"I long ago developed a very practical smile, which I call my Noh smile because it resembles a Noh mask whose features are frozen. Its advantage is that men can interpret it however they want; you can imagine how often I've relied on it."
American novelist best known for Memoirs of a Geisha, an internationally bestselling historical novel. He studied art history and Japanese culture and has written fiction and nonfiction. His work is noted for detailed cultural setting and narrative craft.