« Geisha E: when we were young apprentices, sometimes we’d have to play “Shallow River” at a party. We were made to lift our skirts up all the way then.

Geisha A: I cried because of “Shallow River” when I was young too.

Geisha D: The shamisen player wouldn’t stop until we lifted our skirts all the way up. She started out slowly, playing “Shallow River”, then got faster and faster, playing higher and higher.

Geisha B: The guests watched with big grins, saying “Where’s the hair? Where’s the hair?”

Geisha A: They wanted to see some pussy, and until they did they made us go on, drinking sake and leering all the while.

Interviewer: But weren’t you wearing panties?

Geisha D: Oh no, we were dancers. A line from panties showing through the kimono was disgraceful.

Geisha B: When I was made to do “Shallow River”, I was so ashamed I ran away crying and locked myself in the bathroom.

Interviewer: Did you show it?

Geisha B: I had to. The shamisen kept going on and on.

Geisha D: The poor young girls – some of them didn’t even have any grass grown in yet.

Interviewer: So what did they do?

Geisha D: before a party, they took a brush and black ink and drew grass all over their mounds. »