In feudal Japan, male infidelity was not taboo and men often sought sexual pleasure and romance in “pleasure quarters.” Over time, the courtesans of these districts became accomplished dancers, singers, calligraphers, poets and musicians. Some sold sexual favors, but many specialized solely in their art form.
Traditional geisha culture emerged in 8th Century Kyoto. By the 19th Century, fashionable Japanese women often emulated geisha style.