Who is Kikuyu?

Snow Country is a classic piece of Japanese literature, written by Yasunari Kawabata. It tells the story of an affair between a geisha named Komako and a man called Shimamura. Their relationship is complicated, and, as Komako expects, Shimamura eventually leaves her for good. 
Kikuyu was a geisha older than Komako, who, quite like Komako, fell in love with someone who ended up leaving her. One of her regular clients, a wealthy married man, had built Kikuyu a restaurant and called it Kikuruma after her. When she fell in love with another man, she turned down the opportunity of managing the restaurant. She was therefore left with nothing when the man she loved left her. Kikuyu left the area of the hot springs in shame, hoping to be able to start over somewhere else.  
This story is a part of a conversation between Komako and Shimamura that contributes to the breaking of the illusion for Shimamura that Komako is perfect and pure.