Asphodel

Abstract

Japan’s geisha tradition has all but disappeared; it survives mainly in the teahouses of Kyoto’s Gion district. Few people can afford the price of geisha entertainment, and even fewer are interested in studying to become geisha themselves. The quandary for teahouse owners is whether to compromise and modernize or rigorously maintain their traditions. Teahouse buildings are constructed of wood, bamboo, clay, and paper. They require constant maintenance and have limited potential for adaptive reuse.