Plot Summary

To start off the memoir (novel), Chiyo and Satsu were the first characters the readers were introduced to. The two girls were a poor fisherman’s daughters and were sold by their father (their mother was extremely ill) to Mr. Tanaka. Tanaka brought them both to the district of Gion in Tokyo and sold Satsu to a common brothel sold Chiyo to an okiya (a house of geisha).

Central Conflicts: Chiyo has a hard time adapting to the life of being in Gion and training to be a geisha, added on top that she had to endure all the hardships, Hatsumomo brought upon her.

Significant Aspects of Rising Action: Chiyo being sold to the okiya, having Hatsumomo hate her guts and making life a living hell for her, trying to run away from the okiya to escape the harsh living conditions, meeting the man that she falls in love with and living through WWII were all significant aspects of the rising action. 

Climax: When Sayuri (Chiyo) finally confesses to the chairman about her feelings for him (look at Quote #2 in Quotes page)

Falling Action: After Sayuri confesses to the Chairman he confesses back and tells her that if Nobu did speak first, he certainly would have and wouldn't have gave up on her. She also found out how the Chairman was the one who asked Mameha to adopt her and take care of her.

Resolution: Since this book is writing in the style of a memoir, there is no clear resolution. After every 
everything happened the two that were in love had a child. Sayuri then retired as a geisha and moved to New York to start living a peaceful life with the Chairman by her side.