Minako was born Nagao Mitsu in [[Tōbetsu, Hokkaido]], as the eldest of six siblings (1 son and 5 daughters). In 1926, when Minako was seven years old, her father moved to Tokyo with the family to start a new business. However, he was deceived and lost all their possessions, forcing the family into poverty. After moving to Asakusa, a neighbor, who was the sister of a [[okiya]] owner, invited Minako to become an indentured servant in 1930, thus beginning her career as a geisha. Her father was worried and visited about 10 okiyas in Yoshiwara to confirm whether it was true that the geishas in [[Yoshiwara]] did not prostitution. In reality, becoming a geisha was considered an honorable thing at the time. In Yoshiwara, geishas and prostitutes were clearly distinguished from courtesans since the Edo period. Yoshiwara geishas performed arts such as singing, dancing and music in private rooms and were not involved in prostitution. This tradition was maintained even after the [[Meiji Restoration]].{{Cite web |title=Minako-oneesan, the last active geisha who dedicated 90 years to the arts, has passed away |url=https://keico.exblog.jp/10730598/ |access-date=2010-05-31 |website=Keico}} In 1931, at the age of 11, she began working as a [[maiko]] (apprentice geisha) in the Yoshiwara district.{{Cite web |title=【企画展】写真展「四代目みな子姐さん～最後の吉原芸者」|url=https://phmuse.com/?p=1691 |access-date=2017-11-07 |website=Phmuse}} By the age of 16, she was already training her juniors and became an independent geisha in Yoshiwara. Around the age of 20, due to her beauty and talent, she was counted as one of the “Four Yoshiwara Geishas”. In later years, Minako described that period as “the best time of my life.”小泉公平「下町新事情 曲がり角の大衆文化 花柳界」『産経新聞』1996年5月30日、東京朝刊、22面 She continued performing even in her later years, promoting the traditional art of geisha.{{Cite web |title=Nov. 4 Lecture & Film Screening Dispels Geisha Stereotypes |url=https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/legacy/enews/2015/10/nov-4-lecture–film-screening-dispels-geisha-stereotypes.html |access-date=2015-10-20 |website=University of Cincinnati |date=20 October 2015 }} She also taught other young geisha her skills.{{Cite web |title=最後の吉原芸者四代目みな子姐さん—吉原最後の証言記録 |url=https://makotooffice.net/minako.html |access-date=January 2010 |website=makotooffice}} On April 21, 2010, she complained of feeling unwell during practice and was hospitalized the following day. On May 31, 2010, she died at the age of 90 from cancerous [[peritonitis]]. {{Cite web |title=「最後の吉原芸者」みな子さんが死去 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG0101L_R00C10A6CC0000/ |access-date=2010-06-01 |website=nikkei |date=June 2010 }}
Minako was born Nagao Mitsu in [[Tōbetsu, Hokkaido]], as the eldest of six siblings (1 son and 5 daughters). In 1926, when Minako was seven years old, her father moved to Tokyo with the family to start a new business. However, he was deceived and lost all their possessions, forcing the family into poverty. After moving to Asakusa, a neighbor, who was the sister of a [[okiya]] owner, invited Minako to become an indentured servant in 1930, thus beginning her career as a geisha. Her father was worried and visited about 10 okiyas in Yoshiwara to confirm whether it was true that the geishas in [[Yoshiwara]] did not prostitution. In reality, becoming a geisha was considered an honorable thing at the time. In Yoshiwara, geishas and prostitutes were clearly distinguished from courtesans since the Edo period. Yoshiwara geishas performed arts such as singing, dancing and music in private rooms and were not involved in prostitution. This tradition was maintained even after the [[Meiji Restoration]].{{Cite web |title=Minako-oneesan, the last active geisha who dedicated 90 years to the arts, has passed away |url=https://keico.exblog.jp/10730598/ |access-date=2010-05-31 |website=Keico}} In 1931, at the age of 11, she began working as a [[maiko]] (apprentice geisha) in the Yoshiwara district.{{Cite web |title=【企画展】写真展「四代目みな子姐さん～最後の吉原芸者」|url=https://phmuse.com/?p=1691 |access-date=2017-11-07 |website=Phmuse}} By the age of 16, she was already training her juniors and became an independent geisha in Yoshiwara. Around the age of 20, due to her beauty and talent, she was counted as one of the “Four Yoshiwara Geishas”. In later years, Minako described that period as “the best time of my life.”小泉公平「下町新事情 曲がり角の大衆文化 花柳界」『産経新聞』1996年5月30日、東京朝刊、22面 She continued performing even in her later years, promoting the traditional art of geisha.{{Cite web |title=Nov. 4 Lecture & Film Screening Dispels Geisha Stereotypes |url=https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/legacy/enews/2015/10/nov-4-lecture–film-screening-dispels-geisha-stereotypes.html |access-date=2015-10-20 |website=University of Cincinnati |date=20 October 2015 }} She also taught other young geisha her skills.{{Cite web |title=最後の吉原芸者四代目みな子姐さん—吉原最後の証言記録 |url=https://makotooffice.net/minako.html |date=January 2010 |website=makotooffice}} On April 21, 2010, she complained of feeling unwell during practice and was hospitalized the following day. On May 31, 2010, she died at the age of 90 from cancerous [[peritonitis]]. {{Cite web |title=「最後の吉原芸者」みな子さんが死去 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG0101L_R00C10A6CC0000/ |access-date=2010-06-01 |website=nikkei |date=June 2010 }}
