Willow Garden

Willow Garden is a geisha house (okiya). It is the only one in Okinami and one of very few in Saharin. There are rarely more than five geisha registered at a time.
Geishaare one of many traditions cherished in Saharin as part of their Japanese heritage. However, they are extremely rare. Wealthy families emigrating from Japan were often spread out and never had great numbers, therefore things unique to the upper class, like geisha, were limited also. By the time Saharin had cities and enough wealth to support something like the rich tradition of geisha, they were already relic of the past. Hostess Clubs fill the modern need to arrange female company and entertainment of every other variety is widely available. 
A geisha house is functionally a guild. All geisha working in Okinami must be registered with Willow Garden. The only exceptions are geisha registered elsewhere who have traveled to Okinami as part of their engagement. Willow Garden takes care of scheduling and other administrative aspects of the business as well as providing training and classes for apprentices and existing geisha.
All geisha and maiko, apprentices, registered with Willow Garden have an apartment on the premises. For some, this is only a place to safely store kimono and other items, using the space to get ready for an engagement or to host intimate engagements.
Maiko and young geisha who do not yet own kimono or other needed items may borrow from Willow Garden, which also takes the burden of the cost of training a maiko. Willow Garden takes a percentage of the geisha's booking fees, up to the entirety, to support the geisha. Maiko and geisha living on premises have all their needs met and therefore find this arrangement agreeable. 
Geisha of Willow Garden, while allowed to have personal relationships, are not permitted to be legally married. Geisha who have retired may be married and may still work at Willow Garden to help train, dress or otherwise support the working geisha.
As artists of any other media, geisha may attract a patron who pays for some or all of their expenses. This is rare in modern times. A patron's support may engage the geisha in more personal services than the temporary company usually purchased.
As of 2019, when Himawari opened, there is a contract between Willow Garden and Himawari to provide geisha and maiko for regular events. Willow Garden hopes this partnership exposes more people to the beautiful world of geisha and is pleased to have a venue for training maiko.

Alternative Names

柳園

Parent Location

Okinami