speaking circles there is still a huge discrepancy when it comes to what a tayū is and how it’s different from a geisha. I’m not sure why it still exists when there’s already a bunch of literature on the subject but, in case you can’t find any (or any with sources) then let me help you out:



Tayū (太夫) are the highest class of courtesans located in the Shimabara District (島原) and have done so since the Mid Edo Period. This means that they were educated in the music and dance of court customs. Their incredibly gaudy attire weighed as much as the women themselves (70ish pounds), thus making it hard to get around. When they did move from one establishment to another (usually they stayed at their home establishment due to the weight) they would put on lavish parades known as a Tayū Dochu (太夫道中), which literally means “Tayū Walking Through”. They walk on incredibly high Geta (下駄 - Wooden Sandals) with three “teeth” that are approximately 7 inches high and they never wear Tabi (旅 - Split-Toed Socks) even in the winter. To show off their extravagance while walking they would move they feet in a formation known as a “figure eight pattern”, which would see them turn their feet and sandals to the side, and slide them across the ground forward in an arching motion. In order to keep their balance they always had a male attendant whose shoulder they would hold onto.



Geisha (芸者/芸妓), on the other hand, were trained in the arts and dance of regular people (including but not limited to: shamisen, taiko, kabuki style dance) and also dressed more like the common people. They were limited to three layers of kimono just like everyone else and, due to their intellect and freedom, they were often the trailblazers of new fashion trends when it came to kimono.



The biggest physical differences between geisha and tayū (besides the kimono) are the obi and the hair ornaments. Tayū wore heavy brocade obi that are tied in the front in a Kokoro (心 - Heart Shaped) knot. Much misinformation has been spread about this rumor alluding that the tayū tied their obi in the front because it was easier for a customer to take off. This is untrue as sexual encounters in the Edo Period involved the removal of very little clothing. Their obi were tied in the front because it was the current fashion of the time. To differentiate themselves from the tayū (and the lower class yūjo) geisha began to tie their obi in the back as a sign of their independence. When it comes to hair ornaments, the tayū and geisha are like night and day. Tayū style their hair in very elaborate styles with eight or ten Kogai (笄 - Sword Style) Kanzashi (簪 - Hair Ornaments) forming a fan pattern in the front Mage (髷 - Section) of their hair, followed by a huge “crown” style kanzashi (very similar to the ones that maiko wear during the Gion Festival, but even larger - image of this type of kanzashi can be found above), and then punctuated by a myriad number of Kushi (櫛 - Comb) and Tegara (手柄 - Cloth) that were placed and styled in such a way that people would know how high ranking a tayū was by looking at her hair. Geisha, on the other hand, were limited to Shimada (島田) hair styles (the same as married women) and could only wear one kushi and three kogai kanzashi. These rules of dress were put into place by the government so that tayū would not be confused for geisha (and vice versa).



To explain the differences I am going to quote directly from Tsukasa Tayū’s website (link can be found under sources). I will include the original Japanese text along with the English translations for each part.



太夫 (Tayū)

宮中文化から生まれた - Born from the court culture.

着物は十二単を簡略化させたもの - Kimono were a simplified version of the junihitoe (12 layered robe) that court nobles wore.

歌舞音曲の他、茶道・華道・香道 - Were educated in court dance, tea ceremony, flower arranging, incense burning.

書道・俳諧など貴族が受ける一般教養 - Were raised with the same general education that all children of nobility received.



舞妓・芸妓 (Maiko and Geiko)

町人文化から生まれた - Born from the town (normal citizen) culture.

着物は江戸時代の町娘姿 - Wore clothes in the same style as Edo Period girls (for maiko) and women (for geiko).

歌舞音曲（舞・三味線・囃子等）・茶道 - Were educated in music and dance (that included dance, shamisen, and accompaniments) and the tea ceremony.



