Local News

In the past, Kurume has been dubbed the “3-sha town”, alluding to the 3 kinds of “-sha” the city is known for: “isha” (doctors), “jitensha” (bicycles) and “geisha”. At the beginning of the Showa period (1926~), there were over 350 geisha in Kurume, however the culture was deserted after WW2, and geisha slowly disappeared. Now, a Kurume group “Bunkagai Sakurakai” have started a geisha revival. Seven volunteers have begun training to become geisha, under the geisha group name of “Kurume Sakuraiki-sha”. On Dec. 20, there will be an introductory presentation about the geisha project. The geisha will perform for the first time in April 2013, at the Sakura Festival. They will visit hotels and high class Japanese restaurants to perform for small audiences after the festival. For more information, call the Sakurakai Office on 0942-33-0214. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 12/19, http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/339580, http://www.facebook.com/bunkagaisakurakai

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