Ozashiki at Hanahusa ochaya

Dear Guests and Patrons of Kyoto Kagai sim,
It is with great pleasure to invite you to the summertime ozashiki of Hanahusa ochaya on Saturday 1st of July. Come and relax in a cooling atmosphere of ochaya along with the traditional Japanese music and the rustle of silk sleeves. You'll be offered special Miyagawacho "flying" sake and other refreshing beverages served by maikos of Hanafusa okiya
Date: Saturday 17th of June
Time: 12 pm slt

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/220/44/25

Museum Event in Kyoto Kagai

Minarai Kikuteru during the Kyo mai dance

Performing 

Kyoto Kagai sim's life never stops, no matter the weather or holidays. As well as in real life kagai, we also hold performances for tourists and those who want to know more about the Japanese traditions as well as maiko and geiko culture. They are held in Kyoto Museum and usually consists of two parts: first part is a poem or a story accompanied by a kyo mai dance. It is one of maiko san duties to write good poetry and stories as well as a dance to fit it. The second part, guests can ask maiko or  geiko questions. Questions are usually regarding training and careeer: starting from hair and kanzashi hairpins, tips about choosing a perfect kimono, favorite shops, lessons at nyokoba school, favorite second life places etc. to "how to be as perfect" and sisterhood relations in okiya.

Maiko Kikune during the dance

This is a good way for new residents and guests to meet maiko san and admire their talents. For the convenience of our guests, these events are held on Sundays, once or sometimes twice a month 10.20 am slt. Performers are members of Hanafusa okiya. Arare sight - senior maikos, that are not far from their erikae perform side by side with newly debuted young maikos.
We are always happy to meet new people that come to our performances. So do not be shy next time, come to Museum event and enjoy the amusing dance and charming looks of maiko san from Hanafusa okiya.

Ozashiki at Hanahusa ochaya

Dear Guests and Patrons of Kyoto Kagai sim,
It is with great pleasure to invite you to the summertime ozashiki of Hanahusa ochaya on Saturday 17th of June. Come and relax in a cooling atmosphere of ochaya along with the traditional Japanese music and the rustle of silk sleeves. You'll be offered special Miyagawacho "flying" sake and delicious green tea served by maikos of Hanafusa okiya
Date: Saturday 17th of June
Time: 12 pm slt
Here is your taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/220/44/25

Ozashiki at Oume

Maiko at Ozashiki

Not only Hanafusa okiya maiko perform at Hanahusa ochaya. During weeks there are ozashiki also at Oume - high class wine restaurant where maiko san serve and dance for guests same as during saturday ozashikis. Here guests can enjoy expensive types of wines and converse with intelligent yet humble maiko or geiko.
This ozashiki was provided by the proprietress of the Oume, whi invited Maiko Kikutsuru as oldest maiko, two younger maikos Kikune and Kikuyae and Minarai Kikuteru. Oneesan Maiko Kikutsuru played shamisen and provided the music accompaniment for the ozashiki. Younger maiko and minarai chatted with guests, alongside learning the way of perfect behavior from their older sister. They watched her moves and way she speaks, so that in the future teach their imoutos the ideal way of being a maiko.

Ozashiki at Hanahusa ochaya (Saturday 10th of June)

Maiko Kikumaru during her dance

Yesterday Hanahusa ochaya held an ozashiki for the members of the hanamachi. This was quiet yet cozy event: ochaya commissioned traditional Japanese summer sweets, cold types of tea and unique Miyagawacho "flying" sake. Maiko Kikune and Kikuyae served guests with great care while young Maiko Kikuteru, who debuted not far back in time, was to "look and learn".
After the guests have finished their meal, candles were lit and Maiko Kikumaru performed poetical dance called "The fan of Lady Izumi"(both poem and dance is created by her).
Though it was a simple event, it is great honor to entertain such a delightful audience. In every dace, in every sake cup, in any move maiko or geiko share their love and admiration for the profession, even in sl...

Okiya News!

