Once Hishimekiai is restaurant, Shibuya Maruyama-cho, where many of the geisha was swagger. Sight of the city has changed dramatically, but two active geisha has continue to protect the light of traditional culture now. To Hee Toshiie Suzuko's is one of them, we heard such as transition and future prospects of the geisha culture in Shibuya.

- Suzuko san please tell me the story that became a geisha.

In my mother's eight brothers, one of the aunt had a Okiya in Maruyama-machi. When I was a 18-year-old, when I came to play from Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the home, saw the aunt wearing a kimono is a lesson, we learned about the existence of the work the first time geisha. At that time, sometimes just young child was not enough, I also got been ejected in various ways lesson thing like a byte because I was a form. Only it has been pampered in the young, going to come to play is turned sponger, will directly lead to now (laughs).

The Maruyamacho before about 30 years ago Hishimekiai the restaurant of about 30 to 40 hotels, the largest store was also close to 500 square meters. Away of the room is not connected by a stone pavement, there is a garden with different flowers were alive in each of the room, was very good-looking restaurant. At that time the geisha can have is about 80 people, had been flowing sound of the shamisen from among bright in the town. The road surface Yes to the watering, if not fallen one garbage, but it was the city of sex appeal from the daytime.

- Such a taste there the streets began to change is, when time would that be?.

It is the time of the bubble. In particular, I think around 1980 to 60 years, and I have been raising the ground level one after another old restaurant by raising the ground level .... Then not enough anyway manpower by the time of the bubble, gathered without ascertaining the people at a high hourly rate, there was no less a place to put out in front of customers in less than lessons. I you have gone away so with or there is rude. After that, though sister is going more and more getting older in any Okiya, did not find a successor. Of course it is important to polish the tricks, it is because our customers often that still want to see the young child. Finished tricks but of course, I'm interesting to the customer is better to see while imagine how grow how now. That was not brought up that kind of young children, is a major cause of Maruyama-cho, was decline. My Kenban (= geisha of the office) but, with or I quit as soon as is one of the few junior, is now the active service of the geisha as a whole Maruyamacho now only two people, including me.

- Maruyama-cho, as well, but it has changed even the whole city of Shibuya.

Well, it was especially Center Street instead. In the past also to that around here a good atmosphere Washokuya is I had a lot .... And now of such youth of store increases, the center city with an image that can not be made only such shop, it would close even old-fashioned shop. Although the Shibuya from the old days there were a lot of students, but it was also in the city to play an adult at the same time. It is now gone with adults is low. I So I think could be the adult of place "point" and be Cerulean Tower. Shibuya is no longer able to play an adult. It is frustrating. Once upon a time in the city that played a student, but was able to play even if the adult does not have it now. Even in the Bunkamura, you say there is no adult of place to think that Let's play around. Of course it young people it is important, I want to make the air to play with confidence generations towards the senior.

I myself, since dropping the money to the city that they live is the credo, does not go out from anything Shibuya in shopping. So you get to come to the Maruyama-cho when a meal with friends and audience, "once in a while by coming out of retirement to the outside," but you will tell me, said, "It 's not good, I to some shops to know" or somehow on .... So rather than a chain store, go to small shops, such as those run by a family. I think people will be reflected in the elegance of the city of people who live and do not follow the city ... to live again.

- Although geisha I have decreased, I Irasshai started a new attempt.

Geisha as well, restaurant does not have little to Maruyamacho now. I think miss the old days of the bustling scene, but I think that should not to be produced a match style to the modern age while preserving the traditional culture. The first place I geisha play, I think you have an image that very high. Or use between eight tatami one in two customers, or alive flowers, or take care of the waitress, than the geisha itself, I take the cost of space and utensils. So as a contemporary style, attracting customers to the Japanese-style salon rather than a restaurant, Geisha and gay, fist (parlor rock-paper-scissors), Toogikyo, further shamisen and hand drum, flute, ditty, playing and such Nagauta, Pink ( = Nadeshiko of-apprentice geisha thing) entertain such as, began to attempt to get to enjoy a reasonable price "Otome and the meeting of Taro" than in the past. So to speak, food and drink and it is a live house like a feeling of Japanese style with a reception. I might go to listen in shamisen today, Nante, we try to feel free to come and get atmosphere a little sense of distance of there was accomplishment to date.

Around 1955, everyone who geisha era Maruyamacho was lively

- Do you want what you convey through a new attempt.

In Shibuya, Italian also both Oriental French, is not it there is a store of all tastes. In particular, Maruyama-cho, is the space, which is also live house Some hotels "anything goes". Among them, what is the space of the sum reflected in the new style to the contrary, I'm me also accepted To smoothly unexpectedly. Although brimming shops of half-hearted Japanese style is in town, it is I want to tell the real sum. Through a kind of new style, I want to know the tricks of the geisha to people was unrelated to the geisha culture ever. I am especially want to come to young people, such as in their 30s. Since then shamisen also Nagauta also tell us about the level of neat "pro", I'm funny better of those who for the first time come the degree of excitement go size. Whether the world there was a such a thing to, Nante me to say. Also it should not be not those things are good for the first time touch. In that respect, we, accomplishment, of course, I try to pick you up in a genuine intention on the basis of the tradition up to the dress of the kimono. While there is also a place to continue the tradition as Shinbashi and Mukojima, in Maruyama-cho while there is no tradition to defend, I think that it is worth doing to take the plunge that these new.

