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Memoirs of a Geisha is a novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the fictional story of a geisha working in Kyoto, Japan, before and after World War II. It contains many Japanese terms for aspects of the geisha culture, occasionally using the Kyoto counterparts.

Eight years later, in 2005, a film version starring Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi as the titular geisha was released.

Filming was primarily done in California, and in some locations in Kyoto, including Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari-taisha. It was nominated for and won numerous awards, including nominations for six Academy Awards, three of which – Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction andBest Costume Design – were won.

Marshall was criticised in Japan for choosing a Chinese actresses rather than a Japanese one for a role having so much to do with traditional Japanese culture.