So, why did the elaborate and highly educated tayū (mostly) die out? Well, two main reasons:



1) They were incredibly exclusive and were open to a very small number of patrons, the majority of which were of the samurai class or nobility (as they learned the same art forms). The geisha, on the other hand, learned the arts of the common people and thus had the support of the (incredibly wealthy) merchant class. There was much more wealth (and many more patrons) in the merchant class than there was of the noble classes and, by the time of the Meiji Period, Japan was trying to modernize itself and began to shun the old court traditions.



2) The merchants, who basically dictated how wealth was distributed, found the tayū’s clothing and ornamentation to be too gaudy and preferred the simple but refined look of the geisha.



Now, the biggest issue (and the part that gets lost and/or confused in translation) is the matter of sex. The tayū did not specifically sell themselves for sex like the yūjo. However, it was no secret to anyone that the tayū were often the mistresses of the court nobility since they were seen as being equal to the nobility itself and thus are often considered as courtesans. Tayū are also often confused with the Oiran (花魁) of Yoshiwara (吉原) in Edo (Tokyo) who, although trained in similar arts of the tayū, were purely prostitutes. Tayū were the highest ranking workers of the red light districts, and due to faltering popularity they became scarce by the 18th century and from then on only existed in Kyoto.



So, what does this all come down to? In quick summation:



Tayū learned the arts of the nobility while geisha learned the arts of the common people. However, due to their incredibly different styles of dress and art, they are separate entities. A Tayū is not “the highest class of geisha” since they are two distinct and separate jobs. You wouldn’t call a Hollywood actor a higher class of actor from a Kabuki actor because they are taught under different styles, so please don’t lump geisha and tayū into the same thing.



On “The Sex” Thing

Many people have been commenting saying, “But everywhere I read it keeps saying that tayū were courtesans!,” so I feel that I need to clarify:



While sex was not specifically a part of their job, the tayū did have sexual encounters with their customers (as stated above). Unlike the oiran or yūjo they did not have to have sex in order to bring in money. A tayū could decide who she wanted to entertain and could actually turn away men that she didn’t like. While not being forced to have sex this gave the tayū more time to focus on their gei. It’s more proper to call tayū “consorts” as they were usually the mistresses of very powerful men, but, yes, “courtesan” (also as stated above) is an acceptable term for tayū prior to the outlawing of prostitution in 1958.





The People Behind The Scenes





Former geiko Tamakazu, now the okasan of the Tama okiya and ochaya of Gion Kobu in Kyoto



The Okasan (お母さん)/Okamisan (女将さん) - “Mother”/“Female Proprietress”



Besides the instructors of the various art schools, these are the women responsible for what maiko and geiko are today. They are the okasan (sometimes called okamisan), the women who run the okiya and ochaya. “Okasan” means “mother” as she basically adopts all of her girls (symbolically) and raises them as her own while they are under her charge. “Okamisan” means “female proprietress” and is just as valid to use as okasan, although okasan is used much more often. Okamisan tends to be used when the woman is either learning to inherit the business or is very young whereas okasan is a sign of respect and can be used for any woman who runs an okiya or ochaya regardless of age.



The vast majority of these women were former geiko themselves, with most reaching the stage of natori, the highest level of dancer. Those who decide to open their own okiya usually name the establishment after something from their geiko career: part (or all) of a geimei, their real last names, or something unique. Either by being adopted by a family that owns an okiya or by opening her own she becomes a fundamental pillar of the community. Since she has decades of experience she will know how to get her girls to reach their full potential and has many established connections to help them succeed. It is incredibly rare that a customer would break off all relationship with a geiko if she were to retire but continue to work in the karyukai. That customer will likely become a patron of the new okasan’s ochaya or at least know to request her charges at the next ozashiki. Some women will simply operate an ochaya and not an okiya as this is a very tough job in and of itself.



The fundamental roles of the okasan are as follows:



-Have an incredible memory of hundreds (if not, thousands) of people to which she knows each person’s specific likes and dislikes and can best cater to them when they arrive for an ozashiki.



-Arrange everything to said customer’s tastes at an ozashiki. This includes which foods to order from which restaurants (to fit both taste and budget), which kinds of alcohol to serve, which girls to call, and to ensure that each ozashiki runs smoothly. Should any incident arise it is the okasan who must deal with it, such as an unruly guest or a slight mishap, and she must do so with both grace and sternness.



