49 and uneasiness because of the incoming Allied Force people, especially
American people, to their land. As the result, all activities included geisha activity being ceased. And
geisha culture itself was stopped developing due to government warning and also due most of geisha are working in the factory, leaving their identity as
geisha aside. We can see from the following quotation: The war ended for us in August 1945. Most anyone who lived in
Japan during this time will tell you that it was the very bleakest moment in a long night of darkness. Our country wasn
‘t simply defeated, it was destroyed
—and I don‘t mean by all the bombs, as horrible as those were. When your country has lost a war and an
invading army pours in, you feel as though you yourself have been led to the execution ground to kneel, hands bound, and wait for the
sword to fall. During a period of a year or more, I never once heard the sound of laughter. Golden, 1997: 349
As Japan surrendered to Allied Force, many Allied Force soldiers came to Japan. The incoming of foreigner caused an awkward situation to
Japanese people on what should they do, and how they should react. As the result, everyone that lived on this era felt oppressed and their freedoms were taken.
4.3.1.4 At 1948
The situation at this time was grown much better than when Japan surrendered 3 years before. Allied Force people, especially American, had
already accepted by Japanese people and lived together in peace. Around this year, Most of geisha district already opened and many
geisha went back to their Okiya. Sayuri decided to come back to Gion
50 because of Nobu
‘s request, and at the same time, Mother also decided to re- open Okiya Nitta again. We can see from the following quotation:
The next day I said a tearful farewell and went back to Gion, where Mother, Auntie, and I set about the task of putting things back in
order. When I ‘d had a look around the okiya, the thought crossed my
mind that the house itself was punishing us for our years of neglect. Golden, 1997:357
After several years lived on Mr. Arashino and to avoid the war, finally Sayuri back to Gion, and re-open the okiya along with Mother and
Auntie. Their main task after they opened the okiya was to clean-up and set everything on okiya to normal. The condition in the okiya was very messed-
up because they abandoning it for years.
4.3.1.5 At 1956
At this time, situation in Japan had much better than several years ago after World War II. Japan had established a good relation with U.S too.
Because of that Japan economy, culture, and education were growing rapidly. Around this time, due Chairman and her circumstance, Sayuri was
moving to New York City. Sayuri opened a small teahouse, and later she lived there for the rest of her life. We can see from the following quotation:
However, in 1956 circumtance in her life led Sayuri to emigrate to the United States. For her remaining forty years, she was resident of
New York City ‘s Waldorf Towers, where she created for herself an
elegant Japanese-style suite on thirty-second floor. Goldem: 1997, 2
51
4.3.2 Setting of Place 4.3.2.1 Kyoto
