February Kitsuke

Spring is here! The plum trees are blooming and only few little piles of snow are visible around Kyoto Kagai sim. Hanafusa Maiko san and Geiko san gathered at the special tent, located on the ground of Kitano Tenmangu temple to show off their elaborate semiformal kitsuke. Upcoming weekend, this tent will be used for a special springtime tea ceremony known as Baikasai 

Standing (from left to right): Maiko Kikushino, Maiko Kikuyae and Shikomi Midori
Sitting (from left to right): Geiko Kikune, Geiko Kikutsuru and Geiko Kikumaru

Geiko Kikutsuru's subtle kimono features ume (plum) blossoms, pine, bamboo leaves, sakura petals. It is tied with elegant vine obi that has a hand-painted kimono and silk on a hanger. Kikutsuru san is wearing a wig, styled in Geiko Shimada style also known as Chuu Taka Shimada. It is decorated with carefully chosen seasonal maezashi pin featuring ume blossom.

Geiko Kikumaru is wearing a beautiful marsala kimono, that has chrysanthemums, water streams, camellia, peony and bamboo leaves. It is a perfect piece for winter-beginning of spring. It is tied with elegant green obi with geometrical motif. 

The youngest geiko in Hanafusa okiya, Geiko Kikune has chosen a simple yet refined light kimono with bamboo leaves. The dark grey obi holds the kimono close and leaves the viewer with a though that winter might return so do not hide your winter geta yet. Kikune san's choice of maezashi is same as her oneesan's Kikutsuru and neesan's Kikumaru - a small plum blossom.

Maiko Kikushino's february kitsuke consists of fabulous light blue hikizuri with hand-painted spring blossom motif and a golden obi, different from three 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 plum blossom kanzashi worn by senior maiko (sr maiko's daikan kanzashi has either 3 medium or 1 big blossom). 

Maiko Kikuyae is wearing light pink hikizuri with colorful plum blossoms (hand-painted by talented kimono artist). It is tied with black obi that has maiougi or dance fans and kotsuzumi drum embroidered on it. The obiage is tied upon the obi and the obijime that is holding precious pocchiri. Her hairstyle is called Wareshinobu(and is worn only by Junior Maiko and minarai) and is decorated with eye-catching  seasonal kanzashi that are different from the ones worn by her neesan Maiko Kikushino - the ones worn by Maiko Kikuyae feature small blossoms.