December kitsuke

Dear readers and patrons,

This is last kitsuke post in 2021, next one will be in January 2022. Hanafusa okiya members - Okaasan Kikuyu, Geiko Kikutsuru, Geiko Kikumaru, Geiko Kikune, Maiko Kikushino and Maiko Kikuyae hope that the Christmas Holidays and New Year celebrations will bring happiness and joy into your house, and that soon we will meet again in the new 2022 - year of the water tiger.

Now, let's return to the December kitsuke post :)

Geiko Kikutsuru

Atatori of Hanafusa Okiya Geiko Kikutsuru is wearing delicate pink kimono with flowers on a fan and a river design. Kawa(river) or winding stream represents continuity and the future. It also has a cooling affect on the viewer. Uchiwa with peonies, chrysanthemums, momiji and other plants and flowers is more of combined design, that can be worn from late summer till beginning of winter. It is tied with expensive black obi with that features stripes of fabric. 

Her Katsura (wig) is decorated with special maezashi that features a maneki board that was signed by famous kabuki played during Kaomise Soken. Was it Tamasaburo or someone else? Visit Kyoto Kagai during the events and you can talk to Geiko Kikutsuru about Kabuki and discuss your favorite kabuki actors and plays :)

Geiko Kikumaru

In December Kikumaru san will wear delicate grey kimono with waves and boats that carry camellias and chrysanthemums. This kimono is perfect with late autumn and winter.

 The white and golden obi holds the kimono close and is tied at the back in a Taiko ("drum") knot.

Her juban is light pink and features leaf and pine needle patterns. Geiko also use red juban but mostly for the formal events where they wear kuromontsuki.

Both Kikutsuru san and Kikumaru san wearing for semiformal events wear wigs styled in Geiko Shimada style also known as Chuu Taka Shimada. This is quite liberating as geiko can sleep on regular pillows as well as wearing western clothes. Maiko can do that too but no when having their hair styled in Ofuku or Wareshinobu. Kikumaru san's maezashi features simple yet refined bamboo maezashi.

Geiko Kikune

Geiko Kikune, who has her erikae only last week, during December events at Kyoto Kagai sim and outside, will wear solid green semiformal kimono with colorful chrysanthemums, plums, fans and also peonies. Gorgeous piece! Chrysanthemum or Kiku (in Japan) is considered an auspicious flower as well as is the part of names of all Hanafusa okiya members so no wonder that a lot of this flower design is going to be seen on the outfits of Kyoto Kagai members. Why auspicious? Well, this flower is considered auspicious as these symbolizing the Japanese Imperial family (Special chrysanthemum is the mon of the imperial family as well as the emperor sits on the Chrysanthemum throne). The obi is golden and hold the kimono close. The juban features red plum blossoms and remind us that soon the winter will be over.

Now Kikune san can enjoy wearing a wig, mature kimono, zouri etc but also there will be more responsibilities and things to handle. 

Maiko Kikushino

In December Kikushino san will be wearing fabulous navy blue hikizuri with hand-painted matsu or pine tree and snow cloud motifs.

In December all kimonos that maiko san and geiko san wear are linned so to keep the wearer warm during winter coldness.

Her obi is created with silver and 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 called Ofuku and decorated with seasonal matsu take kanzashi that have 2 blank boards that are signed by kabuki actors during the Kaomise Soken event (you can read more abut event and these kanzashi in this post).

Maiko Kikuyae

This month you can spot Maiko Kikuyae wearing a very special hikizuri, designed by Kiku no Iki shop. This is multi seasonal shibori hikizuri with flower and origami crane motif on bright green background.

Kimono is tied with black Darari obi that has many different flowers on it, meaning it can be used in spring, summer and autumn months.

Her hairstyle is Wareshinobu (this hairstyle is worn only by Minarai and Junior Maiko) and kanzashi feature a lot of different elements that are considered lucky - small maneki neko cats, arrows in the targets etc. This version of kanzashi is reserved for junior maiko, whilst senior maiko wear more reserved kanzashi that feature bamboo leaves. You can compare kanzashi worn by Maiko Kikuyae and the ones worn by her neesan Maiko Kikushino.