12世紀、仁西上人により復興した有馬温泉では、秀吉から徳川の時代にかけて入浴客が増え、有馬芸妓の起源となる「湯女」が生まれました。湯女は、入浴客を順番に温泉に案内したり、入浴後に舞や三味線で楽しませ、「有馬湯でもつ湯は湯女でもつ」と言われるほど、日本を代表する温泉にとってなくてはならない存在となりました。当時の湯女の物語は、有馬節として日本舞踊、歌舞伎の演目などにも残っており、当時の影響の大きさを今に伝えています。有馬芸妓の演目「有馬湯女」は、この有馬芸妓の歴史を表現する有馬芸妓ならではの舞となります。

The number of bathers in Arima Onsen, which was restored in the 12th century by the monk Ninsai, increased from the Hideyoshi era to the Tokugawa era, and Yuna, female bathhouse attendants and the origin of Arima Geiko, was born. Yuna would guide bathers to the hot spring in turn and entertain them with dances and shamisen (three-stringed Japanese lute) after their bath. They had become an indispensable part of Japan’s famous hot springs, so much so that it was said that Yuna were the ones who had control over the hot springs at Arima Onsen. The story of Yuna from that time has been preserved in Japanese dance and Kabuki performances as Arima-bushi, and the influence from back then is still felt today. The Arima Geiko performance “Arima Yuna” is a dance unique to Arima Geiko that expresses their history.