December 29th – On the 28th local time, the Xialu Municipal Government of Qifu Prefecture, Japan, announced the open recruitment of two geisha, who are civil servants, requiring them to be over 18 years old, hold a driver’s license, and can use computers for video editing.
According to a report by Japan’s Yomiuri Shimiuri Shimiuri Shimouri Shimori, the workplace of the position is Shimolu Onsen Hezhang Village, a municipal tourism agency in Shimolu City.
They will receive guidance from their predecessors, first learn basic etiquette, then learn traditional Japanese dance, participate in various activities, and wear kimonos in hot springs. Take a walk on the street and take a photo with tourists.
In the 1970s, there were about 150 geisha in Shimoru Onsen. However, with the development of Japanese travel culture, fewer and fewer groups invited geisha to banquets.
Although Shimoru City allocates 600,000 yen (about $5.1k) a year to support geisha groups, only two ages remain in active geisha. Women between 50 and 60 years old.
Yamanei Deng, mayor of Xialu City, said at a press conference on the 28th that qualified people will start working in April 2021 for a three-year term, hoping that this move will promote the inheritance of the local hot spring culture.
