Mary Murdoch poses with a more traditional geisha on a trip to Japan this year(Image from The Daily Mail)
Pictured: British Ex-MOD Boss, 70, Becomes First Transsexual Geisha In Japan -- Daily Mail
The figure of the geisha is one steeped in mystery, tradition and intrigue.
And, until now, becoming a geisha in Japan has been a strictly female-only affair.
But now 70-year-old Mary Murdoch, formerly Malcolm Murdoch and an ex-Ministry of Defence boss, has broken with tradition to become the first ever transsexual allowed to dress as a geisha.
Until now, the Japanese tourist office been adamant that only biological females are allowed to dress as geisha in the historic city of Kyoto, the art-form's traditional home.
Mary, from south-east London, said: 'My ambition was to dress up as a geisha and at first they were reluctant.
'But in the end I convinced them. I was the first person to actually do this. They were very welcoming and put aside the normal rules for foreign tourists.
'Since then the Japanese government has a policy which says if there’s a female name on the passport then you may dress up as a geisha.'
Mary, who has never married or had children, now plans to organise special tours so other transsexuals can experience the elegance and beauty of geisha culture.
"I felt so beautiful in the geisha outfit," she said. "I know it's something a lot of ladies in the transsexual community would enjoy."
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My Comment: You are a soldier serving in Afghanistan, and this is what you read. Sighhhh ..... I can now understand why so many of them want to resign their commissions.