December 19, 2023

Kaomise Soken at Kyoto Kaburenjo (2023)

Yesterday, Kyoto Kagai sim hosted the Kaomise Soken at the Miyagawacho Kaburejo theater, marking the beginning of an annual tradition, just like in real life, now slated for the early days of December.

Kaomise Soken stands as the pinnacle theater event, drawing together a constellation of renowned actors. Maiko and Geiko eagerly participate, attending the performance and later adorning their kanzashi with the names of their favored actors. This practice sheds light on the reason both junior and senior maiko possess these empty makeki boards pn their kanzashi.

After the performance, the maiko, both junior and senior, venture backstage, where their blank maneki boards await signatures from cherished kabuki actors. The male actors employ black ink, while those portraying female roles use red ink. Thus, before the play, maiko sport these blank maneki on their hanakanzashi, transforming them into cherished signed keepsakes after the event.

Interestingly, some geiko have maezashi shaped like small maneki boards, enabling them to collect autographs in a similar fashion. The cultural richness of this tradition resonates not only in the artistry of the performance but also in the personal connections forged behind the curtains.



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