Amid plunging demand because of the spread of the novel coronavirus, struggling geisha in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, have focused their attention on online services to entertain customers with conversation and traditional performances.
During an online event dubbed Meet Geisha Online Drinking, geisha in the town well-known for its onsen hot spring resort use the videoconferencing service Zoom to interact with groups of customers. Participants have their own alcoholic beverages or soft drinks and, through their computer or smartphone screens, watch as the geisha play the shamisen or perform traditional dance.
The cost for a 30-minute session is 1,650 yen per person for Japanese speakers and 2,000 yen per person in English. Each group in English is required to have at least three people, however, as two customers can form a group by paying the fee for three people.
Reservations can be made online or by telephone. Customers can also offer their favorite geisha an "ohineri" online gratuity.
Gaiax Co., a firm based in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, that provides various web services, started the online version of Meet Geisha in May in cooperation with the Hakone Yumoto Geino Union, which has about 150 geisha as members. The in-person Meet Geisha service was initiated in November.
The aim is to increase jobs related to geisha, which have been drastically reduced by the pandemic, as well as to allow Japanese and foreign customers who are unfamiliar with geisha to enjoy the traditional culture.
A man in the United States who took part in an early August online drinking activity with his wife said he had to cancel his trip to Japan, but wanted to surprise his spouse with the birthday present.
He said his wife was thrilled when a geisha sang a song celebrating her birthday and performed a dance, adding he would like to visit Hakone and see geisha in person when the coronavirus is contained.
"We want to reach out to new clientele via new methods as we think about innovative ways for geisha to work in the coronavirus and post-coronavirus eras," said Gaiax manager Tamaki Nishimura. "We hope to convey the charms of the traditional Japanese culture of geisha to as many people as possible."
(Old & New is a series exclusive to The Japan News.)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
