New Shikomi in Hanafusa okiya - Amaya san!

Shikomi Amaya

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          Watashi no namae wa Amaya desu
           I am Shikomi of Hanafusa okiya
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I was born in Kyoto, to the Okami of a small but local ochaya in the Miyagawacho Hanamachi. My mother was never a geiko, just the daughter of the previous okami san my obaasan. I can remember every since I was little seeing geiko and maiko san fluttering in and out of the ochaya. 

At 6 years old my mother caught me peeking through a small opening in the fusuma doors watching intently as the geiko played her shamisen and the maiko danced to Gion Kouta. In that moment my mother realized I was interested in this life.

It was no shock to her, when at 15 I graduated from Kyoto Shimogyō Junior High School and told her I wished to be a geiko, one of those elegant women I had admired for so long. In the morning on a humid July day, my mother led me to Hanafusa Okiya where I would be accepted as a shikomi and begin my studies

Yukata Kai coming soon!

On Sunday 11th of August Geiko and Maiko of Hanafusa okiya will perform in the Summer odori - Yukata Kai. This is a very special odori as there will be two Geiko performing performing for the first time - Kikutsuru and Kikumaru, as well as Senior Maiko Kikune and 2nd year junior Maiko kikushino. And of course Okaasan Kikuyu will also join the odori, as part of annual tradition 
You are welcome to come enjoy this 5 act performance.
･:*:･ﾟ☆   Time of arrival: 10.15 am slt
･:*:･ﾟ☆　Time odori begin: 10.30 am slt
･:*:･ﾟ☆　Time odori ends: 11.50 am slt
･:*:･ﾟ☆    Your taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/189/203/31
Pictures after are to be taken in the room between exit and theater audience room. Maiko will attend photo shoot. During performance you may take pictures as long as they do not interfere the performance.

In case you would like to receive a poster, please contact Maiko Kikumaru(belliebeth) in world.

Maiko Kikune and Maiko Kikushino poing for this years YukataKai poster

Seasonal Kanzashi - Asagao(Morning Glory)

Kisetsu continues to shower us with beautiful seasonal hair ornaments. As we are close to August, the time has come for Asagao or Morning glory kanzashi hairpins, available at SaNaRae from 26th of July till 17th of August.

Morning glory is bit of odd flower - not considered majestic, nor regal, nor auspicious, nevertheless you can see it all around Japan. It blooms around July-August. It is said to have been brought to Japan from China way back during Nara period and was a beloved flower of the Edo people, who bread it in large quantities. Nowadays, this unique flower one of the few flowers that recognized as a perfect summer motif .

For July/August SaNaRae event, Kisetsu has prepared 6 different color styles of Asagao Tsumami Kanzashi - Blue, cool mix, pink, purple, sweet mix and teal. Each style consists of 3 pieces - Hana Kanzashi (the bigger piece on the right), small kanzashi and a flower bridge with several flowers. A perfect decoration for your hair in August, ne?

Hair decoration: Tsumami Kanzashi - Asagao
Creator: Kisetsu (Nix Marabana)
Available at SaNaRae: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Spring%20Morning/192/136/4013
After the event you can find these amazing Japanese hairpins in the Kisetsu shop, alongside with high quality Japanese footwear, bags, kimono, hairstyles etc: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Multitudes/122/141/18

A new Geiko is born!

Geiko Kikumaru posing in-front of the posters congratulating her on her Erikae

Erikae Celebrations in Hanahusa ochaya

Yesterday, Hanahusa ochaya opened its doors for everyone to take part in the celebratory ozahsiki on the occasion of Erikae of Maiko Kikumaru. After 5 years of apprenticeship, okaasan Kikuyu saw Kikumaru san to be fit and mature enough to become Geiko and yesterday guests were able to see the first dance of a new Geiko and taste special celebratory dishes.
Oneesan of Geiko Kikumaru, Geiko Kikutsuru, accompanied the dance with a skillful play on koto.
After the ozahsiki, all the guests were able to take photos with the new geiko in the genkan that was all decorated with congratulatory posters.

First dance of a new Geiko Kikumaru; Geiko Kikutsuru is playing Koto

Danpatsu no Shiki

Geiko Kikuyu playing shamisen

On Friday evening a special ceremony took place in Hanahusa ochaya. Behind the closed doors, surrounded by closest friends and family, Kikumaru san celebrated her last day as a Maiko.
The celebratory ozashiki started in early evening with a magnificent feast and continued up until midnight. Expensive high-class sake, delicious fresh sashimi and of course lots of traditional sweets were prepared for the guests on this special occasion. After honorable guests have eaten and enjoyed a witty conversation with Hanafusa Maiko and geiko, Okaasan of Hanafusa okiya, geiko Kikuyu performed on the shamisen while Kikumaru san danced "Kurokami" - the last dance of a Maiko.
After the dance, Kikumaru san sat on the special zabuton while okaasan Kikuyu prepared utensils for the ceremony of Danpatsu no shiki. When everything was ready, Kikuyu-okaasan removed all the kanzashi and hairpins from the hair of her maiko daughter and placed them on a tenugui. Than she took special ceremonial scissors and cut several cords that were holding the hair of Kikumaru san.

