History Literature / MemoirsOfAGeisha

* AdaptationalUgliness: An extremely downplayed example. Hatsumomo is just as gorgeous in the film as in the book, but in the latter she is always seen dressed up; her pride would not allow her to be seen casually at all. Sayuri in fact never sees her hair down [[spoiler: until she departs the okiya]], as it is always up and styled with ornaments. The movie's Hatsumomo is seen in various states of undress many times.
* AgeLift: In the novel, Mameha says she's three years younger than Hatsumomo (and at one point, falls back on this when she needs something nasty to say to her). In the film, Mameha is portrayed as older and more womanly, while Hatsumomo looks younger and more like TheVamp. Ironically Hatsumomo's actress was only a handful of years younger, but appears to be playing her far younger than her age.

* StarCrossedLovers: A geisha is never meant to fall in love with any man, so Sayuri is in quite a bind when it comes to her love for the Chairman.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment Let's just say that]] Golden took a ''lot'' of [[RuleOfDrama creative]] [[HollywoodHistory liberties]] with the story to turn it part-fairy tale, part-historical fiction. He based the story off interviews with famed geisha Mineko Iwasaki, though Iwasaki herself was never abused and willingly became a geisha out of true passion (her required separation from her doting parents, though voluntary, was still [[TearJerker no less heartbreaking]]), and unlike other maiko, never had to sell her virginity, her mizuage a purely symbolic ritual. She was also involved with an older, married man, but he ultimately passed away from cancer and she married a man her own age. Golden's artistic liberties caused an infamous amount of flak from Iwasaki, who was angered by the story's alleged preoccupation of sex that, being supposedly based on her life, inaccurately made her look like a prostitute.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: [[TheVamp Hatsumomo]], a viciously temperamental tramp who is associated with fire, tends to wear red and black; Sayuri, a demure {{Determinator}} who is associated with water and patience, wears [[TrueBlueFemininity]]; Mameha, who is older, more stately, and keeps herself and Sayuri grounded, wears [[CloserToEarth pale greens and stone greys]].

* LiteraryAgentHypothesis: Sayuri's memoirs were, according to the "Translator's Note", recorded and translated by a Dutch immigrant and college professor, Jakob Haarhuis. Haarhuis plays no other role in the story, he's just there to establish the setting.

* ThisIsUnforgiveable: Nobu is angry at Sayuri for much of the book for taking General Tottori as her Danna, even though Sayuri tries to explain it wasn't her choice. Later, when the Minister expresses interest in becoming her new Danna, Nobu tells Sayuri in no uncertain terms that he would never speak to her again if she associated with the Minister in that way. This gives Sayuri the idea to do just that in order to prevent Nobu from becoming her Danna.

* AdaptationaUgliness: An extremely downplayed example. Hatsumomo is just as gorgeous in the film as in the book, but in the former she is always seen dressed up; her pride would not allow her to be seen casually at all. Sayuri in fact never sees her hair down [[spoiler: until she departs the okiya]], as it is always up and styled with ornaments. The movie's Hatsumomo is seen in various states of undress many times.

* AgeLift: In the novel, Mameha says she's three years younger than Hatsumomo (and at one point, falls back on this when she needs something nasty to say to her). In the film, Mameha is portrayed as older and more womanly, while Hatsumomo looks younger and more like TheVamp.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: [[TheVamp Hatsumomo]], a viciously temperamental tramp who is associated with fire, tends to wear red and black; Sayuri, a demure {{Determinatoe}} who is associated with water and patience, wears [[TrueBlueFemininity]]; Mameha, who is older, more stately, and keeps herself and Sayuri grounded, wears [[CloserToEarth pale greens and stone greys]].

* HelloNurse: Typical reaction to a beautiful geisha. In the film, Mameha teaches Sayuri that getting a man to stop walking and stare at you is a skill a true geisha must have.

* WorldWarTwo: Takes place during this time

* GrayEyes: Sayuri's eyes are an unnatural gray, which are commented on several times and overall make her stand out.

* WhatBeautifulEyes: One of the most striking features about Sayuri is her gray eyes.

* PosthumousNarration / PosthumousCharacter: Odd case: Sayuri dictated her memoirs before her, but the prologue established that she didn't want them published until after she and several key players in her life were already deceased. It's pretty fair to say that most if not all of the characters in the book had died by the time it was published. In fact, it's noted in the 'Translator's Note' that Sayuri outlived all the others.

** Despite everything Mameha goes through for him, the Baron refuses to use his influence to get her somewhere safe when the war breaks out, even though as her Danna it's his responsibility.

* NiceToTheWaiter: Mameha makes a point of being kind and respectful to even the lowest maids, because she understands that she owes her success to everyone who thinks well of her. Sayuri also acts in a similar manner, although it's less clear whether she was taught this or if it's because she can empathise with them.

