"May is brought to us on the blossoms of wisteria tree"
Geiko Kikuyu
For May Okaasan Geiko Kikuyu has chosen light purple beautiful susohiki decorated with little silver pattern painted on the silk. As i said before, its a rare sight to see a geiko wearing susohiki with this type of pattern, but it happens from time to time, for example yabane(arrow shaft/arrow feathers), multi flowers and stripes or little snowflakes. This susohiki reminds us of wisteria that is now in full bloom in Miyagawacho Hanamachi. As you may have seen in previous photos of hanafusa maiko and geiko, long garments are usually held up to allow to walk on the street.This marvelous susohiki is accompanied by silver obi with small flowers of purple and orange. Material is best silk with woven flower patterns.
Geiko Kikuyu's juban(or thin kimono that is worn under the susohiki) is pink with spring flowers painted on it.
In her left hand she's holding gorgeous kago, made of chirimen silk, with a beautiful light pink color background. Basket base is made of painted bamboo sticks. All is handmade by Kyoto's best craftsman. Kago contains a mirror, a comb, a white powder and a special lipstick(if makeup "moved"), a pair of clean tabi(socks), a maiougi(dancing fan) and many more items that are needed during the ozashiki. Every item has its special place in the kago so it can be easily found.
For this month maiko Kikutsuru has chosen white hikizuri with hand-painted motif. Textile is exquisite silk and has soft and comfortable touch. This hikizuri is specially created for end spring - beginning/mid summer. We can see some spring and summer flowers painted by a skilled artist. A true work of art!
Her Collar(han-eri) is white with red part on the back and it shows us that she is senior Maiko.
The darari obi is longer than the one worn by Geiko Kikuyu; it is also tied in a special knot, worn only by maiko. It has dyed bamboo pattern on a purple background and it suits the hikizuri well.
Her kago is yellow and reminds us of summer sun.
Her hairstyle is called ofuku(as you remember it is hairstyle of Sr Maiko) and is decorated with special trailing fuji(wisteria) kanzashi that are worn only during this month. They come in purple, pink or white colors. To say more, fuji is very traditional motif for May - wisteria is a flower often associated with the imperial court (wisteria viewing parties have been celebrated by Japanese nobles since the Heian Period).
On her feet she wears wooden sandals called okobo or pokurri. Those are only worn by maiko. They are very tall and usually made from a block of willow wood. They are held to the foot by straps in colors that represent their owners rank.
This month jr Maiko Kikumaru is wearing soft green hikizuri with springtime flowers and blossoms. We can see sakura and plum blossom painted on silk by hand of skilled painter. This specific pattern is multi spring and is never used during other seasons. While walking outside, Maiko Kikumaru tied her hikizuri with pink ribbon.
Her obi is decorated with woven flower pattern on beige background. End of the obi has okiya mon or emblem(as every family in japan, all okiya and yakata in have their own emblems too) which means she comes from this family.
Her hair is decorated with beautiful purple fuji kazashi.
In her hands a pink kago, with useful items. Looks heavy indeed!
Maiko Kikuno's hairstyle is decorated with shidare kanzashi, composed by long chains of silk flowers. This month her kanzashi represent the trailing blossoms of wisteria that is in bloom now.
Her lovely darari obi is golden with beautiful woven pattern. This obi is the twin obi of that special Misedashi obi that is used only during the debut if a new maiko in Hanafusa okiya.
In her left hand she's holding gorgeous kago, made of chirimen silk, with a beautiful light pink color background. Basket base is made of painted bamboo sticks. All is handmade by Kyoto's best craftsman. Kago contains a mirror, a comb, a white powder and a special lipstick(if makeup "moved"), a pair of clean tabi(socks), a maiougi(dancing fan) and many more items that are needed during the ozashiki. Every item has its special place in the kago so it can be easily found.
Sr Maiko Kikutsuru
Her Collar(han-eri) is white with red part on the back and it shows us that she is senior Maiko.
The darari obi is longer than the one worn by Geiko Kikuyu; it is also tied in a special knot, worn only by maiko. It has dyed bamboo pattern on a purple background and it suits the hikizuri well.
Her kago is yellow and reminds us of summer sun.
Her hairstyle is called ofuku(as you remember it is hairstyle of Sr Maiko) and is decorated with special trailing fuji(wisteria) kanzashi that are worn only during this month. They come in purple, pink or white colors. To say more, fuji is very traditional motif for May - wisteria is a flower often associated with the imperial court (wisteria viewing parties have been celebrated by Japanese nobles since the Heian Period).
On her feet she wears wooden sandals called okobo or pokurri. Those are only worn by maiko. They are very tall and usually made from a block of willow wood. They are held to the foot by straps in colors that represent their owners rank.
Jr Maiko Kikumaru
This month jr Maiko Kikumaru is wearing soft green hikizuri with springtime flowers and blossoms. We can see sakura and plum blossom painted on silk by hand of skilled painter. This specific pattern is multi spring and is never used during other seasons. While walking outside, Maiko Kikumaru tied her hikizuri with pink ribbon.
Her obi is decorated with woven flower pattern on beige background. End of the obi has okiya mon or emblem(as every family in japan, all okiya and yakata in have their own emblems too) which means she comes from this family.
Her hair is decorated with beautiful purple fuji kazashi.
In her hands a pink kago, with useful items. Looks heavy indeed!
Jr Maiko Kikuno
Little Kikuno chan is wearing very colorful multi seasonal hikizuri - it has lots of flowers to show the springtime.
Her collar or eri is red, with some white woven pattern - that is to show how that she is still jr maiko, young and petite(Red and White are auspicious colors that are said to bring good luck to those who wear them; also those are colors meaning youthfulness).Maiko Kikuno's hairstyle is decorated with shidare kanzashi, composed by long chains of silk flowers. This month her kanzashi represent the trailing blossoms of wisteria that is in bloom now.
Her lovely darari obi is golden with beautiful woven pattern. This obi is the twin obi of that special Misedashi obi that is used only during the debut if a new maiko in Hanafusa okiya.
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