2 Geisha's 1 Cup!

These are actually tourists dressed as Geisha...sorry!

So one thing that definitely is unique to Japan is Geisha.  Sure other countries have women who have had similar roles such as courtesans or escorts but the actual Japanese women who are trained in the music, art, kimono, make up and role of Geisha are unique to Japan.  Once, one of the major parts of Japanese society, Geisha were regarded as upper class, elite individuals with high intelligence and dedication.  They were set apart from "regular" Japanese women.  They were also high above the working girls hired out for prostitution.

The job a Geisha was not only to entertain the men who visited them, but to enhance the atmosphere and bring intelligent conversation and provide cultural entertainment such as dance and playing Japanese instruments like shamisen and koto.  Now, it is rare to see Geisha walking the streets in Kyoto as this form of employment is in decline. It still exists but is very hard to seek out.  Instead, girls are now "hostesses" which are girls who are paid to pour drinks, sit with men and create a pleasant atmosphere. The hostess is the modern Geisha who instead of sharing musical talent and intelligent conversation is more an object of beauty to admire and to stroke the men's egos.

The thing I find interesting about Geisha and their modern counterpart hostesses, is the fact that men will pay much more to be with these type of women than with normal prostitutes. Even though the prostitutes are cheaper and provide physical pleasure.  Geisha and hostess rarely have any physical relationship with their clients. And if they do, it doesn't come cheap.  Only in Japan...