-Manage the financials of her business. Obviously to be successful she has to make more money than she spends, but she also needs to know when to spend money and when to save it. Should anything in the ochaya look cheap or not very expensive then it shows on the okasan and can taint her reputation. Everything must be the best for her guests, literally. This doesn’t mean that she has to spend more than everyone else, but to be savvy enough to be fashionable, chic, and meet the expectations of the exclusiveness of her venue.



-Manage the hired help. All ochaya have maids that will come in and clean to make sure that the places are spotless. Some of these maids will live on the premises while others will live in apartments nearby.



If an okasan also manages an okiya then she will also have to do the following:



-Teach the shikomi the mannerisms of a maiko and the Kyoto dialect (Kyo-ben). The vast majority of shikomi experience culture shock when they come into the karyukai, and it is the okasan who is in charge of making her presentable enough to take the test that will determine if she will become a maiko or not. The shikomi will be made to accompany the okasan and then the maiko and geiko everywhere and not only watch how everyone interacts, but will also help with the chores. She will also reprimand the shikomi if they step out of line or forget to use Kyo-ben. She is the single most influential person on a new shikomi, so if the girl doesn’t meet the standards of the community then it looks bad on her.



-Manage the financials of all maiko and geiko in her care. She will keep a running ledger of all costs they will incur (food, boarding, lessons, any other random cost) and how much income they make. She will deduct all costs from their income and keep it in trust for them. Most maiko and geiko never handle money within the karyukai as they will go to a store and ask for the cost to be billed to their affiliated okiya. Should a maiko or geiko need money for something they will request it from the okasan and she acts almost like a bank with their money. When a bill comes she pays it and makes notes. If a jimae geiko is the one on the ledgers then the okasan will only keep track of their engagements, how much they’ve made, and only deduct a fee to be affiliated with this specific ochaya or okiya.



-Choose outfits for the maiko and junior geiko in her care. The outfits must be of seasonally appropriate motifs, which are so accurate that you can tell the date that an image of a maiko was taken down to the week. The traditional Japanese calendar has 72 seasons and these must be followed. They also need to remember what combinations have been worn for what guests before as it would be a faux pas for a maiko or geiko to be seen wearing the same kimono twice in a row to see the same customer. This obviously means that the okasan must know where all of the kimono, obi, pocchiri, obijime, obiage, juban, and eri are at all times and can effortlessly choose the perfect outfits for her charges. She is in charge of the care of the outfits too, so if a kimono needs cleaning she’ll send it out to be cleaned.



-Act as a go-between if any negative situations were to arise. If the okasan of another ochaya had a bad experience with one of her maiko or geiko the okasan would pay a visit to the other okasan to apologize and try to mend the gap. This rarely happens, but when it does the okasan will protect her charges and will take the blame for their actions as if she were their onesan or real mother.



If she is the okasan of a long standing okiya she may even be on the council that actually decides things in each hanamachi. These include appointing a new head of a school of arts where maiko and geiko take their lessons, appointing new members of the kenban, and any new changes to any rules that are to be made to okiya or ochaya.



When it comes time for her to retire she has 1 of 4 options as to what to do with her business. She can either:



-Pass it on to her biological daughter

-Pass it on to an adopted geiko (who then legally becomes her daughter)

-Attempt to sell the business (however, this usually results in the last option)

-Close the ochaya



The job isn’t for everyone and, if the new owner can’t handle the stress or the inheritance fees, then the ochaya will close. It’s a bit sad when this happens, so it makes you appreciate every time a new ochaya opens to continue the traditions of the karyūkai.



In cities outside of Kyoto it’s not uncommon for men to own an ochaya, and they are referred to as “Ojisan” (uncle) or “Otosan” (father).



The Geisha Union (芸妓組合)



As the name suggests, it’s the organization that looks out for the well being of its members. All geiko and maiko are members of the geisha union in their respective hanamachi. It is run by a senior geisha who is voted in to act as their representative with meetings between the kenban and the ochaya association.



