Kobayashi Masako. Public domain, Post-war Japan.

Geisha are traditional, female Japanese entertainers of the "Flower and Willow World", shrouded in secrecy and mystery. Geisha skills include performing various ancient Japanese arts regarding music, song, dance, tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arranging, poetry and the art of conversation. In Japan, geisha are the ultimate hostess and class of entertainment. Geisha are hailed as the very icons of Japanese social grace and etiquette. They have existed for over 400 years, yet their elegant appearance has remained timeless and unchanged in the present world.