Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

❄❅❆❉❊☃ Merry Holidays from Hanafusa okiya ❄❅❆❉❊☃

 It is that time of year again when the snow is falling gently to the ground in Kyoto Kagai, this year we have a warming cottage for you to enjoy, with gifts under the tree, get your strength before you go outside to enjoy ice skating or other fun things in the Snow! - follow the landmark below, on behalf of Hanafusa Okiya we wish everyone a merry Holiday! 

 (gifts are bought for 10 Lindens and contains several items)

Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/203/140/28

First chanoyu(tea ceremony) of Maiko Kikushino

Today, Friday 4th of December, Maiko Kikushino performed her first tea ceremony for Okaasan Kikuyu and her okiya sisters. This means that soon she will be entering her saninmae rank or, in other words, soon Hanafusa okiya will celebrate Kikushino chan becoming Senior Maiko. 

Omedetou san dosu!

“Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.” (Okakura Kakuzō)

December Kitsuke

Geiko Kuktsuru is wearing high-class black kimono that has snowflakes and snow-covered tops of bamboo - a perfect wintery design! It is tied with bright orange obi that has auspicious motifs, for example Uchide-no-Kozuchi - the Japanese Lucky Mallet, which is one of many treasures seen carried on a takarabune or treasure ship. It is said that the mallet has the ability to alter a person’s size and the one carried by one of the seven gods of luck can even grant you wishes. 

In December, Geiko Kikumaru decided to wear an eye-catching semiformal kimono with chrysanthemums and waves on the blue background. The pattern is located under the waist line and is a perfect winter design for a Geiko. It is tied with colorful stripe obi, that was bamboo. Both Kimono and Obi belong to Kikumaru san and were part of the wardrobe ordered for her erikae. Obiage and obijime are of red color and go well with the ume(plum) blossoms on the juban.

For December Maiko Kikune san has chosen deep green hikizuri with hand-painted plum tree and bamboo leaves covered in snow. A truly winter masterpiece! Her obi has orange background with golden pattern. As senior maiko, she continues to wear Ofuku hairstyle, decorated with seasonal kanzashi. This month, her kanzashi feature bamboo leaves with special small "tablets" that will be signed by her 2 favorite kabuki actors during Kaomise soken

Maiko Kikushino is wearing beautiful maroon colored hikizuri with pine needles, momiji and gingko leaves. It is tied with beautiful golden Darari obi, that is tied each time by a skilled otokoshi or sometimes even okaasan. Her hair is decorated with special December kazashi, that feature colorful assortment of lucky charms and two two maneki(tiny blank tags), which will be autographed by her 2 favorite Kabuki actors during Kaomise Soken. This is Junior version of the kanzashi worn by maiko during December

* Kaomise soken - During the first week of December maiko visit the Minamiza theater and have the tags of the maneki kanzashi signed by their favorite kabuki actors.