Exotic, sensuous, exquisitely mysterious. For centuries, the seductive grace of the Japanese geisha has fascinated and confounded outsiders who have attempted to fathom this secretive world of tradition, intrigue, and pleasure. Now, enter a realm once known only to the rich and powerful. Go beyond the popular Western misconception of the geisha as little more than a high-priced call girl, and discover the 400-year history of a profession where women devoted decades to the mastery of music, conversation, and the fine art of massaging the male ego. Witness the darker side of the geisha, from tales of sexual treachery and suicide to their role in the fall of a hierarchy of political leaders as recently as 1989.