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From Geisha to Diva: The Kimonos of Ichimaru

The Art Gallery has just received a wonderful donation of kimonos worn by the geisha, Ichimaru, one of Japan’s greatest classical folk singers.

Ichimaru was born into a poor family and became a geisha in the 1920s and early 30s. She gained a reputation as an elegant and beautiful geisha who possessed a “nightingale-like voice”. She signed a recording contract with RCA Victor Records and expanded her popularity internationally, performing in beautiful and intricate kimonos from the 1930s to the 1970s.

The kimonos on display in From Geisha to Diva are preserved in pristine condition and provide excellent examples of the types of costumes she would have worn as a geisha during her career, showing different styles and decorations from this time. The exhibition will also include albums, souvenirs and memorabilia, as well as prints of Ichimaru and other woodblock prints illustrating the life of a geisha. An exhibition catalogue will be available.