On my recent trip to Japan with my sisters, I spent an evening with a Geisha. We shared a delicious Japanese meal, then ended the night in a karaoke bar. It was one of the most interesting experiences I've ever had. I came away curious about why the tradition exists at all. The word Geisha means "person of the arts." The profession grew out of teahouses in Edo-period Japan (1603 to 1868), and its job was to host guests with dance, music, tea and conversation, and to keep thos