Pop Japan

The woman on the left is an oiran, not a geisha.

Compared to a geisha, she has more presence. She needed this to attract more men who would be good for business. She has a more elaborate kimono, more intricate front obi or sash, more delicate hairdo, higher geta heels and more graceful movements.

Like geishas, they are also trained and "cultured" to be worthy of the price they are paid for with every customer. Apparently, oiran houses got shut down by the Japanese government. This was the time that geishas caught the throne and the crown.

Photo by Konstantin Papushin from Buffalo Grove, USA. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en)

Tags: history, geisha, oiran, geisha vs oiran, edo period, arts, tradition, japan, culture, japanese government