"Although its cold and icy January, Maiko and Geiko of Hanafusa okiya continue to bring spring warmth to hearts of citizens and guests in Kyoto Kagai sim"
Geiko Kikuyu
Geiko Kikuyu is wearing marvelous black susohiki with crane and wine leaves motif on it. The 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 with crane motif, that is to bring luck for the owner.
Her katsura(wig) is decorated with small but very stylish hairpin, that is also the mon of Hanafusa okiya
Senior Maiko Kikutsuru
Senior Maiko Kikutsuru's pink hikizuri is for us like a reminder that winter will soon leave the realm when a first ume flower starts to bloom. Her eri is white with woven seasonal pattern BUT it has red gasp on the back.
Her darari obi is about 7 meters long! and decorated with carefully sewn crane pattern on the white background.
Hairstyle of Maiko Kikutsuru is called Ofuku(special hairstyle that maiko start wearing after they become senior) and is decorated with special January kazashi.
On her feet she has special footwear called okobo, that is worn only by maiko. Now, the straps on the okobo, called hanao, are very specific in color - every time sr maiko attends next step of her career, she has to wear different one, while jr maiko wear only red colored straps. At the moment Maiko Kiktsuru is on her last year of being Maiko(she's Yoninmae Maiko), thats why her straps are green.
Senior Maiko Kikumaru
Maiko Kikumaru is 2nd oldest maiko of Hanafusa okiya.
For February she is wearing fabulous sweet pink hikizuri with hand-painted flower motif. Her obi has gold an silver woven pattern on it. Her hair is decorated with special kanzashi for older maiko. Her obijime(small cord on the obi) is holding very expensive obidome(small brooches worn threaded onto the obijime, making a charming decoration on the front of the obi also its the most expensive object in maiko's outfit).
Junior Maiko Kikune
For January Maiko Kikune san is wearing white and red 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!). As you can see, her hikizuri has more elements than her oneesan, Maiko Kikutsuru has. It is another way to notice that Maiko Kikune is younger. Her eri is also different - some white droppings of woven flowers on the red background symbolizes that she's still a "baby". Also she paints only her lower lip.
The darari obi has green and gold woven pattern. It goes really nice with the hikizuri!
Her hairstyle is called Wareshinobu and is decorated with special seasonal kanzashi.
Kago is red, with Maiko Kikune's name sewn on it. This special kago was given as a present on the day of her Misedashi.
As Junior Maiko, Maiko Kikune is wearing high okobo but with red stripes.
Junior Maiko Kikuyae
Jr Maiko Kikuyae 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 plum blossom kanzashi with shidare(long chains of silk flowers). She looks so young and fresh, truly she's little spring flower.
Little Yae chan is really lucky she can choose from a big variety of hikizuri :)
Hikizuri worn by Maiko Kikuyae has a soft pretty hikizuri with little colorful plum blossoms on it.
Her Obi is decorated with marvelous woven golden ornaments, that really suits the plum flowers on the hikizuri. As Junior Maiko, Maiko Kikuyae, as is her neesan Maiko Kikune, is wearing high okobo but with red stripes.
