The extraordinary story of the geisha who was the model for Madame Butterfly. Japan’s first actress, she became an international star in the United States and Europe at the turn of the last century. She danced before Edward Prince of Wales and President McKinley, was painted by Picasso and admired by Rodin and Gide and dined with the last Tsar of Russia. Puccini modelled Cho-cho-san on her, borrowed her music and reshaped his opera after he had seen her. Geisha, actress, mistress – this is the story of a life lived passionately.