"We do not become geisha to pursue our own destinies, we become geisha because we have no other choice..."
Long ago in post-war Japan a young girl from a poor fishing villiage experiences the worst sorts of loss when her honored mother is diagnosed with Leukimia of the bones, and her father has no choice but to sell her to Mr.Tanaka, a man whom sells the young girls to seperate Okiya, Geisha Homes. Young Chiyo, with eyes of rain is taken into Nitta Okiya, where life is no easier than before, she is treated as a slave and is rejected by one of the most beautiful Geisha in Kyoto, Japan, Hatsumomo. Her sister wasn't meant to become an honorable Geisha, and is sold to a brothel for the street-walkers with painted faces. Though she is aided by a friend by the nickname of Pumpkin, she faces more tragedy when an attempt to escape causes Mother, to decide she is not ready to become a Geisha, and takes her out of her geisha lessons to become as slave to the Okiya.
Though she is living without happiness in the world, hope is shown upon jer world of darkness when a kind Chairman buys her some flavored ice on the street, this gives her the hope and inspiration she needs to become a Geisha, if only to be by his side as the lovely Geisha whom had accompanied him had been.
One day, Mameha, a geisha whom has rivalled Hatsumomo since they shared an Okiya visits the Nitta Okiya to make a deal with her on training Chiyo, and though Mother believes it to be a joke, she agrees. Chiyo is immediently put into training as a Geisha, while Pumpkin has always been a Meiko (apprentice Geisha) Sayuri is just beginning. After years worth of training is rushed into several months, Mameha takes Sayuri under her wing as a little sister and she becomes, Sayuri. Now she is to be put against Chiyo, just as Mameha was put to be against Hatsumomo.
Throughout the story betrayal ensues, Sayuri finally reunites with her beloved Chairman, only to be forced into the arms of his business partner, Nobu, a man who detested Geisha, until of course falling for Sayuri. Now men are at battle for the young girl's Mizuage (virginity), which once lost will make her a true Geisha, and while she is on her way to womanhood, Pumpkinm, still a virgin meiko is left in the shadows, with a hidden hatred for her best friend.
When the war breaks out, Nobu and the chairman find places for their beloved Sayuri to hide out with a kimono maker. The skies had turned black, the lakes red, and what once seemed like hell was perfection, she questioned the past she grew to miss. Was she ever truly a geisha? Did she ever sing, or dance? One day the question is put out when Nobu visits her, begging for her assistance when his and the Chairman's electric company turns to gravel, but with Sayuri's help in persuading the general for a loan they could become the richest men in Japan.
Sayuri is also reiunited with Pumpkin, whom agrees to help if only to secretly betray Sayuri when bringing the Chairman to her hide out, rather than Nobu (whom was supposed to catch her in the 'act' with the general, thus hating her), knowing exactly how she felt about him.
Later she is called to the gardens, and hopes it is Nobu, if only to beg forgiveness but is surpsidingly greeted by the Chairman whom admits to remembering helping her on the bridge and treating her to shaved ice that fateful day. He had been the one whom asked Mameha to take her in, he had fallen in love with Sayuri, but refused to deny the man whom saved his life (Nobu) that happiness, but now that Nobu detested her, he could have the love of his life, to be his, and only his.
Though she is living without happiness in the world, hope is shown upon jer world of darkness when a kind Chairman buys her some flavored ice on the street, this gives her the hope and inspiration she needs to become a Geisha, if only to be by his side as the lovely Geisha whom had accompanied him had been.
One day, Mameha, a geisha whom has rivalled Hatsumomo since they shared an Okiya visits the Nitta Okiya to make a deal with her on training Chiyo, and though Mother believes it to be a joke, she agrees. Chiyo is immediently put into training as a Geisha, while Pumpkin has always been a Meiko (apprentice Geisha) Sayuri is just beginning. After years worth of training is rushed into several months, Mameha takes Sayuri under her wing as a little sister and she becomes, Sayuri. Now she is to be put against Chiyo, just as Mameha was put to be against Hatsumomo.
Throughout the story betrayal ensues, Sayuri finally reunites with her beloved Chairman, only to be forced into the arms of his business partner, Nobu, a man who detested Geisha, until of course falling for Sayuri. Now men are at battle for the young girl's Mizuage (virginity), which once lost will make her a true Geisha, and while she is on her way to womanhood, Pumpkinm, still a virgin meiko is left in the shadows, with a hidden hatred for her best friend.
When the war breaks out, Nobu and the chairman find places for their beloved Sayuri to hide out with a kimono maker. The skies had turned black, the lakes red, and what once seemed like hell was perfection, she questioned the past she grew to miss. Was she ever truly a geisha? Did she ever sing, or dance? One day the question is put out when Nobu visits her, begging for her assistance when his and the Chairman's electric company turns to gravel, but with Sayuri's help in persuading the general for a loan they could become the richest men in Japan.
Sayuri is also reiunited with Pumpkin, whom agrees to help if only to secretly betray Sayuri when bringing the Chairman to her hide out, rather than Nobu (whom was supposed to catch her in the 'act' with the general, thus hating her), knowing exactly how she felt about him.
Later she is called to the gardens, and hopes it is Nobu, if only to beg forgiveness but is surpsidingly greeted by the Chairman whom admits to remembering helping her on the bridge and treating her to shaved ice that fateful day. He had been the one whom asked Mameha to take her in, he had fallen in love with Sayuri, but refused to deny the man whom saved his life (Nobu) that happiness, but now that Nobu detested her, he could have the love of his life, to be his, and only his.