During World War Two, the Japanese government placed harsh restrictions on its civilians, rationing food and closing down all the geisha districts in Japan. Despite local resistance against the Japanese occupation, Japan held onto Manchuria until the end of World War Two. In 1931, Japan invaded and annexed Manchuria, a region in northeast China. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of a fictional geisha working in Kyoto, Japan, before and after World War II. Memoirs of a Geisha is a historical novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. Sayuri also makes passing mention of Japan’s militaristic expansion into neighboring countries. (Book 93 From 1001 Books) - Memoirs of A Geisha, Arthur Golden. Sayuri, however, does not experience the effects of the Depression, since she works as a prominent geisha serving the wealthy elites of Japanese society. Here, Sayuri sleeps with the Minister to stop Nobu from being interested in her. She was a young girl, belonging to a fisherman, who grew up. The book opens by presenting the geisha’s life and family before coming to Gion.

We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Sayuris first plane trip occurs when she goes to a party on an island with Nobu, the Chairman, and a greasy old Minister. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. During the 1930s, a global economic depression affected almost every developed country in the world, including Japan. Mameha becomes a nurses aid, and Pumpkin works as a prostitute.

While the novel makes infrequent mention of world historical events, the majority of the plot occurs from the beginning of the Great Depression in Japan to the end of World War Two.

Memoires of a geisha