March Kitsuke

Members of Hanafusa okiya posing in Gion Higashi Ochaya, decorated specially for the Hinamatsuri celebrations
(from left: Maiko Kikushino, Geiko Kikutsuru, Geiko Kikumaru, Maiko Kikune

Geiko Kikutsuru is wearing light purple hikizuri with exquisite green leaf design. A perfect choice for the spring! It is tied with colorful stripe obi. Her katsura or wig is decorated with a very special maezashi which represents a pinwheel. You see, this type of kanzashi (full kanzashi ensemble of course - hanakanzashi, maezashi and hanagushi) is worn by Minarai in Gion Kobu and Pontocho and is often associated with youthfulness. As march is known of it's Hinamatsuri celebrations, therefore festival dedicated to young girls and women, Geiko Kikutsuru has chosen a hair decoration that represents this joyful event, that takes place only once a year.
Geiko Kikumaru has chosen beautiful light pink geiko hikizuri with white and red plum or ume blossoms carefully hand painted on the silk. This is extremely springtime piece and gives us a feeling of early warmth and yet that we still have to wait a little more to enjoy the spring in its fullest.
A nice white and golden obi with more plum blossoms accompanies her outfit. Her hair is decorated with sister maezashi of the one worn by her oneesan Geiko Kikutsuru
Maiko Kikune's march kitsuke consists of fabulous light blue hikizuri with hand-painted spring blossom motif and a golden obi, different from two of her Geiko sisters'  - it is much longer(over 7 meters!) called darari obi. Please notice a delicate butterfly pocchiri, tied with red obijime - this is the most expensive element worn by Maiko. Her hair is decorated with special seasonal kanzashi worn by senior maiko that feature peony (if you are interested, please read my post about Botan Kanzashi)
Maiko Kikushino, as the youngest of the Hanafusa okiya bouquet, gets to wear the newest and brightest hikizuri. This march you can spot her in a gorgeous black hikizuri with temari(traditional toys, which are nowadays used as a decoration, made by winding dyed thread around a ball construction). It is tied with exquisite obi that can be worn whole year round. Maiko Kikushino's hairstyle is called Wareshinobu and is decorated with colorful seasonal kanzashi. As you can see in the photo above, there is a huge difference in styles between the senior and junior kanzashi motifs. This month kanzashi for junior maiko, worn by Maiko Kikushino, represent the rape blossoms that are in bloom now.