There are many things that are characteristic of japan folklore, and Geishas are one of them. After the impact it had on Japanese history, it's no wonder it ended up like that .
Many of them share dramatic stories, because, to become a Geisha, you must sacrifice almost everything; for art
Geisha (written in japanese as 芸者, literally: person of arts) are traditional Japanese female entertainers who act as hostesses.
Their wide skills include performing various arts such as Japanese classical music and traditional dance, witty games and conversation, traditionally to entertain male customers.
now, I know what are you thinking "what about geishas selling their bodies to customers? I've seen Memoirs of a Geisha!!" now we are going to get to the topic
"In 1872, shortly after the Meiji Restoration, the new government passed a law liberating "prostitutes (shōgi) and geisha (geigi)". The wording of this statute was the subject of controversy. Some officials thought that prostitutes and geisha worked at different ends of the same profession—selling sex— and that all prostitutes should henceforth be called "geisha". In the end, the government decided to maintain a line between the two groups, arguing that geisha were more refined and should not be soiled by association with prostitutes."
There were also some kind of sex worker known as "Geisha Girls" during the American ocupation of Japan, they dressed as geisha but with more cheap and class-less kimono (dresses) and make up, and didn't had anything to do with art (like a true geisha would) and Americans, who couldnt tell the difference, fell for the trick.
These might be the reasons of this misconception about geishas as sex workers.
did you know?...
-Originally, the white base mask was made with lead; after the discovery that it poisoned the skin; towards the end of the Meiji Era, it was replaced with rice powder.
-Geishas were originally crossdressing men! (in modern times they are called Taikomochi)
