53
4.3.2.4 Ichiriki Teahouse
Ichiriki Teahouse was the one of the best teahouse in all of Japan. This first-class teahouse was often visited by directors, aristocrats, and many
important people that came to Gion. Besides became a place where geisha entertained many high-class people, Ichiriki Teahouse also became one of the
places that geisha done certain ceremonies, like Mizuage and Sister adopting ceremony.
When Sayuri and Mameha had their ceremony to bid them as sister, they were done that in Ichiriki. We can see from the following quotation:
The ceremony was to take place at the Ichiriki Teahouse, which is certainly the best-known teahouse in all of Japan
… The ceremony, which was attended by the mistress of the Ichiriki, lasted only about
ten minutes Golden: 1997, 166-167
Sayuri often comes there to entertain, and to meet her friends, Nobu and Chairman. We can see from the following quotation:
The ceremony was to take place at the Ichiriki Teahouse, which is certainly the best-known teahouse in all of Japan. It has quite a
history, partyly because of a famous samurai who hid himself there in the early 1700s. If you
‘ve ever heard the story of the Forty-seven Ronin
—who avenged their master‘s death and afterward killed themselves by seppuku
—well, it was their leader who hid himself in the Ichiriki Teahouse while plotting revenge. Most of the first-class
teahouse in Gion are invisible from the street, except for their simple entrances, but the Ichiriki is as obvious as an apple on a tree. It sits at
a prominent corner of Avijo Avenue, surrounded by a smooth, apricot-colored wall with its own tiled roof. It seemed like a palace
to me. Golden, 1997: 167
54 As a popular geisha, Sayuri often entertained her patrons on Ichiriki
Teahouse. Most of Ichiriki ‘s guests were from rich and well-known people,
such as rich merchant, businessman, and even from Military. Iwamura Electric also often invited Sayuri to entertain them on Ichiriki Teahouse.
4.3.2.5 Gion
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