In Fukagawa red-light district, geisha took center stage because there were no oiran (licensed prostitutes) and only a small number of joro (courtesans) existed, and therefore, 'Fukagawa geisha' and 'Yoshiwara geisha' were regarded as twin jewels of geisha, distinguishing themselves from 'machi geisha' in other regions.
正式な遊女としての花魁はなく、女郎も少なかったことから、芸者が主役であり「深川芸者」と「吉原芸者」として双璧とされ、その他の地域の芸者は、たんに「町芸者」といわれた。