* PosthumousNarration / PosthumousCharacter: Odd case: Sayuri dictated her memoirs before her death ([[CaptainObvious obviously]]), but the prologue established that she didn't want them published until after she and several key players in her life were already deceased. It's pretty fair to say that most if not all of the characters in the book had died by the time it was published. In fact, it's noted in the 'Translator's Note' that Sayuri outlived all the others.

** In the book, Mother and Granny are described as quite ugly--one of them with yellow teeth and red eyes, the other with skin ruined from bad geisha makeup. In the movie, they look like perfectly normal older women.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Sayuri becomes this to Pumpkin eventually, and Pumpkin resents her for it.

* BeautyIsBad: Hatsumomo is utterly beautiful but a terrible person.

* BreakTheCutie: Poor Pumpkin.

* ButtMonkey: Pumpkin.

* CinderellaCircumstances

* EvilCounterpart: Hatsumomo to Mameha.

* ExtremeDoormat: Sayuri, at first.
** She gets into a lot of trouble for being disobedient as Chiyo, however.

* ForegoneConclusion: Sayuri will never be reunited with Satsu, because if they had successfully ran away together, then Chiyo would have never become Sayuri and never became a geisha.

* GenerationXerox: The eventual fates of Sayuri and Pumpkin aren't that different from their mentors, Mameha and Hatsumomo.

* [[GrayEyes Gray-Blue Eyes]]: Sayuri, which makes her stand out.
* HairTriggerTemper: Nobu. Even around Sayuri, he's still pretty touchy.
* HelloNurse: Typical reaction to a beautiful geisha.

* HollywoodHistory: The book is meant to be a fairy tale combined with historical fiction, complete with a beautiful rags-to-riches Cinderella, a mysterious Prince Charming, and a sort of wicked stepmother -- which would be fine, except the book gives the impression of being a biography and based on real life, though it's pure fiction and contains many inaccuracies and inconsistencies, making most casual readers with no background to real geisha believe that it's all 100% true, much to the chagrin of those with prior interest. The one most aficionados would name first is the auctioning of the virginity of maiko about to graduate as geiko.[[labelnote:*]]Note that the selling of a maiko's virginity ''was'' practice at the time, but was done much more tastefully and discreetly, not at all like an auction as in the film. It was also not necessarily ubiquitous, as Iwesaki's mizuage was a symbolic ritual instead of a sale of her virginity.[[/labelnote]]

* {{Jerkass}}: Hatsumomo, who gets away with it because she's the okiya's breadwinner. This gradually gets subverted in the novel however, as Mother's patience starts to wear thin after Hatsumomo stops bringing in as much money as she once had.
** Sayuri considers the true turning point for her and Hatsumomo when she discovers the broach that Hatsumomo had accused her of stealing years ago. Hatsumomo assumes that Sayuri will again be accused of stealing from her and have to pay her back, telling Mother that she discovered it in Sayuri's makeup box and that Sayuri has been keeping a journal with less than flattering portrayals of Mother. When she is unable to find the journal, Mother tells her she will have to repay Sayuri for accusing her of stealing the broach and have to pay for the tatami mats that she ruined after she cut her foot. Hatsumomo discovers her plan for ruining Sayuri's life will never come to pass and laughs in defeat.

* KickTheDog: Mother sells a kimono one of Sayuri's clients gave her as a present, and when Sayuri complains she had no right to do so, she replies that everything Sayuri owns, the okiya therefore owns too. Sayuri is so annoyed about this that she sleeps with Yasuda in retaliation, something Mother explicitly told her not to do.

* KimonoFanService: All three kinds.

* NaiveNewcomer: Sayuri at first.

* PosthumousNarration / PosthumousCharacter: Odd case: Sayuri dictated her memoirs before her death ([[CaptainObvious obviously]]), but the prologue established that she didn't want them published until after she and several key players in her life were already deceased. It's pretty fair to say that most if not all of the characters in the book had died by the time it was published.
** In fact, it's noted in the 'Translator's Note' that Sayuri outlived all the others.
* PurpleProse: A lot. But the author makes it work.

* TheResenter: [[spoiler:Pumpkin becomes this to Sayuri. Really, can you blame her?]]

* SceneryPorn: Kyoto, Japan. Cherry blossoms. 'Nuff said.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: The Baron.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Chairman and Nobu.
* StarCrossedLovers: A geisha is never meant to fall in love with any man.

* TheTalk: Mameha illustrates the facts of life for Sayuri. It involves eels and caves. ("Every once in a while, a man's eel likes to visit a woman's cave.")
** [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Best. Sex. Talk. Ever.]] (The unusual way Mameha explains it is because it was explained the same way to her by her own mentor.)

