May Kitsuke of Hanafusa okiya memebers

The odori and sakura season is now officially over and the Karyukai returns to it's normal life. Maiko san and Geiko san start taking their lessons again and also more ozashiki are taking place on the Kyoto Kagai sim as well. Please enjoy reading my post about the May kitsuke of Hanafusa okiya Geiko and Maikos.

Geiko Kikutsuru

This month you can spot atatori(heiress) of Hanafusa okiya wearing deep green kimono with bamboo design. Bamboo, or ‘Take’, is deeply entrenched in Japanese culture. It is said to symbolize purity and innocence due to it’s unadorned and simple structure. Bamboo is also said to symbolize prosperity, strength and longevity. These ideas come from the fact that bamboo is an extremely strong plant. It is tied with white obi that has golden design on it. On her feet Kikuntsuru-neesan is wearing Senryoo geta.

Geiko Kikumaru

For the last month of spring Geiko Kikumaru has chosen pale yellow, should i say, even cream semiformal kimono with hand-painted irises and willow. Iris or Kakitsubata is the flower of May and you can see many of those all around Japan. Her obi is green with golden geometrical design on it. Willow is always considered as the symbol of Geiko world (courtesans were "flowers")

In her hands,as well as in the hands of her sisters, she is holding a kago bag, in which maiko and geiko carry items that might need during the events, for example spare pair of tabi socks, comb, traditional lipstick, mirror, comb, hanameishi(business cards) etc.

Maiko Kikune

During May you can see most senior maiko in Hanafusa okiya, Maiko Kikune, wearing gorgeous subtle hikizuri with exquisite iris design. It is tied with gold obi with flower pattern on it. Her hairstyle is Ofuku and is decorated with seasonal iris kanzashi that resemble irises on the hikizuri. Since Kikumaru san is soon to become Geiko, Kikune san will have mall of the Senior kimono to choose from. In her hands she is holding a very special kago - the one that was gifted to her on the day of her misedashi. Her hairstyle is Ofuku and is decorated with seasonal iris kanzashi that resemble irises on the hikizuri.

Maiko Kikushino

On May 15th Maiko Kikushino will step into her last stage as Junior Maiko - Nininmae. Omedetou san dosu ^_^

May is also month when kimono with peony motif, for example one that will be worn this month by Maiko Kikushino - on the sea green silk are light purple peonies, bell flowers, green leaves as well as some plum blossoms that are carried by the stream. Also known as the ‘King of Flowers’, the peony is a symbol of good fortune, bravery and honor. This kimono gives us a perfect feeling of the spring freshness, the full revival of the nature. It is firmly tied with green darari obi with yellow geometrical design.  Her hairstyle is Wareshinobu, the traditional hairstyle of the Junior Maiko, is decorated with another seasonal flower - Fuji or Wisteria. While Iris kanzashi are reserved for senior maiko only, fuji kanzashi can be worn by both juniors and seniors.

from left to right: Geiko Kikutsuru(green), Maiko Kikushino(teal), Maiko Kikune(subtle green) and Geiko Kikumaru(beige)