Nakamura, Kiharu (1913–2004)

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Nakamura, Kiharu (1913–2004)

Japanese geisha. Born Kazuko Ihara Yamamoto, 1913, on the island of Hokkaido, Japan; grew up in Tokyo; died Jan 5, 2004, in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY; dau. of a physician; m. Shintaro Ota (Japanese diplomat, div.); married Masaya Nakamura (photographer, div.); children: son Masakatsu Ota.

Former geisha, one of the few to learn English, entertained distinguished visitors in Tokyo, such as Charlie Chaplin, Babe Ruth and Jean Cocteau; wrote 10 books, including a bestselling memoir of her experiences, Edokko Geisha Ichidai-ki (The Memoir of a Tokyo-born Geisha, 1983); was also the 1st woman in Japan to gain a pilot's license; moved to NY (1956), where she became a well-known consultant for plays and films about her profession. A tv mini-series based on her life was broadcast in Japan.