* TruthInTelevision: A maiko often did sell her virginity to the highest bidder as a coming-of-age ritual, though this was done very discreetly and tastefully, not like an auction. This was not necessarily required, as Iwasaki (who the book is based on) did not, which is why she got irritated when Golden made it seem inevitable.

* TwoFaced: Nobu.

* YourCheatingHeart: The Chairman is already married when he meets Sayuri.
** In Japanese culture at the time (and somewhat today) this wasn't remotely a big deal. Most of their clientele were married with families, due to the prevelance of arranged marriages back then. In the present day scenes, Sayuri actually keeps some facts quiet out of respect for the Chairman's family.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment Let's just say that]] Golden took a ''lot'' of [[RuleOfDrama creative]] [[HollywoodHistory liberties]] with the story to turn it part-fairy tale, part-historical fiction. He based the story off interviews with famed geisha Mineko Iwasaki, though Iwasaki herself was never abused and willingly became a geisha out of true passion (her required separation from her doting parents, though voluntary, was still [[TearJerker no less heartbreaking]]), and unlike other maiko, never had to sell her virginity, her mizuage a purely symbolic ritual. She was also involved with an older, married man, but he ultimately passed away from cancer and she married a man her own age. Golden's artistic liberties caused an infamous amount of flak from Iwasaki, who was angered by the story's alleged preoccupation of sex that, being supposedly based on her life, inaccurately made her look like a prostitute.

* AlphaBitch: Hatsumomo, who rules the okiya with an iron fist and thinks nothing of abusing those who can't fight back.

* TriangRelations: Nobu is in love with Sayuri, who is in love with the Chairman, who is Nobu's business partner.

* NotSoDifferent: Hatsumomo and Sayuri. Hatsumomo is what Sayuri could have been if she had not been able to have a relationship with the Chairman. In the films, Sayuri says "I could be her. Were we so different? She loved once. She hoped once. I might be looking into my own future." However as Sayuri said, the real future fell from the air (World War Two)

** Sayuri considers the true turning point for her and Hatsumomo when she discovers the broach that Hatsumomo had accused her of stealing years ago. Hatsumomo assumes that Sayuri will again be accused of stealing from her and have to pay her back, telling Mother that she discovered it in Sayuri's makeup box and that Sayuri has been keeping a journal with less than flattering portrayals of Mother. When she is unable to find the journal, Mother tells her she will have to repay Sayuri for accusing her of stealing the broach and have to pay for the tatami mats that she ruined after she cut her foot. Hatsumom discovers her plan for ruining Sayuri's life will never come to pass and laughs in defeat.

** [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Best. Sex. Talk. Ever.]] (The unusual way Mameha explains it is because it was explained the same way to her by her own mentor.)

* AlphaBitch: Hatsumomo.

* IndenturedServitude: Saiyuri is sold to an okiya to become a geisha. She works there and her service pays off the expenses of her sumptuous kimono, wigs, and other items she needs to become a full geisha.

** Sayuri considers the true turning point for her and Hatsumom when she discovers the broach that Hatsumomo had accused her of stealing years ago. Hatsumomo assumes that Sayuri will again be accused of stealing from her and have to pay her back, telling Mother that she discovered it in Sayuri's makeup box and that Sayuri has been keeping a journal with less than flattering portrayals of Mother. When she is unable to find the journal, Mother tells her she will have to repay Sayuri for accusing her of stealing the broach and have to pay for the tatami mats that she ruined after she cut her foot. Hatsumom discovers her plan for ruining Sayuri's life will never come to pass and laughs in defeat.

* VillainousBreakdown: Deliberately exacerbated by Mameha.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: Sayuri and Pumpkin. However, once Hatsumomo took Pumpkin in and Sayuri was adopted by Mother when she became popular as a geisha, Pumpkin became jealous of Sayuri, even betraying her at one point.

* AManIsNotAVirgin: Or in this case, a woman. Sayuri states she found Pumpkin childish after losing her virginity while Pumpkin had not and found other maiko who had more relatable.

* HumiliationConga: [[spoiler:Hatsumomo starts to lose it when Sayuri becomes a more successful Geisha than she is. Noticing this, Mameha tries her damndest to make it worse for her. She eventually [[FreakOut succeeds]].]]

* MayDecemberRomance: The Chairman is in his 40s when he first meets Sayuri when she is a pre-teen, and yet she pines for him. Likewise, Nobu has one-sided affection for Sayuri and is about the same age as the Chairman. In the novel, Chiyo and Satsu's mother is implied to be a lot younger than their father because he remarried after his first wife died. In fact, Sayuri's one night hook-up with Yasuda (who is in his 20s) when she is 19 and brief fling with a man during [=WW2=] are some of the only examples that avert this trope.

* NoNameGiven: "Dr. Crab", Granny, and Auntie. We do know that Granny and Auntie's surname is Nitta, same as Sayuri's and Mother's. Mother's name is briefly mentioned in the novel.