Hina Matsuri celebrations at Kyoto Kagai sim

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Application Hanafusa Okiya - Open

Do you like to be a member of Hanafusa okiya?

You are provided with a near real life course or training in Japanese History and culture.
You will learn how to be a Geiko ( term for Geisha in Kyoto)

Contact  Maiko Kikutsuru of Hanafusa (Miehina resident) if you are interesting in starting your journey in a close family such as Hanafusa, that focus on realism and quality.

we have limited space left.

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February Kitsuke

Geiko Kikuyu

For this first month of spring, Okaasan Kikuyu decided on susohiki with flowery pattern all over the green background. Accompanied by golden obi, the whole outfit looks extremely spring-time. Her eri(collar) is pure white without any embroidery, meaning she is a grown woman and artist.
Her juban(underskirt) is pink, different from the ones worn by Maiko. Her hair is a wig(katsura) decorated with expensive ornaments such as kushi(comb) and small maezashi pin.

Senior Maiko Kikutsuru

Maiko Kikutsuru, oneesan of Kikumaru and Kikune, has chosen dark purple hikizuri with hand-painted peony flowers and butterflies. Obi sash is green with golden fans skilfully painted. Her collar is almost fully covered with white embroidery, only a small part on the back is left red. 

Her hair is decorated with seasonal kanzashi. February is the month of Plum blooming across Japan, so the kanzashi of this month are made to look like plum blossoms.

Senior Maiko Kikumaru

For February Maiko Kikumaru has chosen pale green hikizuri with special hand painted design - it has fans with different springtime (sakura, plum etc.) and several summertime flowers(iris etc.). This means that this hikizuri can we worn not only during spring but also in the beginning of summer. Obi is orange, with green fans painted. 

Her hairstyle is called Ofuku and is decorated with plum blossom kanzashi(same as Kikutsuru san but different color). 

Junior Maiko Kikune

Young Maiko Kikune is wearing beautiful deep green hikizuri with multiseasonal pattern. Her obi is same as her oneesan, Maiko Kikutsuru, but in different color. 

Her hair is decorated with seasonal kanzashi that are different from the ones worn by Senior Maiko - the ones worn by Maiko Kikune feature small blossoms while Maiko Kikutsuru and Kikumaru are wearing 1 big blossom. Also you can notice that Kikune chan is wearing flower bridge while senior Maiko san wear combs.

Junior Maiko Kikushino

For February Maiko Kikushino decided to wear white based hikizuri with plum blossom flowers which is accompanied by yellow obi. Her eri is red with white embroidery as she is still a young Maiko san. 

Her hairstyle is wareshinobu and is decorated with seasonal kanzashi although different in color.

Juban is always red for a maiko, with seasonal pattern.
On her feet she wears white tabi and she has spare pair in her kago basket.

Junior Maiko Kikuyae

The youngest Maiko in Hanafusa okiya, Maiko Kikuyae, has decided to wear deep purple hikizuri. The desing of it is exquisite - you can see tree covered with snow and little snowflakes falling while several plum branches are blooming. This hikizuri is specially reserved for February. Her obi is green with geometrical pattern.

Maiko Kikuyae is a young maiko so she is wearing red eri (collar) with little of white embroidery. If you look closely she has cranes embroidered on her eri - an auspicious motif.

Museum Event in Kyoto Kagai

The Museum of culture and art will be opened for the first time this year. The Museum employees have dusted away all the dust that had filled it during the holiday.
What happens?
Maiko san will perform skillfully for you before you may ask questions about their lifestyle, this event last 45 - 50 minutes. and starts at 10.20 am slt. After you are welcome to explore the exhibition and enjoy a walk around the Kyoto city region.

Day - Sunday
Date- 19th of february
Time - 10.20 am slt.

