Why are their faces so white? Geisha perform in Taiwan — 3 key questions travelers always ask

▲ Yui, a geisha from Kanazawa, performs in Taiwan, singing the piece “Kurokami,” which expresses a woman’s jealousy.

Reported by You t
ru / Taipei

To attract both domestic and international tourists to Taiwan’s travel and vacation market, the Beitou Nikko Kaga Hotel occasionally invites geisha to provide guests with a chance to enjoy kaiseki cuisine while experiencing traditional Japanese culture. Nikko Kaga Hotel Director Tokumitsu Nobuhiro said that Taiwanese tourists watching geisha performances often have three most common questions that need clarification. “For example, ‘Why are the geisha’s faces so white?’ is a question many people always ask.”


▲ Illustration of a geisha performance. The three geisha shown have all performed in Taiwan, with the one in the center being Yui from the Nishitei teahouse in Kanazawa, whose delicate performance is truly admirable.

To convey traditional Japanese culture, the Nikko Kaga Hotel frequently invites geisha to perform. After watching the shows, Taiwanese tourists often have questions. Tokumitsu Nobuhiro said the three most frequently asked questions are: “Do geisha wear wigs?” “How long does it take to put on a kimono?” and “Why do they paint their faces so white?” This shows how curious Taiwanese tourists are about geisha.

Question 1: Do geisha wear wigs?
Answer: Before Showa 20 (1945), geisha did indeed use their own hair, but nowadays, for neatness and convenience, all wigs are artificial.

Question 2: How long does it take to put on a kimono?
Answer: Many guests guess it takes over three hours, but in fact, geisha only need 40 minutes to an hour to complete all the dressing and makeup. In some cases, it can even be done in just half an hour.

Question 3: Why do geisha paint their faces so white?
Answer: 400 years ago, there were no electric lights. When performing outdoors at night, they could only rely on moonlight, and indoors only candlelight. Painting their faces white allowed guests to see them more clearly.