Kyoto: The Spirit of Japan

       Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years, and is home to a major urban-industrial region. Kyoto literally means "capital city". From 794-1868, Kyoto was the site of the imperial family's residence, giving it it's historical importance. This city has always been a major Kabuki supporter, and still is today. Geisha's have been playing Kabuki for centuries, dancing and playing shamisen. The Kyoto district has been producing famous Geisha's since the 600's. By the pictures I've shown, you can easily see the beauty that Kyoto has to offer.

Source:  Dougill, John. Kyoto: a Cultural History. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006. Print

Timeline of Geisha's: 600's-Present

• 600s- Saburuko (servant girls), mostly wandering girls who need money, sold sex services, others entertained at high class social gatherings
• 794- Kyoto began to form beauty-obsessed culture, where Shirabyōshi (female dancers) thrived.
• 1617- Prostitution illegal, created pleasure quarters instead where yūjo (play women) women were licensed, beginning of kabuki theater
• 1680s- odoriko (dancing girls) very popular paid entertainers for upper-class samurai, though many still in prostitution
• 1750- First woman to called geisha- Kikuyu- a skilled prostitute that played shamisen and sang
• 1760s-1770s- Geisha's very popular
• 1800- Geisha became an occupation
• 1830s- Geisha style very fashionable, some stopped only sold art, others still prostitution along with dance and music
• 1944- WWII, all things in the geisha world shut down, people put into factories.
• 1945- Allowed to reopen, some followed western tradition and others stayed true to their culture 
• 1959- Maiko's (apprentice Geisha) virginity auctions declared illegal
• 1960s-1970s- Japan undergoing post feudal- modern society

Source:

Encyclopedia Britannica. Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2002. Print.

Geisha makeup??

Geisha Lips

Anyone who is familiar with a Geisha knows the original, hand painted face makeup they always wear. Well defined brows, white china doll face, and beautiful red lips. Simple, but elegant, and always the same. 

But some myths have come about since the meeting between the westerners and the easterners. The white facial powder, called Oshiroi, was believed to be made from the poop of Gooses.
Really, guys? Really?

Well, as you can tell, that is obviously just a myth. Some people used Nightingale poop for facial cleansers way back in the day, but now that is not a common practice. The Oshiroi was made from either lead (poisonous), mercury (horrible), sticky rice, or millet. For awhile, zinc was used until titanium dioxide was introduced in 1923. Lead is a bad no-no, and has been banned for quite a while now.
Source.
"Same as Modern Cosmetics?" Japan-Guide.com. Airline Tickets. Web. 1 May 2011. <http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+7101>.

Wanna see how the process is done? Watch below. :D