Setsubun at Kyoto Kagai sim (2020)

Setsubun is the day preceding risshun that is the first day of spring according to the old Japanese calendar. On the day of Setsubun, many celebrations are held. Especially in Kyoto Kagai SL. Maiko san and Geiko san from Hanafusa okiya, dressed in their formal attire, danced sacred dances on the stage of the Yasaka Jinja shrine. After the dance, they participated in ancient auspicious custom of throwing roasted soybeans. While throwing they chanted: “In with Fortune! Out with Evil” in order to prevent evil ogres from entering the houses of the guests and patrons of the Kyoto Kagai.

P.S. if you eat the same number of beans as your age you will have a year of good health! Itadakimasu!!

Participants: Geiko Kikutsuru, Maiko Kikune and Maiko Kikushino

February Kitsuke

Spring is slowly but firmly starts to take over Kyoto Kagai sim. Although there's still some snow the ground, first plum blossoms are starting to peak through the icy harden barks. One by one, all of the Plum trees will soon take over the area with their beautiful and magnificent sweet scent

Geiko Kikutsuru & Geiko Kikumaru

For this month, Geiko Kikutsuru has chosen to wear gradient pink kimono with spring motif: ume blossoms, pine, bamboo leafs, sakura petals. It is tied with elegant green obi with geometrical motif. Her juban is pink and features blossom pattern. Geiko also use red juban but mostly for the formal events where they wear kuromontsuki.
She is wearing a wig, styled in Geiko Shimada style also known as Chuu Taka Shimada. It is decorated with carefully chosen seasona maezashi pin featuring ume. blossom.
Her sister and imouto, Geiko Kikumaru, decided on wearing beautiful and very expensive marsala shibori geiko hikizuri, with bamboo motif on it. The hem of the kimono is colored in red which makes Kikumaru san look striking when she dances or even simply walks. This piece is held with silver obi that fits the kimono pefectly. As a finishing touch, Kikumaru san has added a small plum bosom maezashi(small hairpin) to her katsura.
Both Geiko Kikutsuru and Kikumaru are holding pink kagos made from chirimen silk. In these small "bags" Geiko and Maiko have everything they might need during ozashiki - Maioughi (dance fan), spare pair of tabi socks, special comb in case maiko san need to adjust her hair, maiko lipstick, white powder and, of course, meishi (business cards).

Maiko Kikune & Maiko Kikushino

In February you can see Maiko Kikune in gorgeous light purple hikizuri with eye-catching design  -waves are carrying fans with different flowers and butterflies etc.
The black Darari obi features hexagon pattern and holds the hkizuri close. Fact! Maiko's Darari obi is 7 meters long and needs to be tied in a special way.
As for her hair, it is decorated with seasonal triple ume hanakanzashi at the front and a simple kushi comb at the back. The kanzashi style of the Senior Maiko is more simple and mature tha the ones worn by the juniors.
The youngest flower of the Hanafusa okiya bouquet, Maiko Kikushino, is wearing light beige hikizuri with flower arabesque design, tied with bright orange Darari Obi. The style of the Hikizuri of Maiko Kikushino are getting more mature and simplistic which means that she is progressing on her path of a Maiko.
Her hair is decorated with seasonal kanzashi that feature small plum blossoms.
Both Maiko Kikune and Kikushino are wearing special style of geta, known as Okobo or Pokurri. These are only reserved for the Maiko and you can tell he rank by looking at the straps holding the foot - if you see red than it means that the wearer is Junior Maiko and if you see pink or other - Senior. You can notice the difference in the picture above.