June 2019: Maiko Umehina (Umeno Okiya) of Kamishichiken in the gardens of the Konkaikōmyō-ji Temple in Kyoto.
Source: Masanobu Kido on Instagram
June 2019: Maiko Fukuna (Kawayoshi Okiya) of Miyagawacho performing a dance.
Source: Zoe Johnson on Instagram
May 2019: Maiko Kanohisa (Kanoya Okiya) of Gion Higashi celebrated her 17th birthday recently! Happy belated birthday Kanohisa!
Source: Chuanlai on Instagram
May 2019: Maiko Kanako (Kawahisa Okiya) of Miyagawacho throwing the first pitch during a baseball game at the Koshei Stadium.
It’s a tradition for a Maiko or Geiko from Miyagawacho to throw the first pitch during a Hanshin Tigers baseball game once a year! Last year, now retired Geiko Kimihiro was chosen to do it.
Don’t get confused by Kanako’s kanzashi by the way: She’s wearing her January kanzashi because it features lucky motifs and a small Hanshin Tigers flag is pinned to it!
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan, alongside Sumo, Judo and soccer. They have a unique tradition when it comes to throwing first pitches: The batter is supposed to swing and miss the ball on purpose!
Source: Spoon & Tamago on Instagram
May 2019: Maiko Mamesumi (Ninben Okiya) of Gion Kobu performing Kurokami, “black hair”. It’s a special dance that is almost exclusively performed during a Maiko’s sakkou period.
A “sakkou period” are the two to three weeks before a Maiko has her Erikae and becomes a Geiko. She wear the special, elaborate sakkou hairstyle (very well visible in the picture above), and wears a special, self-designed kanzashi consisting of lucky motifs. They also wear special outfits, but those depend on the customs of the kagai. In Gion Kobu, Maiko wear a formal black kimono, a golden obi and a mostly white collar.
At the end of their sakkou period, the end of the girl’s bun is symbolically cut off to signify her transition from Maiko to Geiko, from girl to woman.
Mamesumi's Erikae will take place on the 30th of May! It's the first Erikae from Ninben/Shibata since Mamesome's in February of 2013.
Source: takutanimoto on Instagram
9th of May 2019: Misedashi of Maiko Fukusono from the Shigemori Okiya of Miyagawacho!
Maiko Fukusono is one of the first two Maiko to debut in the new Reiwa Era, alongside Maiko Mameaya of Gion Kobu. Fukusono’s Misedashi was actually postponed by Shigemori’s okaasan, so that Fukusono wouldn’t be the last Maiko to debut in the Heisei Era, but the first Maiko to debut in the Reiwa Era. What a nice sentiment!
Fukusono is the second Maiko to debut from Shigemori this year, her older sister Fukunori debuted in February. They had no new debuts since Koen in January of 2016, so this year is already looking great for them! Fukusono is also the first imouto of Shigemori’s youngest Geiko, Fukuchō (second picture)! Before that, Fukuhiro or Kofuku always played the role of onee-san, but now there is one more young Geiko to take that role.
Fukusono is very cute and makes a great pair with her sisters Fukunori, who has a similar cute look. Fukusono actually reminds me a bit of Geiko Tomitsuyu of Gion Higashi on her early years, so it’s going to be interesting to see how she progresses!
Congratulations on your debut Fukusono, and all the best wishes for your career!
Source 1: emi.blue33 on Instagram Source 2: Gion Hatanaka’s Official Instagram Account Source 3: emi.blue33 on Instagram
9th of May 2019: Misedashi of Maiko Mameaya from the Ninben Okiya of Gion Kobu!
Mameaya is one of the two first Maiko to debut in the new Reiwa period, alongside Fukusono of Miyagawacho who also had her debut on May 9th. Mameaya is the imouto of senior Geiko Mameya, who is also the onee-san of Maiko Mamesaya. She is the fifth currently active Maiko from Shibata/Ninben, but Mamesumi will have her Erikae on the 30th, so this day is an extra happy occasion for the okiya!
In picture 2, you can see Mameaya surrounded by most of her family. Back row: Geiko, Emino, Geiko Mamewaka, Geiko Mamemaru Middle row: Maiko Mameyui, Maiko Mamesaya, Maiko Mamesumi, Maiko Mametama Front row: Geiko Mameryō, Geiko Mameya, Mameaya herself, Geiko and okaasan Mamehiro and Geiko Mameka
Mameaya herself is quite tall, even without okobo, which makes her stand out. I’m sure that her onee-san Mameya will help her become popular in no time!
Congratulations on your debut Mameaya, and all the best wishes for your career1
Source 1: 1020kiddo on Instagram Source 2: Geiko Mameryō’s Official Instagram Account Source 3: emi.blue33 on Instagram
May 2019: Maiko Kikusana (Hanafusa Okiya) of Miyagawacho was finally promoted to a senior Maiko this month! She had her Misedashi on the 9th of May of 2016, so she has been around for almost 3 years, but she also debuted at the age of 15, so it makes sense that she was a junior for so long.
Source: akiko1976 on Instagram
April 2019: Maiko Chikasaya (Komaya Okiya) of Miyagawacho performing Himesanja at the Heian Jingu Reitaisai Hōno Buyō Matsuri.
Miyagawacho sends 4 or 5 Maiko to participate in the Heian Jingu Reitaisai Hōno Buyō Matsuri every year. This year, Maiko Chikasaya, Maiko Toshinami (Komaya Okiya), Maiko Kikusana (Hanafusa Okiya), Maiko Fukukana (Kawayoshi Okiya) and Maiko Koaki (Kaden Okiya) took place.
Source: tetsuto.jp on Instagram
April 2019: Maiko Hidekano (Masamiya Okiya) of Pontocho performing during the Heian Jingu Reitaisai Hōno Buyō Matsuri.
Pontocho always sends two Maiko to perform at this event; this year, they sent Hidekano and Ichiai (Masunoya Okiya).
Source: yoshiyan on Instagram
April 2019: Maiko Fukutama (Shigemori Okiya) of Miyagawacho hosting a tea ceremony at the Maiko Theater.
Source: Maiko Theater on Instagram
April 2019: Maiko Mameharu (Tama Okiya) of Gion Kobu on her way home from her engagements for the night.
Source: chris_stair on Instagram
April 2019: Maiko Nanoha (Tama Okiya) and Maiko Mameyo (Arai Okiya) of Gion Kobu performing a dance together.
Source: S.N on Instagram
April 2019: Maiko Katsuemi (Odamoto Okiya) of Gion Kobu leaving the Masuume Teahouse to go to her next engagement.
Source: predan on Instagram
April 2019: Maiko Konami (Nakagishi Okiya) of Gion Kobu performing at the Heian Jingu Reitaisai Hōno Buyō Matsuri.
The dedication dances at the Heian Shrine take place every year on the 16th of April and Gion Kobu, Pontocho, Miyagawacho and Gion Higashi take part in it.
Source: d17529 on Instagram
#konami#nakagshi okiya#gion kobu#kimono#hikizuri#furisode#susohiki#obi#darari obi#obiage#oshiroi#makeup#chu shimada hairstyle#chu shimada#hairstyle#hair#kanzashi#daikin#hairpin#hair ornament#geisha#maiko#geigi#geiko#nihongami#hanakanzashi#geisha makeup#shironuri#white makeup#heian jingu reitaisai hōno buyō