置屋(おきや)

おきや
noun
geisha house; establishment that houses and manages geisha
1. geisha house; establishment that manages geisha
A house or establishment where geisha live and train. The okiya owns the geisha's kimono and accessories, arranges their engagements, and manages their careers. The proprietress is called okāsan (mother).
彼女(かのじょ)は置屋(おきや)で芸(げい)を磨(みが)いた。
She honed her artistic skills at the geisha house.
京都(きょうと)の花街(かがい)には今(いま)も置屋(おきや)がある。
There are still geisha houses in Kyoto's entertainment districts.
舞妓(まいこ)は置屋(おきや)のお母(かあ)さんのもとで修行(しゅぎょう)する。
Apprentice geisha train under the mother of the geisha house.

Composed of 置(お)く (to place, to keep) and 屋(や) (house, shop). In the geisha world, the 置屋(おきや) functions as both home and management agency. Young women enter an 置屋(おきや) to begin training as 舞妓(まいこ) (apprentice geisha) before becoming full 芸妓(げいこ)/芸者(げいしゃ).

KEY ROLES:

  • お母(かあ)さん: the proprietress ("mother") who runs the 置屋(おきや)
  • 舞妓(まいこ): apprentice geisha
  • 芸妓(げいこ)/芸者(げいしゃ): full geisha
  • お姉(ねえ)さん: senior geisha who mentors newcomers

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 置屋(おきや)に入(はい)る: to enter a geisha house (begin training)
  • 置屋(おきや)のお母(かあ)さん: the geisha house mother
  • 置屋(おきや)を出(で)る: to leave a geisha house (become independent)

CULTURAL NOTE:
The 置屋(おきや) system is central to Japan's traditional geisha culture. While the number of 置屋(おきや) has declined, they still operate in Kyoto's five 花街(かがい) (Gion, Pontochō, etc.) and other traditional entertainment districts.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 花街(かがい): geisha district, entertainment quarter
  • お茶屋(ちゃや): teahouse where geisha entertain (distinct from 置屋(おきや))
  • 舞妓(まいこ): apprentice geisha (Kyoto term)
  • 芸者(げいしゃ): geisha
general
Added 2026.4.8 16:51
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