Fiona Graham: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Undid revision 437842724 by 203.173.182.135 (talk) take it to the talk page - especially if you are closely connected with the subject of this article
I have provided numerous valid citations - please stop removing them!
Tag: references removed
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Fiona Graham''' (born 1961<ref>Journal of Japanese Studies, Vol 32, No 2, Summer 2006</ref> in [[Melbourne]], Australia) is an Australian [[anthropologist]], [[Television producer|producer]] and [[Film director|director]] of anthropological [[Documentary film|documentaries]]. She worked in Tokyo's [[Asakusa]] district for three years as a ''[[geisha]]'' under the name {{Nihongo|'''Sayuki'''|紗幸||}}.<ref name="jt20110603">{{cite web |url= http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110303f3.html|title= Geisha cuts into kimono market|first= Alex|last= Martin|date= 3 June 2011|work= The Japan Times Online|publisher= The Japan Times Ltd. |location= Japan|format= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |accessdate= 6 June 2011}}</ref>
'''Fiona Graham''' is an Australian [[anthropologist]], [[Television producer|producer]] and [[Film director|director]] of anthropological [[Documentary film|documentaries]]. She worked in Tokyo's [[Asakusa]] district for more than three years as a geisha under the name {{Nihongo|'''Sayuki'''|紗幸||}}.<ref name="jt20110603">{{cite web |url= http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110303f3.html|title= Geisha cuts into kimono market|first= Alex|last= Martin|date= 3 June 2011|work= The Japan Times Online|publisher= The Japan Times Ltd. |location= Japan|format= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |accessdate= 6 June 2011}}</ref> Geisha do not reveal age according to geisha tradition. Sayuki is continuing to work as a geisha (www.sayuki.net, (The Australian, June 6, 2011 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6freaa3-1226069893463)


==Academic career==
==Academic career==
Line 7: Line 7:


==Geisha training==
==Geisha training==
In December 2007, after a year of preparation and training, Graham formally debuted as a ''geisha'' in the Asakusa District of Tokyo, after completing the normal preparation of around one year.<ref name="jt20080629">{{cite |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080629x3.html|title=Aussie geisha speaks out|date=29 June 2008|accessdate=3 June 2009|publisher=[[The Japan Times]]}}</ref> She claims to be the first western ''geisha'' in Japanese history (American [[Liza Dalby]] is credited as the first Western-born geisha).<ref name="tg20080124">{{cite |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/turning-japanese-the-first-foreign-geisha-773167.html|title=Turning Japanese: the first foreign geisha|date=24 January 2008|accessdate=2 June 2009|publisher=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> Graham took lessons in several arts, but her main art was ''yokobue'' (Japanese bamboo flute). Graham became a ''geisha'' as an academic project initially and continued for three years. In June 2011, it was reported that she had left the profession after repeated disputes with other geishas, who claimed she failed to follow customs and show proper deference to more experienced practitioners.<ref name="telegraph20110604">{{cite web |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8556540/First-ever-Western-geisha-leaves-the-sisterhood.html|title= First ever Western geisha leaves the 'sisterhood'|first= Julian|last= Ryall|date= 4 June 2011|work= The Telegraph|publisher= Telegraph Media Group Limited|location= Japan|format= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |accessdate= 6 June 2011}}</ref> In a June 2011 interview in ''[[The Australian]]'', Graham stated that the Asakusa Geisha Association had rejected her request to operate independently from December 2010 after the "mother" of her ''geisha'' house fell ill. She would however continue to operate as a ''geisha'' despite the refusal, possibly in a different ''geisha'' district.<ref name="australian20110606">{{cite web |url= http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6frg6nf-1226069744853|title= Aussie Geisha Fiona Graham rejects reports she's split with Asakusa Geisha Association |first= Rick |last= Wallace|date= 6 June 2011|work= The Australian|publisher= News Limited|location= Australia||archiveurl= |archivedate= |accessdate= 29 June 2011}}</ref>
In December 2007, after a year of preparation and training, Graham formally debuted as a geisha in the Asakusa District of Tokyo, after completing the normal preparation of around one year.<ref name="jt20080629">{{cite |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080629x3.html|title=Aussie geisha speaks out|date=29 June 2008|accessdate=3 June 2009|publisher=[[The Japan Times]]}}</ref> She is the first westerner to formally debut as a geisha (The Australian, June 6, 2011 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6freaa3-1226069893463). American Liza Dalby, who did fieldwork with geisha in Kyoto in the 1970s has never claimed to have been registered as a geisha, or to have formally debuted, and did not work or earn money as a geisha. Graham takes lessons in several arts, including shamisen and singing, but her main art is ''yokobue'' (Japanese bamboo flute). Graham became a geisha as an academic project for a year initially but decided to continue as she had only just debuted after the initial year. She continued as an Asakusa geisha for more than three years. In June 2011, one article cited a single anonymous geisha as saying that Graham had left after failing to follow customs and show proper deference to more experienced practitioners.<ref name="telegraph20110604">{{cite web |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8556540/First-ever-Western-geisha-leaves-the-sisterhood.html|title= First ever Western geisha leaves the 'sisterhood'|first= Julian|last= Ryall|date= 4 June 2011|work= The Telegraph|publisher= Telegraph Media Group Limited|location= Japan|format= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |accessdate= 6 June 2011}}</ref>This is not confirmed in any other article or by the Asakusa Geisha Assocation (The Australian, June 6, 2011 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6freaa3-1226069893463). In The Australian, Graham is cited as saying she left because her geisha mother was hospitalised and no longer able to keep her (The Australian, June 6, 2011 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6freaa3-1226069893463). By Asakusa Association rules geisha may apply to open their own geisha house after four years, but the Asakusa Association decided not to allow Graham to do this as she is a foreigner. Graham continues to work as a geisha in Tokyo and around Japan (www.sayuki.net). There are a number of geisha in Japan who are not affiliated to geisha associations and who work independently usually because there is no geisha association in the district in which they work. Graham also runs a kimono store, "Sayuki no Kimonoya", in Asakusa, Tokyo.<ref name="jt20110603"/>