Dear guests and readers of my blog,
I am happy to announce that Maiko Kikune of Hanafusa okiya is now ichinimae maiko, meaning that she has stepped into her second year as a Maiko san. She will have different kanzashi from her younger sisters, Kikushino and Kikuyae, yet no ones that her older sisters wear. Also she will have difference in make up from her neechans..Well, let me explain this to you, using pictures of our little summer star ^^

Maiko Kikune in 1st year maiko attire

On this picture you can see Junior Maiko Kikune as a Haninmae or 1st Year Maiko, same as Maiko Kikushino and Kikuyae. Her hairdo is called wareshinobu, decorated with seasonal kanzashi. She is wearing a "dangling" part, that resembles her young stature. Her make up has lots of pink and has only the lower lip painted.
Her duty is mostly to serve food and drinks, welcoming guests at ozashiki; rarely dance as they need to learn all dances by heart. And that does take a lot of time. Right before a maiko changes rank, she can be allowed to wear clothes from the
next rank. Here we see young maiko

Maiko kikune in her 2nd year attire

wearing more senior kimono.
On the second picture you can see Kikune san as she is now, ichinmae maiko or second year maiko. She is still wearing her wareshinobu hairdo and she'll continue wearing it till her mizuage. If you look at the kanzashi, the "dangling" part is missing. Also you can notice that her upper lip is painted. Though, lips are not as big are of Maiko Kikutsuru or Maiko Kikumaru. Also she will have her eri(collar) decorated with more white, which will show that she is maturing. She is now also having more variety in semiformal outfits. Also she will start performing more at ozashikis. With new rank comes new responsibilities, but let us all wish her look as the hardest year is behind. Omedetou san dosu!

June Kitsuke of Hanafusa okiya members

As the temperature is rising dramatically, The Geiko san and Maiko san of Hanafusa okiya change

their warm lined hikizuri to unlined ones. Their everyday wardrobes have changed too - now you can meet a maiko, walking to her lessons at Nyokoba, wearing a nice summer yukata with a summer  fan, called uchiwa, in her hand...

Geiko Kikuyu

Okaasan Kikuyu in her June semiformal attire

For June, Okaasan Kikuyu has chosen a light green susohiki that fades into white near the hem. This susohiki has a special effect - it gives you the feeling of freshness and has a cooling effect on your mind and body. Near the hem we can see the white juban with red flowers. This style of juban is only used by mature geiko san.
The obi sash is black with golden and orange geometrical pattern. It is tied in a style called "drum"(taiko).
Her hair is decorated with a woden kushi, usually used for summer months and a maezashi hairpin. As you can recall from my previous posts, geiko san wear wigs, called Katsura, while maiko san wear hairdos made from their own hair.

Senior Maiko Kikutsuru

Senior Maiko Kikutsuru wearing her June semiformal attire

Kikutsuru san is wearing a multi seasonal bright green hikizuri made with shibori technique with hand-painted motifs of origami cranes, flowers and fans. This is an absolutely new hikizuri and she is the first to wear it. Her juban is red and features summer waves alongside seashells and sea stars.
Her obi is black, featuring summer flowers painted on fan shaped golden backgrounds.
In her hand she is holding her kago basket that has a goldfish trinket and goldfish pattern.
Her hairdo is called Ofuku and is decorated with seasona ajisai kanzashi. This month has two flowery symbols - willow tree and ajisai(hydrangea flowers).
Let's also remember that this is the last year of Kikutsuru as a Maiko. Next year at this time she will be wearing a beautiful Geiko's susohiki, meaning she will be a geiko san. Susohiki and hikizuri is the same style of Kimono worn, by both Geiko and Maiko. what makes the two different, is that in the style of a Geiko hikizuri/susohiki the shoulder nor sleeve area have tucks, the sleeves are also shorter, they reach to about the hips or upper thighs of the Geiko. The Maiko's susohiki/hikizuri have tucks in the shoulders, as well as tucks in the sleeves, the sleeves is also very long reaching nearly to the ankle of the maiko.