February Ozashiki Memories

From left to right:
Sr Maiko Kikutsuru(dark purple and shamisen),
Sr Maiko Kikumaru(red), Junior Maiko Kikune(green) and
Jr Maiko Kikuyae(purple with plum blossoms)

Several days ago we had fist springtime ozashiki in Hanahusa ochaya. A day before ozashiki, one patron asked me question that might interest You, my dear readers, too:"Springtime? Its still February - the last month on winter?!" Well, in Japanese seasonal calendar February is the first month of spring as starting from this time Momo or plum start to bloom. In some parts of Japan there is still snow and the plum trees bloom with red or pink blossoms,reminding us that soon spring will win over.

Sr Maiko Kikumaru during the dance

It was great pleasure to welcome so many new guests and also the sim patrons. Maiko Kikuyae and Maiko Kikune, although they are still 1st year maikos, served food and drinks quite skilfully, not spilling a drop of sake or soup. Maiko Kikutsuru impressed the ozashiki guests with her talented shamisen play. After every patron and guest has eaten, Maiko Kikumaru danced a dance, called "Only ancient willow tree knows the truth".

Ozashiki in Hanahusa ochaya TODAY

Dear Guests and Patrons of Kyoto Kagai sim,

It is with great pleasure to invite you to the springtime ozashiki of Hanahusa ochaya on Saturday 11th of February. Come and celebrate the breathtaking but short lasting beauty of blooming plum trees with the shamisen music and the sound of silk sleeves. You'll be offered special Miyagawacho "flying" sake and delicious green tea served by maikos of Hanafusa okiya.

Time of arrival: 12pm slt
Dress code: Semiformal

New Shikomi at Hanafusa okiya - Miharu chan

Shikomi Miharu(photo by her)

Dear readers of Hanafusa okiya blog,

I'm happy to announce that Okaasan Kikuyu has accepted a new trainee. Her name is Miharu chan.She has already started her training and she did help her sisters during the Setsubun 2017 celebrations by welcoming patrons and guests and helping them with their seats.

Lets all together wish her good luck on the path she has chosen!

Setsubun 2017 at Yasaka Jinja

Setsubun is the day preceding risshun that is the first day of spring according to the old Japanese calendar. On the day of Setsubun, many celebrations are held. Especially in Kyoto Kagai SL. Maiko san and Geiko san of Hanafusa okiya, dressed in their formal attire, danced sacred dances on the stage of the Yasaka Jinja shrine. After the dance, they participated in ancient auspicious custom of throwing roasted soybeans. While throwing they chanted: “In with Fortune! Out with Evil” in order to prevent evil ogres from entering the houses of tge guests and patrons of the Kyoto Kagai.

P.S. if you eat the same number of beans as your age you will have a year of good health! Itadakimasu!!

Participants: Okasan Kikuyu, Sr Maiko Kikutsuru, Sr Maiko Kikumaru, Jr Maiko Kikune, Jr Maiko Kikuyae abd our new shikomi Miharu(it was her first Setsubun, omedetou neechan!)

Photos: Jr Maiko Kikuyae

Hanafusa Okiya family togather with new member - Shikomi Miharu(pink kimono)

Posing for the poster....

Jr Maiko Kikuyae(left) and Sr Maiko Kikumaru(Right). Kikumaru san is oneesan and mentor of Maiko Kikuyae san

Setsubun 2017 in Yasaka Jinja(Kyoto Kagai sim) Poster. Made by Maiko Kikuyae

Shikomi Miharu(left), Jr Maiko Kikuyae(center) and Sr Maiko Kikumaru(right)

Sr Maiko Kikutsuru(left) and Okaasan Kikuyu(right). Geiko Kikuyu is oneesan of Maiko Kikutsuru

Okaasan Kikuyu and Jr Maiko Kikune

Setsubun 2017 at Kyoto Kagai

Come and experience formally dressed Maiko perform in the Pavillion of Yasaka Jinja. After the performance you will be able to catch some of the beans the maiko throw out. remember eat 1 for every year you have on your back maybe an extra for good measure? 

> Touch to get rikshaw to the event < 

Date - 4th of February

Time - 12pm slt

Event - Performance style - Setsubun

Duration - 45 minutes