March 31, 2018

Honoring sucessfull Women in SL

Today okaasan of Hanafusa Okiya - Geiko Kikuyu and Maiko Kikutsuru were choosen as 2 out of 11 Women to be honored in the event of March month and 8th of March being the womens day. Okaasan Kikuyu was honored for creating Hanafusa okiya -  training establishment and boarding house in which you can be educated to be a Geiko and Maiko Kikutsuru (owner of Tsuru's Afrtefacts) - for her building and kimono making skills.
During the ceremony
Our 2018 honorees are:
Bryn Oh
Nuala Marcus
Strawberry Singh
Caryl Meredith
Kikuyu and Kikutsuru
Marianne McCann
Rosie Gray
Sudane Erato
Robin Sojourner Wood
Treacle Darlandes



These women have contributed to various things in SL. from blogging, to charity events and creating and much more. Omedetou san dosu!

March 17, 2018

March Kitsuke

Geiko Kikuyu


For March okaasan Kikuyu has chosen beautiful light pink geiko hikizuri with white and red plum or ume blossoms hand painted on the silk. This is extremely springtime piece and gives us a feeling of early warm and yet that we still have to wait for spring to get in its fullest.
A nice woven obi with folded fans accompanies her outfit.
After the erikae (turn of the collar), when maiko becomes geiko, hairstyles change - from now on she will wear styled katsura (wig) which is said to be a great relief, as from now on she can sleep on a regular pillow and wash her hair more often than maiko san do. We can see a styled katsura worn by geiko Kikuyu on the picture. Her hair is decorated with small but very stylish accessory called maezashi.

Maiko Kikutsuru


Senior Maiko Kikutsuru is wearing beautiful and very expensive light blue hikizuri, with a very interesting motif on it. If you look closely you might notice that there are seashells that are painted from the inside. These are parts of a game that is called kai-awase or "hell-matching game". A full kai-awase set consists of 360 pairs of clam shells. All are about the same size (some two and a half to three inches across). Each pair of shells has the same image. The sources for these images are poetic, seasonal, literary, etc., and depict everything from flowers to noblemen peeking into a room to items of dance costume. Only the outside of the shell retains its natural look. All shells are placed face down, and players take turns flipping pairs, until they find a matching pair, which they can then claim. Unmatched pairs are turned back over. The winner is the person with the most matching shell pairs when the game is over.
A long darari obi, worn only by maiko, holds the kimono tight and features woven golden motif.
Her hairstyle is called ofuku. It is decorated with seasonal kanzashi piece.


Maiko Kikumaru


In march Kikumaru san will be wearing fabulous pink hikizuri with hand-painted colorful plum blossoms and string knots motifs. The plum flower is one of the first blossoms to open during the year and has always been closely associated with the coming of spring. Unlike the cherry blossom, the plum has a strong sweet fragrance. Since the Heian period, they have been a symbol of refinement and purity, along with a reminder of former lovers.
In march all kimonos that maiko san and geiko san wear are linned (can be worn before summer heat comes).
Her obi is create with golden threads that make a geometrical and flower pattern on lighter 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 - Hanafusa okiya.
Her hairstyle is same as Kikuturu san's as they both are senior maikos and is decorated with seasonal daffodil flower kanzashi.

Maiko Kikune


Beautiful Kikune san is wearing extremely colorful green hikizuri with hand-painted flowers and butterflies making her look like a true springtime flower. The butterfly is often used as a symbol for young girls as they spread their wings and emerge into womanhood, and are also believed to symbolise joy and longevity. If a symbol contains two butterflies dancing around each other, it is a symbol of marital happiness.
Her lovely darari obi is golden and holds the kimono tight as well supports the back of the maiko san.
Maiko Kikune's hairstyle is called Wareshinobu and is decorated with colorful seasonal kanzashi. As you can see there is a difference between the senior and junior kanzashi motifs. This month kanzashi for junior maiko, worn by Maiko kikune in the photo, represent the rape blossoms that are in bloom now.

