Geisha Could Retire Wealthy
Despite the blow to the trade’s reputation in the mid-1900s, the industry prevailed, and geisha made a lifelong career in their craft. But geisha can choose to retire at any time. Geisha had several avenues for retirement. Some geisha conducted long-term affairs with their danna. Danna, upon winning his bid, paid off the geisha’s remaining debt to the okiya, carefully tracked through the years by the ‘mother.’ Danna provided everything a geisha needed to operate independently – or retire altogether in wealth and style.
Some danna relationships were physical; to what extent this occurred is undocumented. Former maiko Kiyaho Kiritaka says this type of relationship still happens. Geisha could retire with the support of a wealthy client. Geisha were also free to marry, and could leave the life on her own terms. But she had to be debt free and marrying meant leaving service forever – geisha cannot be married.