- Successor regard to the shortage, What are your thoughts.

Again people call people, people in the bustling place is what gather. But I think that it is the same in what kind of world, I think you are activated get together, especially people with young energy. So, even to grow a young child, we are committed to quite a force. The good news, recently, there is also that it has been featured in television, are increasingly young children who have an interest. The other day, the child who came want to become apprentice, together "because I do not know anything about Japanese culture, go Come" to the mother who was watching the TV seems to have been said. Now, grandmother mother also not uncommon households that do not have a kimono, I think I'm rather Japanese culture reflected in the fresh.

- Currently, all the time, what are you looking for an apprentice.

Yes, applicants guess students will stand out. Or wearing a kimono, kana or playing the shamisen, it is better to us to visit wants to touch the Japanese culture often. Some people may even would quit immediately, but do not care because they thought that may be Moraere know the Japanese culture even a little. Now, in my place and have the pink of three people, we are promoting a lesson. Recent young child will be surprised very enthusiastic in the lesson, but you may feel a thing insufficient in that there is no greed. What this work, I do not if gay customers also have to win on their own. If there is no greed accomplishment it is not readily progress. Maybe there are many children that were relaxed in the kind of surface.

In addition, I am as there is also a desire to provide the playing field for those who learned Japanese music at the university. While having the tricks, while the playing field is there are those who are limited, opportunity for ordinary people touches the raw of Japanese music in modern life is very small. I want to continue, "Otome and the meeting of Taro" is also as an opportunity to continue to tie this in good shape.

- If it is what kind of space in Shibuya Do you think the adult is likely to come.

Shibuya disjointed building, it multi-tenant building is too large. Even if there is a nice little shop, and get on the elevator, and came in augh and young people, you may be disappointed. So, choose your shop only is good streets, I the street only is at the very least want to leave such adult air. If there is such a thing, but not a silver bra, in the calm and peace of mind. As that one went in the back, because I also artificial, provided such a space, it what is should I do so as not to miss the Bunkamura customers. But has come to the money Tsukai, what I do is no place to spend money. More, I hope if it is atmosphere, such as those out good shops.

- In the sense that to entertain the foreigners, it's geisha culture is priceless.

Well, there is no less alien who is willing even now. Kabuki, but is the best, You touched on Japanese culture without spending money and time also. We want to continue that kind of role in the Maruyama-cho. There is certainly painful situation, "I want to drop the even money Oretachi, Is not no place" is also in the local residents while complaining about, then we have also the person who to cheer. I I think that I even entertainment of new forms. My dream is, or showing off geisha tricks, enjoy a conversation with the customer, also customers can sing the ditty, to have a mansion, such as the live house of the Japanese style in Maruyama-machi. Even if such place is about one, is not it interesting in a different color. Style is changed, we never a traditional culture that can not buy in the money, I want to continue to protect here Maruyamacho.

The history of Maruyamacho

Shibuya Hanayagi Association founding 20th anniversary celebration (Courtesy of Shirane Memorial Shibuya-ku, Provincial Museum, Museum of Literature)

From the fact that there was a "Kobo hot water," which also serves as a the restaurant bath in Shenzhen Town, from the Meiji era, adjacent to Maruyama-cho, it was developed as a red-light district. Is specified in the restaurant business area entered in the Taisho era (three types where you are allowed to sales of Ryoriya-waiting Chaya-Geigiya) flourished, 1921 of the heyday (1921) in the year Ryoriya 36 hotels, waiting Chaya 96 hotels, geisha Okiya 137 hotels, the number of geisha that were counted 400 people. Great Kanto Earthquake after redevelopment advances around the "hundred hotels store" of Dogenzaka, but trimmed the appearance as a red-light district and into the Showa, in 1945 the majority of the red-light district in the air raid of the year was attributed to ashes. Thereafter, with the occupation of Allied is cabaret and dance hall was flooded, restaurant through, such as "oil shock" is gradually going out of business, it changed the figure to the hotel district. Club and live house that runs the tip of the youth culture is advanced to the Maruyama-cho, recently, such as the large cinema complex "Q-AX Bill" will be built, it underwent a transformation to the area was chaotic conspicuous in Shibuya. (Reference "ShinOsamu Shibuya History")

■ profile
KiToshiie Suzuko's
Yamaguchi Prefecture, born in Shimonoseki. When the 18-year-old, to know the existence of the geisha in the relationship of the aunt engaged in Okiya in Maruyama-cho, of directly Maruyamacho to the world of the geisha. Maruyama feel a sense of crisis that the Japanese culture disappears from the town, to open the event "Otome and the Association of Taro" to convey the culture of the sum in the Japanese-style salon, while carrying out the development of new customers, the geisha recruitment along with the shamisen of Koito sister are working vigorously, such as, in the reverse of the training carried out.
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