Think of tearooms in rural Britain and what do you think of? Elderly ladies? China cups? Scones with butter jam? Geishas don’t immediately spring to mind.
But a group of farm teashops in the Lake District has launched the search for a Geisha because they're expecting an influx of Japanese visitors.
The imminent release of the Miss Potter movie in Japan is expected to cause renewed interest in The Lake District because of its Beatrix Potter connections.
The Tea Trail Cumbria wants the geisha to be the perfect tea ceremony hostess, serving up green tea according to traditional Japanese customs. The successful candidate will, of course, wear a kimono.
The successful applicant is also expected to supply their own obi (whatever that might be), wig and white make-up, “travelling peacefully between teashops”.
She must, it also specifies, “have poise, be in touch with the spirit of Zen and be able to create the notion of transience in the tearooms of Cumbria.”
The tea rooms have already geared up for the extra Oriental arrivals, translating maps and recipes into Japanese. They’ve even declared next Thursday National Green Tea Day.
"We know we are experts at creating fabulous tray-bakes and scones and the quintessential English afternoon tea experience, but we need guidance when it comes to tea etiquette in Japan,” says spokeswoman Annie Swarbrick.
“We don’t think there are that many advertisements for geishas out there, so we hope to get some good applications."
The hope is that a highly-trained tea ceremony expert may be laying low in Britain – just waiting for an opportunity to put their skills into practice.
Keen applicants could also help translate some of the trickier recipe names on the menu into Japanese. Some might prove a bit tricky. Tarty Tarn Drizzle, for example!