This is a loose plate from the book "JAPAN, Described and Illustrated by the Japanese. Written by Eminemt Japanese Authorities and Scholars. Edited by Captain F Brinkley of Tokyo Japan."
Published by J B Millet Company, Boston Mass. U S A 1897
The Singing girls or geisha, recieve their instructions form teachers belonging to families hereditarily intrusted with the handing down of their art. There is no musical notation for popular music. An attempt was made to introduce one about the middle of the last century; but the teachers thought their measures of livelihood was threatened, and successfully opposed the innovation.