导读：随着经济的低迷，日本艺伎(geisha)们的日子也不好过了。当人们不愿再花高昂的费用品味名茶的时候，她们只好放下架子，开始为客人们提供廉价的啤酒服务。
一提起“艺伎”，映入人们脑海的往往是那些身穿美丽和服的日本妇女，她们或表演茶道，或吟诗，或弹奏古典乐器。
Say the word geisha and images of beautiful kimono-clad women serving green tea, reciting poetry and playing classical instruments may spring to mind.
在日本，客人通常要花上几百英镑才能与艺伎在茶室里呆上几个小时，艺伎在交谈中会展示才艺，表演舞蹈。
In Japan, outsiders typically pay hundreds of pounds to spend several hours with geisha in tea-houses, with activities including artful conversation, and dancing.
然而，全球经济的低迷似乎正迫使艺伎通过更积极进取和廉价的方式---艺伎啤酒花园---来谋生了。
But a downturn in the global economy appears to be forcing the world of geisha to seek more enterprising - and cheaper - ways of earning a living by setting up geisha beer gardens.
在位于日本古都京都的传统酒馆Gion Shinmonso中，一杯啤酒只需530日元。实习艺伎（也称舞伎）每天晚上会在特制的啤酒花园舞台上表演传统京舞--"kyomai"。在此之前，游客还可以和她们喝酒聊天。
At the traditional inn Gion Shinmonso, in the ancient capital of Japan, for the 530 yen cost of a beer, visitors can raise toasts and make conversation with trainee geisha, called maiko, before they perform nightly traditional Kyotan dances known as "kyomai" on a special beer garden stage.
与此同时，位于Kamischichiken的啤酒花园还向游客出售“艺伎套餐”服务，售价为21加拿大元，包括一杯啤酒，两样小吃，还有一名穿着和服的艺伎在旁提供服务。
Meanwhile, the beer garden at Kamischichiken enables visitors to buy a "geisha starter pack" for $21 Cdn, including a mug of beer, two snacks and the company of kimono-clad geisha.
“推出这种服务的原因是酒馆的客人越来越少了，”Gion Shinmonso酒馆的发言人称。“我们也想让更多人了解舞伎和艺伎。现在，更多人可以看到她们了，她们也吸引了更多客人。”
"We introduced the service because fewer guests were visiting the inn," said a spokesman for Gion Shinmonso. "We also wanted people to learn more about maiko and geisha. Many more people are able to see them now. They have attracted a lot more customers."
18世纪，艺伎在京都发展壮大起来，年轻女孩们在艺伎馆接受严格训练，学习大量传统艺术，包括茶道、穿戴和服、演奏古典乐器等。
The world of geisha blossomed in Kyoto in the 18th century, with young girls trained rigorously in geisha houses an array of traditional arts, from tea ceremony and kimono dressing to playing classical instruments.
到了1928年，日本艺伎的数量达到8万，创下峰值。但如今，这个数字已经降至1000人。日本艺伎的行规是只卖艺不卖身。
The number of geisha - who are trained to provide entertainment and no sexual services - peaked at 80,000 in Japan in 1928 but since then has declined to an estimated 1,000 across the country.