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$- Kyoto, Kansai, Japan - \n\nGeisha\n\nGeisha are traditional Japanese female entertainers, and they are trained vigorously in art, music and dancing. If you translate Geisha into English, you get artist. Being a true Geisha is an honor, who when they become full-fledged Geisha are then called Geiko. If training to be a Geisha before 21 yrs, the child dancer is called a Maiko. Maiko spend five years studying music, dance, and also have to learn to talk comfortably to customers ¿usually rich and powerful men. Geisha are the keepers of Japanese traditional arts, as accomplished as Western ballet dancers or opera singers. For the most part, the Geisha world is closed to outsiders. The closest tourists can get is seeing Geiko or Maiko hurry by on their way from the geisha houses where they live to the teahouses where they entertain.\n\nPhoto shows: A Fukuyu Geisha and a Fukukimi,'Maiko' (a Geisha Apprentice) travel in a taxi to work in the Geisha's district of Miyagawacho. \n© Lucas Valle$ Inside the secret life of a Geisha: Intimate photos of the Japanese women maintaining the 400-year-old tradition in the modern world
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So, you're NOT sorry: Jeremy Renner defends calling Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow 'a sl**'... two weeks after grovelling apology

Published: 13:14 EST, 5 May 2015 | Updated: 15:46 EST, 5 May 2015

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Jeremy Renner may not have been all that sorry about calling Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow character a sl**.

The 44-year-old actor apologized for a joke he made about the fictional character from Avengers: Age Of Ultron two weeks ago, but defended the comments on Monday night's episode of Conan.

'We are talking about a fictional character and fictional behaviour,' the Hawkeye actor laughingly said of Black Widow.

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Not sorry: On Conan, Jeremy Renner back-tracked on his earlier apology for calling Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow a 'sl**' in the Avengers movies

'Conan, if you slept with four of the six Avengers, no matter how much fun you had, you'd be a sl**,' Jeremy added. 'I'd be a sl**. Just saying.'

The controversy began on April 22, when Jeremy and Avengers co-star Chris Evans were interviewed by Digital Spy and asked about Black Widow's romantic life in the new movie.

As the character - played by actress Johansson - was portrayed as a possible love interest for Hawkeye and Chris' Captain America in earlier Marvel movies, the interviewer wanted to know what the actors thought of her shift in interest to The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in Age Of Ultron.

Jeremy Renner on calling Black Widow character a sl**

Not real: Jeremy's explanation for his comments were that Black Widow was a 'fictional character and fictional behaviour'

Insistence: Pointing out that the Widow has possibly slept with four out of the six Avengers, the 44-year-old actor said that anyone would be called a sl**

'She's a sl**,' Jeremy answered quickly, prompting laughter from Chris.

'I was going to say something along that line, she's a complete wh**e,' Chris interjected. 'She'll flirt with everybody, leading everybody on.'

The facetious remarks set off a firestorm of criticism from fans on the Internet, leading to apologetic statements made by both actors on the next day.

Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans call Black Widow a sl**

Controversy: The issue began when Jeremy and co-star Chris Evans were asked about Black Widow's shift of affection from their characters to The Hulk

Laughter: Both actors laughed but later apologized for offending people in statements

'We answered in a very juvenile and offensive way that rightfully angered some fans,' read a statement released by Chris. 'I regret it and sincerely apologize.'

As for Jeremy, his apology contained a little more of the sarcasm displayed on Conan.

'I am sorry that this tasteless joke about a fictional character offended anyone,' he said in the statement.

'It was not meant to be serious in any way. Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour.'

Success: Despite the controversy, Avengers: Age Of Ultron has brought in more than $600 million in ticket sales worldwide

Controversy over these statements did not seem to hurt Avengers: Age Of Ultron, which earned more than $191 million in North American ticket sales during its opening weekend.

That amount is the second-highest opening ever, behind only 2012's original Avengers.

More than $400 million in additional sales has come in from worldwide markets (including those with an earlier release).

Scarlett Johansson rides into battle in new Avengers trailer