This upright growing, large size (22 inches high by 62 inches wide) hosta of unknown originator from Japan was registered by Peter and Jean Ruh of Ohio in 2002 and re-registered with new data in 2018 to reflect a larger plant size.   The foliage is shiny, slightly rippled, slightly twisted and broadly lanceolate in shape. Medium purple flowers with white stripes bloom from August into September on scapes up to 26 inches tall followed by viable seeds.

The registration materials state: "...unusual color; color shows on leaf back; robust; twisted leaf tips...Ani= name of town in Akita Prefecture; Machi means "town": Schmid page 131. This is the correct name for what has been sold as Geisha. It is an outstanding selection-yellow to chartreuse with dark green margins. Glossy leaves have distinguished twist. Upright growth habit..." 

A similar plant called 'Ani Machi Gibōshi', according to The Hosta Handbook by Mark Zilis (2000), is to be found in many Japanese gardens. However, he says that plant is actually "...the same plant that has been sold as 'Geisha'."

The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by Diana Grenfell (2009) states: "Origin: Thought to be H. sieboldii x H. rectifolia... Slow to increase and needs good cultivation and hot summers to maintain a steady growth rate. Leaf center turns pale green at or before flowering time."

"Ani Gibōshi, the "hosta (from) Ani Machi," is named for the town of Ani, Akita Perfecture, northeastern Honshu."

On March 30, 2021, we received an email from Gayle Hartley Alley, International Registrar Genus Hosta stating: "After many years of conflict between the registered hosta 'Geisha' and the plant marketed with the same name, I am rescinding the registration on this cultivar. An updated Cumulative Index is available from the Hosta Treasury at: http://www.hostaregistrar.org/hosta_registration_lists.html . The name 'Geisha' has been removed from the index pages and now appears in Appendix B (page 78). An official notice will appear in the "Corrections and Comments" section of the Registrations 2021 booklet (distributed in spring of 2022)."

An article about H. 'Ani Machi' and H. 'Geisha' by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (2001 Vol. 32 No. 1) states that H. 'Ani Machi' according to Mark Zillis' book The Hosta Handbook (2000)  "is the same plant that has been sold as H. 'Geisha'. It is not, however, the plant that Kevin Vaughn registered under this name in 1983." Vaughn registered a much smaller plant than what is in the trade today as H. 'Geisha'...he confirmed that what is on the market as H. 'Geisha' is not what he registered."