A touching down-to-earth story about being a rural geisha that shows a different truth from the glamorous life of the Kyoto's geishas. Masuda-san is a remarkable woman that has experienced many hardships in her life but managed to stay true to herself.

I would advise to future readers to read the translator's introduction after Masudas story, because she just retells the story again. But as a reader you will want to hear the story from the Masuda herself not a third party.

A very good book.
I thought Masuda did a great job describing her life the many joys, losses, hardships, etc. A heartbreaking story of a Japanese low class Geisha.Her trials and trepidations,the cruelty that was imposed to her,makes this book sad and at the same time interesting.Most people only think of the Kyoto or Shimbashi Geisha, but this opens a person's eyes to the country geisha as well.
As for the footnotes I know it is distracting, but the weight of the book was light and it didn't bother me. I have a solution when the footnotes are at the back of the book, I photocopy the footnotes and have the copy as a bookmark.

I really enjoyed this translated account of Masuda's time as a hot-springs resort geisha and the years after ending her career. The author's notes were helpful and full of background information concerning culture, language (such as common phrases that don't translate well into English), and further insight into Masuda's memories. Overall, a pleasant and wonderfully honest story about the lesser known (meaning not the sophisticated Kyoto type) geisha in Japan.

Sayo Masuda was a good narrator, with humour and a lack of self-pity that made it easy to read. An unvarnished account of deprivation and prostitution.

Important.