Graham later opened a second-hand kimono store, "Sayuki no Kimonoya", in Asakusa, Tokyo.<ref name="jt20110603"/>


==Bibliography ==
==Bibliography ==
Line 26: Line 24:
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Sayuki
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Sayuki
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1961
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Melbourne, Australia
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Melbourne, Australia
| DATE OF DEATH =
| DATE OF DEATH =

Revision as of 21:09, 5 July 2011

Fiona Graham is an Australian anthropologist, producer and director of anthropological documentaries. She worked in Tokyo's Asakusa district for more than three years as a geisha under the name Sayuki (紗幸).[1] Geisha do not reveal age according to geisha tradition. Sayuki is continuing to work as a geisha (www.sayuki.net, (The Australian, June 6, 2011 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6freaa3-1226069893463)

Academic career

Graham first came to Japan at the age of 15 on a school exchange programme.[2]

She received a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford, and an M.B.A. from the same. Her first degrees in psychology and teaching were taken at Keio University, where Graham was the first Western woman to graduate.[3]

Geisha training

In December 2007, after a year of preparation and training, Graham formally debuted as a geisha in the Asakusa District of Tokyo, after completing the normal preparation of around one year.[4] She is the first westerner to formally debut as a geisha (The Australian, June 6, 2011 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6freaa3-1226069893463). American Liza Dalby, who did fieldwork with geisha in Kyoto in the 1970s has never claimed to have been registered as a geisha, or to have formally debuted, and did not work or earn money as a geisha. Graham takes lessons in several arts, including shamisen and singing, but her main art is yokobue (Japanese bamboo flute). Graham became a geisha as an academic project for a year initially but decided to continue as she had only just debuted after the initial year. She continued as an Asakusa geisha for more than three years. In June 2011, one article cited a single anonymous geisha as saying that Graham had left after failing to follow customs and show proper deference to more experienced practitioners.[5]This is not confirmed in any other article or by the Asakusa Geisha Assocation (The Australian, June 6, 2011 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6freaa3-1226069893463). In The Australian, Graham is cited as saying she left because her geisha mother was hospitalised and no longer able to keep her (The Australian, June 6, 2011 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/no-place-for-you-aussie-geisha-told/story-e6freaa3-1226069893463). By Asakusa Association rules geisha may apply to open their own geisha house after four years, but the Asakusa Association decided not to allow Graham to do this as she is a foreigner. Graham continues to work as a geisha in Tokyo and around Japan (www.sayuki.net). There are a number of geisha in Japan who are not affiliated to geisha associations and who work independently usually because there is no geisha association in the district in which they work. Graham also runs a kimono store, "Sayuki no Kimonoya", in Asakusa, Tokyo.[1]

Bibliography

  • Inside the Japanese Company by Fiona Graham, Curzon Press, 2003, ISBN 0-415-30670-1
  • A Japanese Company In Crisis: Ideology, Strategy, And Narrative (Contemporary Japan) by Fiona Graham, Routledge, 2005, ISBN 0-415-34685-1

References

  1. ^ a b Martin, Alex (3 June 2011). "Geisha cuts into kimono market". The Japan Times Online. Japan: The Japan Times Ltd. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. ^ Ryall, Julian (9 January 2008). "Westerner inducted into mysteries of geisha". The Telegraph. Japan: Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  3. ^ Ryall, Julian and Norrie, Justin (8 January 2008). "Australian academic is a geisha down to a tea". The Sydney Morning Herald.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Aussie geisha speaks out, The Japan Times, 29 June 2008, retrieved 3 June 2009
  5. ^ Ryall, Julian (4 June 2011). "First ever Western geisha leaves the 'sisterhood'". The Telegraph. Japan: Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 6 June 2011.

External links

Template:Persondata