One of the geishas came in front of me, and taking up a samisen, asked me to sing something.
"Botchan (Master Darling)"
Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume, trans. by Yasotaro Morri
Porcupine called "geisha, geisha," in a loud voice, and commanded; "Bang your samisen; I'm going to dance a sword-dance."
"Botchan (Master Darling)"
Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume, trans. by Yasotaro Morri
The geisha, with her face whitened with powder, and her lips painted a bright red, and her elaborately-dressed hair full of ornaments, sits down to a sort of guitar called a samisen and sings, but her song has no music in it.
"Peeps at Many Lands: Japan"
John Finnemore