Minarai Kikushino


The youngest and newest member of Hanafusa okiya, Minarai Kikushino, is wearing light blue hikizuri, with green leafs and flower fan motif. Adopted from Chinese culture, the fan has come to signify a high social status and symbolize the journey of life. The small end essentially represents birth and the blades symbolizing the many paths possible in life’s journey. Historically, Japanese people of every age, gender and demographic have carried fans with many of them beautifully painted to tell stories or convey secret messages.
The Obi is green with geometrical motif on it.
As she is really young and "newbie", she does paint only the lower lip and decorates the front of her Wareshinobu hairstyle with "dangling" kanzashi. Every hanamachi has different looks of minarai, but they all do share the main idea - minarai san wear "childish" style of kimono, kanzashi and accessories.

March 11, 2018

Higashiyama Hanatoro 2018 in Kyoto Kagai

Dear guests and patrons of my blog,
As you may have noticed, Kyoto Kagai hosts many events on which Members of Hanafusa okiya perform before audience. This weekend, annual event took place on the grounds of Yasaka Jinja - Higashiyama Hanatoro. 
"Hanatoro" simply means "the road of flower and light" and is set of illumination events that take place in Higashiyama district of Kyoto in March every year. During this event, the streets of Higashiyama are illuminated with by more than 2400 lanterns that stretch. 
The climax of the event comes when maiko san and geiko san members of the Kyoto Kagai sim step up onto the stage. These performances are accompanied by music and songs of famous jikata geiko.  
This time, audience was given a rare opportunity to meet a new member of the Hanafusao kiya, who has had her minarai debut not so long ago - i am talking about minarai Kikushino. Although she is still a young trainee and "newbie" in the Kagai, her hard work during rehearsals was payed off during Higashiyama Hanatoro when she was allowed to perform near her seniors.
As Kyoto Kagai is now fully taken by the spring, we welcome everyone to take walks and enjoy the short-lasting blooming of the plum and springtime flowers. If you come for the first time, members of the Hanafusa okiya will be more that happy to show you around the sim :)
From left to right: Minarai Kikushino(light blue), Maiko Kikumaru(purple), Maiko Kikutsuru(blue), Maiko Kikune(green)

March 6, 2018

Hina Matsuri in Hanahusa ochaya

Dear patrons of Kyoto Kagai sim,
Thank you for celebrating Hina Matsuri with us. We look forward to seeing You later this month during annual Higashiyama hanatoro, that will take place on March 10th and let us not forget weekly events such as ozashiki, museum events and story nights.
For those who wanted but couldn't participate, i'll give a small report. The celebrations took place in Hanahusa ochaya in Miyagawacho hanamachi of Kyoto Kagai sim. Guests were welcomed by Maiko of Hanafusa okiya together with magnificent displays of Hina dolls, that belong to okiya. Yes, there were several types and special kokeshi Hina dolls display that are quite rare.
For Minarai Kikushino, it was first Hina Matsuri in their profession so this celebrations was very special.
After the sweets were served and tea was drunk, Maiko Kikumaru entertained the guests with stories and, as we had several guests who came for the first time, explaining the Hina Matsuri and when guests had questions Maiko Kikune helped to answer.
As part of Hina Matsuri celebrations, Maiko san accompanied guests towards the Yasaka Jinja shrine where everyone could take a photo with a favored Maiko san ^_^
After Hina Matsuri maiko san accompanied guests to Yasaka Jinja shrine to pray for good health of girls and women

March 5, 2018

Higashiyama Hanatoro invitation

You are cordially invited to enjoy the Festival of Hanatoro.
In the event of this the Minarai and Maiko of Hanafusa will perform for you as well as you get a chance meeting the newest members of our family.
As the streets light up in the evening the lanterns of the Yasaka Jinja shrine is lit up and visible from a distance which makes a walk though Kyoko Kagai sim even more delighting.
Meet us in the shrine at 10.55 am slt and get ready to view the elegant performance of professional dancers.
Date: Saturday 10th of March
Time: 11 am slt
Landmarkhttp://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/126/215/33

March 1, 2018

Hina Matsuri celebrations in Kyoto Kagai sim

You are hereby invited to celebrate Hina Matsuri or girls day with members of Hanafusa okiya. We mark this day by going to shrines, praying for good health of girls and women, and placing Heian inspired dolls on display. We hope you will join our celebrations at Higashi ochaya this Saturday March 3rd. Also, we encourage you to dress into best attire, honoring this day to its fullest
 ❀ Day: Saturday March 3rd
 ❀ Time: 11 am slt
 ❀ Landmark:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/69/169/31