January Kitsuke

Little snowflakes slowly dancing the sky, fall on maiko san, that are hurrying to their appointments. Although it is middle of winter, there is no time for them to sit in warm okiya - they are to dance, sing and entertain most important guests and patrons. They are to remind through their art that although it is cold and icy winter, soon shall spring come and the winter will become only a memory

Geiko Kikuyu

Geiko Kikuyu is wearing marvelous black susohiki with multi seasonal  motif on it. Her eri(collar) is white, and is the symbol of pureness, femininity and maturity.

Her obi fits well to her hikizuri as it has golden woven geometrical pattern on it.

Her katsura(wig) is decorated with a special hair pin, with un-husked rice ears and a little eyeless white dove. This is very special new year hairpin -  maiko or geiko fill in one eye and ask guest/very special person they like to draw the other for good luck in the coming year^_^

Sr Maiko Kikutsuru

Senior Maiko Kikutsuru's blue hikizuri is to show us that winter is in its peak - her hikizuri has hand painted peony flowers(a winter fower). Peony is the symbol wealth, high honour (nobility) and ageless beauty. They also embody romance and love, and are regarded as the omen of good fortune. Peony is known as the ‘King of the Flowers’.

Her eri is white with woven seasonal pattern BUT it has red gasp on the back. Her darari is woven, with geometrical golden motif on it.

Hairstyle of Maiko Kikutsuru is called Ofuku(special hairstyle that maiko start wearing after they become senior) and is decorated with special January kanzashi.

Sr Maiko Kikumaru

For January Kikumaru san is wearing black hikizuri, made in shibori style(shibori is a Japanese tie-dying technique, using a variety of techniques in different shapes to make different patterns. Shibori technique dates from the 8th century. Amazing!).

Her obi is green with golden sayagata motif. Sayagata is a kind of geometric design with a series of fylfot patterns. The fylfot pattern has taken root as a map symbol which stands for Buddhist temples in Japan. It is a classical pictogram which came from the shape of Hindu God of love Vishnu’s chest hair, and it stands for a good omen and virtue.

Jr Maiko Kikuyumi

Kikuyumi san, the third maiko in Hanafusa okiya, is wearing dark shibori hikizuri, that shows butterflies flying around. Created by a famous kimono artist, this amazing hikizuri looks like a true work of art.

It is hold by the green obi with golden bamboo on it.

As she is still Jr Maiko, her hairstyle is Wareshinobu (easily recognizable due to the two strips of red silk ribbon called kanoko, that has been woven through the mage ("bun"), and visible through the hair on the top and bottom section). 

Her hair is decorated with special January kanzashi that have auspicious Japanese New Year theme - a combination of pine, bamboo and plum blossoms.