The Miyagawacho Museum Spring Event

 As you remember, on 29th of March, Maiko and Geiko of Hanafusa okiya performed in the Miyagawacho Art and Historical museum. They anwsered questions in regards their training, such as "How hard it is to be a maiko?", "Is it hard to dress up every day in such elaborate kimono?", "Is the training hard?", etc. It was a rare and good oppertunity for those, who wished to become a regular patron in the future or you who was just interested in the culture.
As the time came, the museum was full of visitors and patrons. Than Hanafusa okaasan Kikuyu came up and welcomed the audience. She sat carefully and took her shamisen(3-string japanese traditional guitar) and started preparing her notes. Than three maiko of Hanafusa is beautiful and colorful kimono entered the stage. As everyone was standing on right place, amiko-san gracefully sat on the tatami, placing their maioughi(dancing fans) before them.
"Otano moshimasu" - said three beautiful maiko and bowed to the audience
Than there was a very nice evening entertaining with Kyo mai Gion Kouta and Miyagawa Kouta :)
It was honor to meet new patrons, that also came from ASN. Thank you for your support^^

Photo's by Isoldel-san^^

Miyagawacho Museum event

 29th of March the Hanafusa Maiko will be performing in the Miyagawacho Art and Historical museum. They will be able to anwser your questions in regards their training. This might be a good oppertunity for you who wish to be a regular patron in the future or you who are just interested in the culture to take. a third candidate this will suit is the one of you of wish to train as a Geiko apprentice.

Here's your kiksha: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nadine/109/134/28

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March Kitsuke

Geiko Kikuyu

Okaasan Kikuyu is wearing beautiful and very expensive mint susohiki, with tiny ships motif on it. The ships are like reminders that spring is almost here even still it still can snow. But soon, when the Sakura will start to bloom Winter shall pass away finally. Kikuyu san is also wearing a dark obi to match, which is decorated with gently-painted bird feathers - another reminder that Spring is brought on the wings of the birds. Her hair is decorated with small but very stylish accesories.
Everything in her, from her clothes to her character expresses freshness and beauty of Springtime

Sr Maiko Kikutsuru

Maiko Kikutsuru is not only the oldest maiko in Hanafusa Okiya and the atatori(heiress), she's also a magnificent person and oneesan(older sister, mentor) a maiko can wish for.
For March she is wearing fabulous white hikizuri with hand-painted motif. A work of art! Her obi different from Kikuyu san's - it is longer(over 7 meters!) and is called darari obi. It has gold woven pattern on it. Her hair is decorated with special kanzashi for older maiko - flowers of narcissus. Her obijime(small cord on the obi) is holding very expenside obidome(small brooches worn threaded onto the obijime, making a charming decoration on the front of the obi)

Jr Maiko Kikumaru

For Maiko Kikumaru this spring is supposed to be last as next spring she is supposed to become Sr Maiko - she will start wearing more elaborake hikizuri, other kanzashi and she will be wearing ofuku hairstyle as Kikutsuru san is wearing now. Also there shall come bigger responsibility BUT for now she still is Jr Maiko :)
Kikumaru chan is wearing very beutiful yellow silk hikizuri with flowers hand-painter all over - pink cherry and plum blossoms look like dancing around. Her amazing darari obi is decorated with woven flower pattern. Her hair is decorated with nanohana bloosom flowers and small butterflies

Jr Maiko Kikuno

Jr Maiko Kikuno has debuted last year in november, so she still is "new" in the kagai. She has worked as a maiko less than a year so she is painting only her lower lip and is wearing nanohana kanzashi with shidare(long chains of silk flowers). She looks so young and fresh, truly a spring flower.
Hikizuri worn by Maiko Kikuno is wearing a soft yet strong green hikizuri with cherry and plum blossoms on it. Obi is decorated with tsuru(crane) woven ornament, that is supposed ti bring her luck and prosperity :)

Hina Matsuri in Miyagawacho Hanamachi(2015)

Hina-matsuri or Girl’s Day was held on March 4th in Miyagawacho Hanamachi featuring beautiful maiko of Hanafusa Okiya. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.
Maiko Kikutsuru was telling guests about this beautiful Japanese custom: "The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period. Back then people believed that dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirits.Hina matsuri traces its origins to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi (lit. “doll floating”), in which straw hina dolls are set a float on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad spirits with them".

Maiko Kikutsuru(left) and Maiko Kikumaru(right). Our Honorable guests are in the middle

While greeting the spring, two flowers met in the garden..