Asakusa Kenban (Tokyo Asakusa Union)

The “Kenban” is a union organization run on dues from restaurants, geisha, and geisha houses, and works like an office for the geisha. Its main role is to act as the contact point when requests come in for banquets and events. It also provides practice rooms where the geisha polish their art. As the central body of the hanamachi (geisha district), it also takes on the role of continuing and developing tradition.