In an era of globalization and high-technology, English and the Internet are becoming indispensable tools for the efforts of Kyoto's maiko, or apprentice geiko or geisha, to make their work and culture better understood. Although maiko are widely admired due to their youthful beauty and elegant dancing and musical skills, they are still shrouded in mystery because their business is traditionally off-limits to anyone but their regular customers.
But as times have changed, maiko are trying to keep up with today's information society.
At least 10 teahouses that provide formal entertainment by maiko publicize their services on the Web. Some restaurants and bars where customers can meet maiko also have their own Web sites.
In addition to taking lessons in Japanese dancing, music, tea ceremony and manners, maiko also have begun learning English conversation to better communicate with overseas guests.
For foreign guests, one of the sites explains in English, for example, a unique, long-standing rule of the business that teahouses basically do not accept "ichigen-san," or people who are not introduced by their regular customers.
English communication skills have become important for maiko and geiko, which means "geisha" in Kyoto, because they have more opportunities to serve at parties for foreign guests attending international meetings in the city. Maiko are now also commonly dispatched abroad for Kyoto tourism promotion campaigns.