ROC
10-23-2008, 08:43 PM
The figure of the geisha is one steeped in mystery, tradition and intrigue.
And, until now, becoming a geisha in Japan has been a strictly female-only affair.
But now 70-year-old Mary Murdoch, formerly Malcolm Murdoch and an ex-Ministry of Defence boss, has broken with tradition to become the first ever transsexual allowed to dress as a geisha.
Until now, the Japanese tourist office been adamant that only biological females are allowed to dress as geisha in the historic city of Kyoto, the art-form's traditional home.
Mary, from south-east London, said: 'My ambition was to dress up as a geisha and at first they were reluctant.
'But in the end I convinced them. I was the first person to actually do this. They were very welcoming and put aside the normal rules for foreign tourists.
'Since then the Japanese government has a policy which says if there’s a female name on the passport then you may dress up as a geisha.'
Mary, who has never married or had children, now plans to organise special tours so other transsexuals can experience the elegance and beauty of geisha culture.
"I felt so beautiful in the geisha outfit," she said. "I know it's something a lot of ladies in the transsexual community would enjoy."
Mary started having therapy to become a woman at Charing Cross Hospital in London four years ago.
She said: 'The situation in the 60s was dreadful - it was hardly understood. People used to be given electro-shock therapy.
'Things have moved on a considerable amount since then.'
Her new look would certainly have raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Defence where she used to work.
She worked as a cartographer in the MOD, eventually becoming a manager.
My job involved mapping military aircraft routes with the Civil Aviation Authority," said Mary.
"It was a very masculine job and a lot of responsibility.
"Lives were at stake, so we could not afford to make any mistakes." But she added: "I always felt feminine underneath and loved pretty, girly things.
"As I got older my feelings grew stronger and stronger until I couldn't ignore them.
"Once I was in the car with my university lecturer and I saw a gorgeous dress in a shop window. I almost shouted 'Oh look at that lovely dress' but I just stopped myself in time.
"I also had urges to kiss men but I never did."
Mary is far happier living as a woman and is accepted by most people in her community.
"Sometimes people shout horrible things in the street," she said.
"But generally when I go out in a pretty dress people don't look twice at me."
Mary said: 'You wanted to dress as a girl but you couldn’t and that made life very awkward so you had to do it in secret.
'It’s only recently people have started to understand transsexual people. They used to mix them up with a type of perversion.
“We now accept that it’s a biological thing.'
Mary is now on an NHS waiting list for an operation to finally sever her ties with her life as a male.
Mary explains: 'It costs about £11,000 to have a sex change operation.
'I've given up smoking and lost nearly five stone in preparation for the op. I could get funding from the NHS any day now.
My heart leaps every time the phone rings.'
Geisha have long fascinated the western world.
Contrary to common belief the art of the geisha has nothing to do with prostitution.
Trained geisha entertain men with their witty banter and dancing. Even in today's modern Japan, geisha ply their trade in the narrow wooden streets of Gion in the heart of the ancient city of Kyoto.
Most geisha seen out and about with their white faces are often 'maiko' or trainees, or tourists like Mary who dress up for a few hours make-believe.
And, until now, becoming a geisha in Japan has been a strictly female-only affair.
But now 70-year-old Mary Murdoch, formerly Malcolm Murdoch and an ex-Ministry of Defence boss, has broken with tradition to become the first ever transsexual allowed to dress as a geisha.
Until now, the Japanese tourist office been adamant that only biological females are allowed to dress as geisha in the historic city of Kyoto, the art-form's traditional home.
Mary, from south-east London, said: 'My ambition was to dress up as a geisha and at first they were reluctant.
'But in the end I convinced them. I was the first person to actually do this. They were very welcoming and put aside the normal rules for foreign tourists.
'Since then the Japanese government has a policy which says if there’s a female name on the passport then you may dress up as a geisha.'
Mary, who has never married or had children, now plans to organise special tours so other transsexuals can experience the elegance and beauty of geisha culture.
"I felt so beautiful in the geisha outfit," she said. "I know it's something a lot of ladies in the transsexual community would enjoy."
Mary started having therapy to become a woman at Charing Cross Hospital in London four years ago.
She said: 'The situation in the 60s was dreadful - it was hardly understood. People used to be given electro-shock therapy.
'Things have moved on a considerable amount since then.'
Her new look would certainly have raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Defence where she used to work.
She worked as a cartographer in the MOD, eventually becoming a manager.
My job involved mapping military aircraft routes with the Civil Aviation Authority," said Mary.
"It was a very masculine job and a lot of responsibility.
"Lives were at stake, so we could not afford to make any mistakes." But she added: "I always felt feminine underneath and loved pretty, girly things.
"As I got older my feelings grew stronger and stronger until I couldn't ignore them.
"Once I was in the car with my university lecturer and I saw a gorgeous dress in a shop window. I almost shouted 'Oh look at that lovely dress' but I just stopped myself in time.
"I also had urges to kiss men but I never did."
Mary is far happier living as a woman and is accepted by most people in her community.
"Sometimes people shout horrible things in the street," she said.
"But generally when I go out in a pretty dress people don't look twice at me."
Mary said: 'You wanted to dress as a girl but you couldn’t and that made life very awkward so you had to do it in secret.
'It’s only recently people have started to understand transsexual people. They used to mix them up with a type of perversion.
“We now accept that it’s a biological thing.'
Mary is now on an NHS waiting list for an operation to finally sever her ties with her life as a male.
Mary explains: 'It costs about £11,000 to have a sex change operation.
'I've given up smoking and lost nearly five stone in preparation for the op. I could get funding from the NHS any day now.
My heart leaps every time the phone rings.'
Geisha have long fascinated the western world.
Contrary to common belief the art of the geisha has nothing to do with prostitution.
Trained geisha entertain men with their witty banter and dancing. Even in today's modern Japan, geisha ply their trade in the narrow wooden streets of Gion in the heart of the ancient city of Kyoto.
Most geisha seen out and about with their white faces are often 'maiko' or trainees, or tourists like Mary who dress up for a few hours make-believe.