was a Japanese stage actress who spanned the Meiji

Meiji period

The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...

 and Taishō

Taisho period

The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...

 periods of Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 and was known by the name Hanako (花子). The kanji

Kanji

Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

given for her name when born were 飛佐 (Hisa), but she did not use those during her career. Starting in 1900, she spent the majority of her career touring Europe and was the only Japanese person to model for Auguste Rodin

Auguste Rodin

François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...

, who gave her two masks he created, using Hanako as a model. These masks are on display in the city of Gifu

Gifu, Gifu

is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...

 in Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture

is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, where she spent her twilight years. She was also the basis for Mori Ōgai

Mori Ogai

was a Japanese physician, translator, novelist and poet. is considered his major work.- Early life :Mori was born as Mori Rintarō in Tsuwano, Iwami province . His family were hereditary physicians to the daimyō of the Tsuwano Domain...

's short story Hanako.

Timeline

• 1868 - Born in Kamisobue, Nakashima
  Nakashima District, Aichi
  was a district located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, which existed until 2005.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 36,239 and a population density of 1,170.89 persons per km². The total area was 30.95 km².-Merger:...
  
  , Owari Province
  Owari Province
  was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of present day Aichi Prefecture, including much of modern Nagoya. Its abbreviation is Bishū .-History:The province was created in 646....
  
   (now Ichinomiya, Aichi
  Ichinomiya, Aichi
  is a city located in Aichi, Japan. The city is often called Owari-Ichinomiya to avoid confusion with another Ichinomiya . The pre-expansion city was once part of now-defunct Nakashima District until September 1, 1921....
  
  ) to a farmer.
• 1875 - Adopted by a green-grocer, as her family was unable to afford to feed her.
• 1884 - Became a geisha
  Geisha
  , Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
  
  .
• 1888 - Married first husband.
• 1898 - Divorced first husband and married second husband.
• 1901 - Divorced second husband.
• 1902 - Travels to Europe for the first time.
• 1904 - Begins touring Germany with a performance troupe.
• 1906 - Meets Rodin in July.
• 1907 - Travels to America for the first time.
• 1910 - Travels to Russia for the first time.
• 1916 - Returns to Japan to recruit dancers for her troupe and begins touring Europe again.
• 1921 - Returns to Japan for good.
• 1927 - Adopts her brother's son.
• 1934 - Granddaughter is born.