Geiko Emiyuki 笑幸 from Otsu and Tayû Aoi 葵 from Kyoto, November 2020 For several years, I thought Yûko 夕子 was the only Geiko working in Otsu and when she retired around 2018, the city was left without any Geiko again. However, in 2020, at least two Geiko were working in the city: Emika 笑加, 90 years old at this time, and Emiyuki (pictured above). Emika's parents owned an Ochaya and initially, she didn't want to become a Geiko, but a teacher. She learned to read and write, opposed to most Geiko at the time of her debut, who only attended primary school. This makes me wonder how much truth there is to the statement that Yûko revived the Otsu Hanamachi when she started working there in 2012 and was the only Geiko in the entire city until her retirement...