Dampatsu no shiki

Than Kikutsuru san, oneesan of the geiko-to-be, was called up and was handed the scissors. Kikumaru san smiled towards her oneesan and a small tear flowed from her eye but oneesan quickly caught it with her handkerchief. Sisterhood is something that can be both in RL and in SL. Truth to say, this moment is extremely emotional as after 5 years of being a maiko, there is no way back, you are to become geiko.
Geiko Kikutsuru cut several cords and gave the scissors to Maiko Kikune, now most senior maiko in Hanafusa okiya. After she has cut a hair cord, imouto of Maiko Kikumaru, Maiko Kikushino, took the scissors and cut a cords holding the hair.
After, all her sisters have moved towards the byobu and the honored guests came forward. In the end of the ceremony, the hair was freed from the Sakkou hairdo, and was simply tied into a bun.
It is now done - a new geiko bowed towards the guests thanking them for the support and asking not to forge about her in the future.

from left to right: Maiko Kikushino, Maiko Kikune, Geiko Kikumaru, Geiko Kikutsuru

Public erikae celebrations this week!

Hanafusa okiya proudly announces about the Erikae of Geiko Kikumaru and invites You, your friends and family to join the special celebrations that will take place this Saturday.
A new Geiko is born, let's welcome her together!

❀ Date: 27th of July
❀ Time: 11 am slt
❀ Your taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/229/181/31

Tanabata celebrations

Last weekend Kyoto Kagai sim hosted Tanabata - the start festival. According to legend, each July 7(7th day of the 7th month of the Lunar calendar) two stars, Altair and Vegae, which are usually separated, travel the Milky Way to renew their ancient bond of love. In RL as well as in SL Japan, we celebrate their reunion of two lovers by taking part in summer games and enjoying delicious foods from the stalls. One particular tanabata tradition says that by writing wishes on the colorful piece of paper and hanging it on the bamboo will make your wish come true. Have you tried?

Time for some summer games!

Fireworks!
(from left to right: Maiko Kikumaru wearing a mask, Geiko Kikutsuru and Maiko Kikune)

They see each other only once in a year...

A small shinto shrine

Seasonal Kanzashi: Matsuri/sensu

Summer is here, with sunny days, warm evenings, strolls in the parks, fresh berries and of course festivals. During summer months RL as well as Second life flourishes with events as does hydrangea blooms in the gardens.

So many questions come into your mind before even going anywhere: what to wear? how to make your hair and what decorations to use? This means only one thing..SHOPPING! And SaNaRae event comes right on time.

And for this month's SaNaRae event, Kisetsu has prepared 6 different color styles of Matsuri/Sensu Kanzashi - Soft, Cool, Kikyou, Tropic, Rain and White. Each style consists of 3 pieces - Hana Kanzashi (the bigger piece on the right), small kanzashi and a flower bridge with several flowers. So elaborate! If you are maiko or geiko, you can wear it as July summer Kanzashi or just during Gion Matsuri. If you're not, what is important, you can wear those as a hair decoration even if you are not maiko - they suit even a simple hairdo.

Hair decoration: Matsuri/kanzashi
Creator: Kisetsu (Nix Marabana)
Available at SaNaRae: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Spring%20Morning/192/136/4013
After the event you can find these amazing Japanese hairpins in the Kisetsu shop, alongside with high quality Japanese footwear, bags, kimono, hairstyles etc: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Multitudes/122/141/18

Maiko Kikumaru wearing Matsuri/Sensu Kanzashi by Kisetsu
Photo taken at Kyoto Kagai sim 

Erikae of Maiko Kikumaru coming soon this month!

In the event of our Maiko, Kikumaru becoming a Geiko at the end of this month, we welcome you to order a congratulation poster to gift her with.

• Please include your name as you want it on the poster ( either in Kanji,Hiragana/katekana or - Your name as it is written using your own Alphabet. 
• Send your wish to Geiko Kikutsuru ( Miehina Resident) 

I hope that you will be able to join us for the Erikae when the day comes(from 26 till 28th of July) and before that time we encourage you, your family and friends to partake in our weekly events where Maiko Kikumaru will be in her stunning sakkou kitsuke perforing the last dance of a maiko.

Maiko Kikumaru in her Sakkou kitsuke at the Maruyama park(Kyoto kagai sim)