Senior Maiko Kikumaru

Senior Maiko Kikumaru wearing her June semiformal attire

As June is quite a hot month, Maiko Kikumaru has chosen a white hikizuri with a blue dew on grass pattern all over. It is called Tsuyushiba. As one younger maiko said: "It looks like clouds on the sky". Her Juban has a spring/summer/autumn pattern.

It is held by the long Darari obi, that is a Hakata obi in the Kenjo gera design (that type of obi design has length-wise stripes). In the end of the obi you can see the mon (crest) of Hanafusa okiya.

In her hands she is holding blue kago with star trinket and small stars painted on the kago itself.

She has the same hairstyle as her oneesan, Maiko Kikutsuru but as Kikumaru san is younger, the kanoko on her ofuku is pink. It is decorated with similar ajisai kanzashi as the hairdo of her oneesan.

Junior Maiko Kikune

Maiko Kikune has become ichinmae maiko. You can read about it >here<

Junior Maiko kikune wearing her semiformal June attire

Maiko Kikune san is now a second year maiko so not only her looks but also her wardrobe has been changed. Now she can wear more elaborate and "mature" hikizuri like this subtle green, that has pattern only on her left shoulder.
Her juban is multiseasonal, with decorative flowers and willow. Her obi is black with butterfly pattern. This is another innovation in her carrier - she is allowed to use darker colors, like black. ( which all ranks may wear occasionally, but it is always preferred bright colours on younger apprentices)
As she is still jr Maiko, her hairdo is the same as it was before, it is called Wareshinobu. While senior Maiko can choose between willow and hydrangea kanzashi, Junior maiko do not have this choice. That is why Kikune san's hair is crowned with willow kanzashi, though shorter than her young sisters.

Junior Maiko Kikushino

Junior Maiko Kikushino wearing her semiformal attire

Junior Maiko Kikushino wearing her semiformal attire
Young Maiko Kikushino is wearing an extremely summertime hikizuri - it features hydrangea, lilies and water handicapped motifs. Her juban is similar to her neesans and features decorative flowers.
Her obi is beige and is decorated with hydrangea flowers and some geometrical motifs.
In her hands she is holding a similar kago as her oneesan, Maiko Kikutsuru, but this has a different color.
Her hairdo is Wareshinobu(same as Kikune san) and it is decorated with willow kanzashi. She is still a 1st year maiko so she has to use the "dangling" kanzashi. These dangling type of kanzashi are childish in style and are to show the young stature of maiko.

Junior Maiko Kikuyae

Junior Maiko Kikuyae wearing her June semiformal attire

Junior Maiko Kikuyae wearing her June semiformal attire
The youngest maiko of Hanafusa okiya, Maiko Kikuyae is wearing white with orange geometrical figures in a shibori styled hikizuri. Her juban is similar to Kikutsuru san's and it is a very Summertime in style.
Her Obi has an orange background with dew on grass pattern. Her Orange obi fits the orange geometrical figures on the hikizuri.
Her hair is styled in the traditional junior maiko hairdo. Her kanzashi are willow styled ones and are similar to Kikushino neesan.
In a short time, Kikuyae chan will become 2nd year maiko. Until than she will be decorating her hair with dangling kanzashi and painting only lower lip.

Minarai Kikuteru

Young Minarai Kikuteru

The youngest member of Hanafusa okiya, Minarai Kikuteru, who has debuted less than two weeks ago is now starting to get more involved in the life of the Karyukai. She is already invited to the ozashiki alongside her older sisters to observe the job from the shortest distance. She will only get a few chances to dance for guests but she can help her older sisters with serving food and drinks to guests. She is also helping to guide the visitors of Kyoto kagai around the sim. Her mentor and older sister was chosen Maiko Kikutsuru.

Minarai Kikuteru in her June attire

In Miyagawacho, Minarai do not wear special minarai outfits all the time during the rank. In more or less 2 weeks from the minaraia,
she will start wearing the same hikizuri as Junior maiko does. Also in Miyagawacho Minarai san do not wear minarai kanzashi, but those worn by junior maiko. This time it is willow. Her hikizuri has a blue background with water and seashell game pattern. Her eri is almost fully red with a beautiful auspicious crane pattern. This should bring her luck on the path she has chosen.