Mayu adjusts Koiku's kimono, both of who are geisha, as Koiku wears a protective face mask to pose for a photograph, before working at a party being hosted by customers, where they will entertain with other geisha, at Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. "My father really didn't understand geisha, he thought it was like the sex trade. He opposed me so violently I thought it would tear the family apart", said Mayu. "After six years I just gave up and left", she added. "When he saw our first performance, and how hard we work, he came backstage and went to his knees and bowed really low ... Now he's a huge fan." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Tokijyo Hanasaki, a jiutamai dancer, poses for a photograph behind a laptop playing a musical performance which was filmed in advance in order to avoid physical contact, to accompany Hanasaki's dance performance for a film being made that is supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan government in order to support artists during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at a studio in Tokyo, Japan, June 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Ikuko, who is a geisha, sits in her home as she speaks on the phone, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, July 11, 2020. "Our income has been down to zero", Ikuko said. "I have a bit of wherewithal, but it's been very hard for the younger ones. The geisha association has helped with rent." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku, who is a geisha, wears a protective face mask to pose for a photograph, before working at a party being hosted by customers, where she will entertain with other geisha, at Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Tokijyo Hanasaki, a jiutamai dancer, performs a dance routine for a film supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan government in order to support artists during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at a studio in Tokyo, Japan, June 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Ikuko, who is a geisha, wears an apron printed with Kumamon, a mascot created by the government of the Kumamoto Prefecture where she was born, before working at a party being hosted by customers, where she will entertain with other geisha at Asada, a luxury restaurant, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku, Maki and Ikuko, who are geisha, get into a taxi as they make their way to work at a party being hosted by customers at a luxury restaurant, where they will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. 

Mitsunaga Kanda, a makeup artist and Yurie Hatanaka, a wig stylist, wear protective face masks and face shields as they work on Tokijyo Hanasaki, a jiutamai dancer, before he dances for a film being made that is supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan government in order to support artists during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at a studio in Tokyo, Japan, June 29, 2020. "Every single one of my events has been cancelled", said Kanda. "We touch their skin and their face, all over, and while we don't talk we're very close - something we're very aware of now." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku and Mayu, who are geisha, enter Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant where their customers are hosting a party, which they will be entertaining at with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. "We arrange things in the largest room possible", said Shota Asada, the owner of Asada. "Anything to keep this culture alive." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku and Maki, who are geisha, clean Ikuko's living room before they have lunch together at Ikuko's home, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo, Japan, July 11, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Restaurant staff wear protective face masks as they stand on the street with Ikuko as they wait for another geisha to arrive outside Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant, where the geisha will work at a party being hosted by customers, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku who is a geisha, gets into a taxi as she makes her way to work at a party being hosted by customers at a restaurant, where she will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A kimono dresser helps Koiku, who is a geisha, put on her kimono as Koiku gets ready at Ikuko's home to work at a party being hosted by customers at a restaurant, where she will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku, Mayu, Maki and Ikuko, who are geisha, have lunch together at Ikuko's home, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, July 11, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku paints the back of Mayu's neck, both of whom are geisha, as they get ready at Ikuko's home to work at a party being hosted by customers at a restaurant, where they will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku paints the back of Mayu's neck, both of whom are geisha, as they get ready at Ikuko's home to work at a party being hosted by customers at a restaurant, where they will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Senior geisha help Koiku put on a protective face mask to have a portrait photo taken of her wearing one for Reuters, before working at a party being hosted by customers, where she will entertain with other geisha, at Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Mayu and Koiku, who are geisha, wait for their customers, who are hosting a party at Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant, where they will entertain with other geisha, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Maki and Ikuko, who are geisha, perform a dance routine for Reuters, as they wait for customers to arrive, who are hosting a party where they will be entertaining with other geisha, at Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Makeup belonging to Maki, who is a geisha, is laid out as she gets ready at Ikuko's home to work at a party being hosted by customers at a luxury restaurant, where she will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Kimonos that will be worn by Maki, Mayu and Koiku, who are geisha, are hung up at Ikuko's home, in preparation for a party that they will be working at later that day, hosted by their customers at a luxury restaurant, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku, Maki, Ikuko and Mayu, who are geisha, perform a dance routine for Reuters, before they work at a party being hosted by customers at Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Mayu and Maki bow to Ikuko, who are all geisha, before making their way to work at a party being hosted by customers at a luxury restaurant, where they will be entertaining with other geisha, at Ikuko's home, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Mayu and Ikuko, who are geisha, get ready at Ikuko's home to work at a party being hosted by customers at a luxury restaurant, where they will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku, who is a geisha, gets ready at Ikuko's home to work at a party being hosted by customers at a luxury restaurant, where she will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. "I thought it was a world you couldn't enter unless you started training in your teens", said Koiku. "Of course traditional Japanese dance is completely different from ballet, and it was very hard for me to follow at first. It's still hard for me now." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Tokijyo Hanasaki, a jiutamai dancer, wears a face mask as she walks down a flight of stairs at a studio, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Ikuko, who is a geisha, gets ready at her home to work at a party being hosted by customers at a restaurant, where she will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. "When you sit close, you can talk with feeling, your passion comes through", Ikuko said. "When you're two metres apart, conversation breaks down." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Koiku, who is a geisha, folds a traditional umbrella made out of oli paper, as she arrives at a restaurant where she will work at a party hosted by her customers, where she will entertain, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Mayu, a geisha, uses a tablet to film other geisha practising a dance routine during a dance class for geisha only, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2020. "I was just full of anxiety", said Mayu. "I went through my photos, sorted my kimonos... The thought of a second wave is terrifying." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Maki, Ikuko, Mayu and Koiku, who are geisha, eat soba noodles at a restaurant after attending a dance class, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Maki, Mayu, Koiku and Ikuko, who are geisha, wear protective face masks as they walk to a restaurant after attending a dance class, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan. July 13, 2020. Ikuko fears an extended pandemic could prompt some geisha to quit. "Now is the worst of the worst", she said. "How are we going to get through? It'll take all of our body and soul." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Maki, Mayu, Ikuko and Koiku, who are geisha, greet Fujima Hideka, a dance master of Japanese traditional dance, after attending a dance class for geisha only, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Ikuko and Koiku, who are geisha, wear causal clothes as they chat at a cafe, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, July 11, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Mayu, Maki and Koiku, who are all geisha, practice a dance routine during a class for geisha only, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2020. "Sometimes we're so busy we go straight to practice without any sleep, but those times are way better than this", Mayu said. "When you have lots of time, you don't do anything." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Ikuko, who is a geisha, combs her wig in her living room as she gets ready to work at a party being hosted by customers at a luxury restaurant, where she will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. "There were more than 400 geisha in Akasaka when I came, so many I couldn't remember their names. But times changed", said Ikuko. Only 20 remain, and there aren't enough engagements to take on new apprentices - especially now. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Ikuko, who is a geisha, sits in front of a mirror in her living room as she gets ready to work at a party being hosted by customers at a luxury restaurant, where she will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Shoichi Sanagashi, a kimono dresser, wears a protective face mask as he dresses Tokijyo Hanasaki, a jiutamai dancer, before Hanasaki is recorded dancing for a film supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan government in order to support artists during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at a studio in Tokyo, Japan, June 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.