In the 1920s, 9-year-old Chiyo Sakamoto is sold to a geisha house where she is forced into servitude, receiving nothing in return until the house's ruling hierarchy determines whether she is of high-enough quality to service the clientele--men who visit and pay for conversation, dance, and song. After rigorous years of training and with World War II imminent, Chiyo becomes Sayuri Nitta, a geisha of incredible beauty and influence.