Tag Archives: Role Play

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Preludes: And I Was Alone

a 100 word story by Yordie Sands
copyright © 2013

I was no longer geisha Suzuki, I used my real name again. I had a home of my own because my patron wanted this for me.

The garden was named Yordie’s Zen Garden. And in this place I discovered something I loved about myself, I found I could express my sense of beauty through my work. Many visitors came from the hanamachi and each day I enjoyed welcoming them.

I never saw my benefactor again but one day the attorney returned. Sadly, my danna had become ill and passed away. He left me his final poem. And I was alone.

Yordie Sands writer, photographer

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Preludes: The Zen Garden

a 100 word story by Yordie Sands
copyright © 2013

When I was a little girl I saw my first tea garden. I was charmed by the teahouse and the Zen rock garden. I visited there often and always found joy.

In the hanamachi, wherever I found a tiny patch of ground I often played at creating a garden from rocks and twigs. As a maiko, I chose Zen gardens as the topic of my study paper.

I didn’t know why my danna had given me this enchanting garden. Though unsure, I decided to create a rock garden next to the teahouse. I spent many hours working and found peace.

Yordie Sands Photography

Yordie’s Zen Garden @ Chodron:
Rock garden next to the teahouse.

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Preludes: My Danna

a 100 word story by Yordie Sands
copyright © 2013

When I became maiko I lived the life of an aspiring geisha. I performed for and served the many businessmen and samurai who visited our okiya.

One day I entertained a distinguished businessman who seemed to admire me. He spoke to me with encouragement, “You have learned your skills well.”

Days later I was informed by okaasan that my debt to the okiya had been paid. That same day a lawyer told me I have a patron, then took me to a garden on the northern side of the hanamachi. He said, “This is a gift from your danna.”

Yordie Sands Photographer

Yordie’s Japanese garden

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Preludes: Our Okiya

a 100 word story by Yordie Sands
copyright © 2013

The hanamachi was the oldest of all the flower towns and our okiya was the largest. We had five geisha and many apprentices.

The teahouse was open each day and we performed many geisha shows each month. Men came into our floating world to be entertained, but my life revolved around the world of sisters. I felt close to my sisters and our fates seemed intertwined.

In time I came to realize that my new onesan was a troubled and deceitful woman. And one day I learned that she was the very woman who had driven my first onesan away.

Inside the secret world of our okiya.

Inside the Yoshiwara geisha house, our okiya.

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Preludes: My Onesans

a 100 word story by Yordie Sands
copyright © 2013

I studied diligently as apprentice geisha despite my onesan’s absences. My big sister couldn’t get along with other geisha sisters. I was saddened when my onesan left one day. And I was shocked to see several sisters gleefully mocking her as she walked away.

Our okaasan was a good mother but didn’t see the mischief in our okiya. She said, “Because your onesan left you may choose a new one.” I was happy because there was a geisha I wanted as my onesan. Yet, I chose another because she needed me; she said her little sister had left her.

Yordie Sands portrays apprentice geisha Suzuki

I was a mere minari dancing to earn my keep.