Mineko egyiketegyike volt annak a számos gésának, akikkel Arthur Golden interjút készített, miközben az ''[[Egy gésa emlékiratai]]'' című regényéhez gyűjtött anyagot. Mineko állítása szerint megegyezett Goldennel, hogy közreműködése rejtve marad, ám Golden mégis leleplezte személyazonosságát, amikor könyve köszönetnyilvánítás fejezetében, illetve több interjújában is megemlítette nevét.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/19/books/arts-abroad-a-geisha-a-successful-novel-and-a-lawsuit.html|title=''ARTS ABROAD; A Geisha, a Successful Novel and a Lawsuit''|last=Sims|first=Calvin|date=2001-06-19|publisher=The New York Times|language=angol|accessdate=2010-03-19}}</ref> Miután Golden könyve megjelent, Minekot rengeteg kritika, sőt halálos fenyegetés érte, amikor megszegte az íratlan szabályt és beszámolt a gésák életéről.
Mineko elárulva érezte magát
Iwasaki was one of several geisha author Arthur Golden interviewed while researching his novel Memoirs of a Geisha. According to Iwasaki, she agreed to speak with Golden on the condition that her involvement would be kept confidential, but Golden revealed her identity by mentioning her name in the book's acknowledgments,[2] as well as several national interviews. After Memoirs was published, Iwasaki received criticism and even death threats for violating the traditional geisha code of silence.
Iwasaki felt betrayed by Golden's use of information she considered confidential, as well as the way he twisted reality, and denounced Memoirs of a Geisha as being an inaccurate depiction of the life of a geisha. Iwasaki was particularly offended by the novel's portrayal of geiko engaging in ritualized prostitution. For example, in the novel the main character Sayuri's virginity (called mizuage in the novel) is auctioned off to the highest bidder.[3] Iwasaki stated that not only did this never happen to her, but that no such custom existed at all in Gion.
