Geisha have enchanted both Japanese and foreigners alike for centuries. With their unique beauty and exceptional skills in the arts, they are difficult to overlook. In the west, geisha rival Mount Fuji and the bullet train as the most recognizable emblem of Japan. Despite their widespread appeal, true understanding of what it means to be a geisha remains elusive for the majority of westerners. The Japanese and American perception of what a geisha is and what they actually do remain two very different entities. The geisha'S similar physical appearance to courtesans, the Japanese sensitivity over the subject of geisha, the fabricated bitterness between geisha and wives and the exaggeration of their complete servility to men all strengthened the western belief that they are prostitutes. This misunderstanding of geisha was only further reinforced following World War II, with American GIs bringing home tales of steamy encounters with "geesha girls." Ever since the Second World War, Americans tend to view geisha as primarily sexual or erotic beings, while the Japanese view them as representations of their rich past and culture.
