I get a variety of questions along these lines a few times a week, usually with different wording each time. So, I’ve decided to lay it all out in a PSA so that everyone can find the information much easier than before and I won’t have to continuously keep repeating myself ^^v



How To Become a Customer

The karyukai runs on the premise of Ichigensan Okotowari (一見さんお断り), which translates to “No First Time Visitors/Customers,” and to become a customer you need to meet the following criteria:

1) Know someone who is already an established patron of an ochaya

For the most part that’s the only universal rule that all ochaya follow. However, some of the higher class ochaya in the more prominent districts will even require letters of recommendation from multiple established patrons just to get a first meeting with the okasan of the establishment who will decide if you’re worthy of becoming a customer or not.

Once you’ve been introduced to an okasan by an established member you’ll be put on probation. This usually lasts up to a year so that the okasan can become comfortable with your likes and dislikes and can figure out how best to serve you. You’ll usually be limited to smaller ozashiki at this time and must remain on good behavior at all costs. If a customer were to suddenly not pay for their time with a maiko or geiko then it would be the ochaya who is stuck with the bill, so all customers must reach a certain level of respect to be considered a regular.

I need to note here that there are establishments like Gion Hatanaka and Shigemori’s Maiko Theatre that allows tourists to interact with maiko and geiko, but going there will not make you a regular customer. The ochaya system is still the only way to be included into the karyukai community.

You’re a Customer! What Now?

For the most part you can request any maiko or geiko that you’d like to your ozashiki. However, it must be noted that the karyukai runs on internal politics, so ochaya are more likely to call girls from specific okiya that share a relationship with the ochaya okasan. This is just one of those “the way it is” kinda rules, so you’re expected to go along with it if you wish to remain a customer. For the most part this won’t bring up any problems, but it’s something to be aware of.

You can now also request to spend time with maiko and geiko outside of an ozashiki setting. This can include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

-Going out to a restaurant

-Going to see a sumo match/kabuki play/movie

-Going to an amusement park

-Going to a tea ceremony

-Going golfing

-Going to a karaoke bar

-Going to a regular bar

-Going for a walk in a park

-Having them model for a photo shoot or commercial

You can request to spend time with a maiko or geiko almost anywhere. Like at an ozashiki, you are paying them for their time, and they are billed as if they were attending an ozashiki with you. When a maiko or geiko is requested to spend time outside of an ozashiki the request must be made through an ochaya, and it is the ochaya who takes care of the arrangement and the costs. A customer will never directly pay a maiko or geiko nor will they ever make plans directly with them either. Spending time with a maiko or geiko is a business transaction and must be treated as such for all parties involved.

Making Mad Money

On the flip side, the way that maiko and geiko get paid can be slightly confusing. When a maiko or geiko is working they are billed for their time in 45 minute increments called Hanadai (花代), meaning “Flower Time,” regardless of where they’re working or who they’re with. Even if they don’t spend a whole 45 minutes with someone they are still billed for the entire time. This is how many new maiko and geiko sell so many units so quickly; during misedashi and erikae visits a maiko or geiko will only spend about 10-15 minutes at each ozashiki. This usually means that they’re visiting upwards of 10 or more ozashiki per night for almost a week (6 days). Even though they’re only working about 4-5 hours a day, 24-30 hours in that time frame, they’re being billed for 60 hours or more! Each member of a given kagai is paid the same amount for these 45 minute sets; a maiko is not paid less than a geiko nor is a tachikata paid more than a jikata. This rate does, however, vary between each kagai as some will charge more than others. Unlike the rest of Japan, where tipping doesn’t occur, it is expected that customers give tips called Goshūgi (御祝儀) to maiko and geiko for their hard work. These tips do not count towards their hanadai totals and are kept by the maiko and geiko instead of being given to their okasan (unless they want her to hold it in trust for them).

Counting Quarters

The earnings of all maiko and geiko are tallied on a daily basis from the receipts of the ochaya. The okasan of an ochaya will list which maiko and geiko appeared at each ozashiki and how long they stayed. This list is then picked up each morning by a member of the kenban and then compared to the schedule that the kenban keeps of where each maiko and geiko was during the previous day. If the records match then all is well and recorded as such. If not then the matter must be corrected with input from the ochaya okasan, the okiya okasan, and the kenban. The ochaya will pay out the amount owed to each maiko and geiko to their okiya on a monthly basis. The totals held by the kenban are what determine the yearly Shigyōshiki rankings for both maiko and geiko and ochaya. There is also an extra award given for the maiko or geiko who attended the most lessons, but that isn’t tied to their ozashiki work.



For more information on how money is kept and distributed and what the role of the okasan is click here for more info ^^