Minako was born Nagao Mitsu in
Tōbetsu, Hokkaido, as the eldest of six siblings (1 son and 5 daughters). In 1926, when Minako was seven years old, her father moved to Tokyo with the family to start a new business. However, he was deceived and lost all their possessions, forcing the family into poverty. After moving to Asakusa, a neighbor, who was the sister of a
okiya owner, invited Minako to become an indentured servant in 1930, thus beginning her career as a geisha. Her father was worried and visited about 10 okiyas in Yoshiwara to confirm whether it was true that the geishas in
Yoshiwara did not prostitution. In reality, becoming a geisha was considered an honorable thing at the time. In Yoshiwara, geishas and prostitutes were clearly distinguished from courtesans since the Edo period. Yoshiwara geishas performed arts such as singing, dancing and music in private rooms and were not involved in prostitution. This tradition was maintained even after the
Meiji Restoration. In 1931, at the age of 11, she began working as a
maiko (apprentice geisha) in the Yoshiwara district. By the age of 16, she was already training her juniors and became an independent geisha in Yoshiwara. Around the age of 20, due to her beauty and talent, she was counted as one of the "Four Yoshiwara Geishas". In later years, Minako described that period as "the best time of my life." She continued performing even in her later years, promoting the traditional art of geisha. She also taught other young geisha her skills. On April 21, 2010, she complained of feeling unwell during practice and was hospitalized the following day. On May 31, 2010, she died at the age of 90 from cancerous
peritonitis. == Commemorate ==