中英双语新闻——Struggling geisha swap tea and poetry for a glass of beer

 　　Say the word geisha and images of beautiful kimono-clad women serving green tea, reciting poetry and playing classical instruments may spring to mind.

 

　　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。

 

　　In Japan, outsiders typically pay hundreds of pounds to spend several hours with geisha in tea-houses, with activities including artful conversation, and dancing.

 

　　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。

 

　　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.

 

　　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。

 

　　At the traditional inn Gion Shinmonso, in the ancient capital of Japan, for the 530 yen¹ cost of a beer, visitors can raise toasts and make conversation with trainee² geisha, called maiko, before they perform nightly traditional Kyotan dances known as "kyomai" on a special beer garden stage.

 

　　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。

 

　　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.

 

　　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。

 

　　"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."

 

　　“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。”

 

　　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 dressing³ to playing classical instruments.

 

　　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 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.

 

　　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。

1 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

2 trainee   

n.受训练者

参考例句：

• The trainee checked out all right on his first flight.受训者第一次飞行完全合格。
• Few of the trainee footballers make it to the top.足球受训人员中没有几个能达到顶级水平。

3 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。