in-house geisha; geisha working on premises
Refers to a geisha who lives and works directly in a restaurant, inn, or similar establishment, rather than being called from an external geisha house (置屋). This arrangement was more common in the past.
In the past, some inns had in-house geisha.
An in-house geisha has a different status from a geisha dispatched from a geisha house.
General term for a geisha, regardless of working arrangement. 内芸者 specifies the in-house type.
A geisha house that dispatches geisha to external venues; the opposite arrangement to 内芸者.
Standard modern spelling.
Contains outdated kanji 藝; rarely used today.
Compound of 内 (uchi, 'inside, within') and 芸者 (geisha, 'geisha'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term straightforwardly describes a geisha who works inside a particular establishment.