Who is Kikuyu from Snow Country and what is their importance?

Kikuyu was the geisha who was leaving as Shimamura made one of his trips to the Snow Country. Komako said that Kikuyu accepted a restaurant as a gift from one of her wealthy patrons, then fell for another man. The second man, however, left without her, and Kikuyu was ashamed to remain in the village. Komako said that she would miss her friend, but she uses her as an example of what happens if a geisha loses her head over a man.