A day in the life of Sai! This page shows a sample of Sai's schedule.
Obviously not all days go like this, but here's just an example that shows how he lives his life.
Obviously not all days go like this, but here's just an example that shows how he lives his life.
About 10:00 AM: Sai wakes up when the high tide at Miyajima Island means that the entrance to the cave he lives in floods with about 1 foot of water.
10:15 ~ 10:45 Sai spends about a half of an hour catching the little fish that the tide brings into the front of his cave. As he catches them, he eats them for breakfast!
10:45 ~ 11:30 Sai prepares for his day by picking out what he will wear. He always wears his jewelry, but what hairpin he wears depends on the season and occasion. Japanese hairpins contain aspects that make them seasonal, for example a specific flower may be only used in winter-time hairpins. So he is very careful to match his hairpin with the time of year and the mood for the day. He also spends this time taking care of his hair, his claws, and his horns.
At about 11:30 ~ 12:30, after he is ready, Sai leaves out the secret back entrance of his cave. This allows him to not get wet, as the main entrance to his cave opens into the ocean. He heads to the shrine, where he prays and meditates. There are typically some tourists at the shrine at this time, and he gladly allows them to photograph and admire him.
12:30 ~ 3:30 Sai spends this time making short social visits. He pops into places like the shop where he sells and buys his hairpins, the home of the merchant who special crafts his collars, his favorite bakeries and sweet shops, the tea houses and restaurants where he entertains, and anywhere else that comes to mind. At these locations, he pops in just to say hello and make himself appear social - since being social and having people aware of you is the key to success in his job. Where all he goes and how much time he spends at each place depends on how social the other person wishes to be. He never overstays his welcome, but he never leaves early either.
At about 4:00, once Sai has returned to his cave, he hunts for treasure. This time is about low-tide, and there are frequently shells, driftwood, or other little curiosities left from the tide inside of the entrance of his cave. He will dig through for anything useful. He uses these objects in his crafts and hobbies.
About 4:30 ~ 5:30 Sai will practice one of his hobbies, if he has time. Some days he has early dinner engagements which require his presence. But if he does not have to leave early, he will sit for an hour and practice one of his hobbies, such as tea ceremony or flower arrangement, dance or song, or perhaps practice an instrument.
5:30 ~ 6:00 Sai grooms himself again and changes into a more formal outfit that he will wear to entertain. This can be painstaking as he tries to match his collars and hairpins.
6:30 ~ 8:00 Sai leaves his cave, again using the back entrance so that his clothing does not get wet. He heads to his first appointment, which is at the back room of a restaurant. The owner of the restaurant is someone who supports him by advertising his business. His gatherings bring money to the restaurant, and the owner's word of mouth draws customers and money for Sai. Many of his appointments are made this way. Sai only plans to stay at his first appointment for an hour. He is not the only entertainment there. The guests request them to all play a song together. Even though Sai works alone it isn't uncommon for him to have other entertainers at his appointments. After an hour, he politely excuses himself.
8:30 ~ 9:00 Some nights Sai will have as many as five appointments. Some appointments pay him to simply show up. This happens at the next restaurant. He is there only briefly, socializing cordially with the guests.
9:30 ~ 12:00 Sai moves to his next appointment. It is a large one, with many geisha. There is a lot of food and drinks, and the guests are rowdy. They keep asking him for more and more songs, and he is happy to oblige. Some appointments run very late into the night. This one goes until midnight.
12:30 Sai heads home, baring the gifts from his guests. These things are not included in his pay, but personal tokens of affection. There is a group that will pay him at a later date.
1:00 ~ 2:00 When Sai arrives at home, the tide is rising, although it is not high tide yet. He undresses. Since geisha never eat at the parties they attend, he is hungry and will catch fish.
2:30 AM, Sai heads to bed.The next day will offer different people, gatherings, and interactions but it will likely be equally as busy!
10:15 ~ 10:45 Sai spends about a half of an hour catching the little fish that the tide brings into the front of his cave. As he catches them, he eats them for breakfast!
10:45 ~ 11:30 Sai prepares for his day by picking out what he will wear. He always wears his jewelry, but what hairpin he wears depends on the season and occasion. Japanese hairpins contain aspects that make them seasonal, for example a specific flower may be only used in winter-time hairpins. So he is very careful to match his hairpin with the time of year and the mood for the day. He also spends this time taking care of his hair, his claws, and his horns.
At about 11:30 ~ 12:30, after he is ready, Sai leaves out the secret back entrance of his cave. This allows him to not get wet, as the main entrance to his cave opens into the ocean. He heads to the shrine, where he prays and meditates. There are typically some tourists at the shrine at this time, and he gladly allows them to photograph and admire him.
12:30 ~ 3:30 Sai spends this time making short social visits. He pops into places like the shop where he sells and buys his hairpins, the home of the merchant who special crafts his collars, his favorite bakeries and sweet shops, the tea houses and restaurants where he entertains, and anywhere else that comes to mind. At these locations, he pops in just to say hello and make himself appear social - since being social and having people aware of you is the key to success in his job. Where all he goes and how much time he spends at each place depends on how social the other person wishes to be. He never overstays his welcome, but he never leaves early either.
At about 4:00, once Sai has returned to his cave, he hunts for treasure. This time is about low-tide, and there are frequently shells, driftwood, or other little curiosities left from the tide inside of the entrance of his cave. He will dig through for anything useful. He uses these objects in his crafts and hobbies.
About 4:30 ~ 5:30 Sai will practice one of his hobbies, if he has time. Some days he has early dinner engagements which require his presence. But if he does not have to leave early, he will sit for an hour and practice one of his hobbies, such as tea ceremony or flower arrangement, dance or song, or perhaps practice an instrument.
5:30 ~ 6:00 Sai grooms himself again and changes into a more formal outfit that he will wear to entertain. This can be painstaking as he tries to match his collars and hairpins.
6:30 ~ 8:00 Sai leaves his cave, again using the back entrance so that his clothing does not get wet. He heads to his first appointment, which is at the back room of a restaurant. The owner of the restaurant is someone who supports him by advertising his business. His gatherings bring money to the restaurant, and the owner's word of mouth draws customers and money for Sai. Many of his appointments are made this way. Sai only plans to stay at his first appointment for an hour. He is not the only entertainment there. The guests request them to all play a song together. Even though Sai works alone it isn't uncommon for him to have other entertainers at his appointments. After an hour, he politely excuses himself.
8:30 ~ 9:00 Some nights Sai will have as many as five appointments. Some appointments pay him to simply show up. This happens at the next restaurant. He is there only briefly, socializing cordially with the guests.
9:30 ~ 12:00 Sai moves to his next appointment. It is a large one, with many geisha. There is a lot of food and drinks, and the guests are rowdy. They keep asking him for more and more songs, and he is happy to oblige. Some appointments run very late into the night. This one goes until midnight.
12:30 Sai heads home, baring the gifts from his guests. These things are not included in his pay, but personal tokens of affection. There is a group that will pay him at a later date.
1:00 ~ 2:00 When Sai arrives at home, the tide is rising, although it is not high tide yet. He undresses. Since geisha never eat at the parties they attend, he is hungry and will catch fish.
2:30 AM, Sai heads to bed.The next day will offer different people, gatherings, and interactions but it will likely be equally as busy!