Performance at Maiko Theater

Maiko Kikushino greeting guests

No matter the holidays, Kyoto Kagai continues to hold events. Last Sunday was no exception, as Geiko and Maiko of Hanafusa okiya performed for visitors at the Maiko Theater. "We'd like to encourage people to discover and learn about the life of Second life Geiko and Maiko san by meeting Hanafusa okiya members. As in RL, SL Karyukai is quite closed society, that is why we have decided to hold events, such as this, to promote and let guests feel free to ask questions, which they had but were shy to ask Geiko or Maiko. Either hairtyle or kimono, years of study or troubles of being SL Geiko - we will be happy to answer" - said Geiko Kikutsuru.
Maiko Kikushino gracefully greeted guests and led them towards the seats where her older sisters prepared for the performance behind the curtain.
When all guests and visitors were seated, she joined her neesan and the performance began. Two dances were performed - both choreographer and written by Geiko Kikumaru.
After Geiko and Maiko finished performing, they sat on the stage and waited excitedly for the questions about their life and careers.

from left to right: Maiko Kikune(pink), Geiko Kikumaru(beige), Geiko Kikutsuru(green)
Photo by Shikomi Amaya

 from left to right: Maiko Kikune(pink), Geiko Kikumaru(beige), Geiko Kikutsuru(green) and Maiko Kikushino(navy blue)
Photo by Shikomi Amaya

from left to right: Maiko Kikune(pink), Geiko Kikumaru(beige), Geiko Kikutsuru(green) and Maiko Kikushino(navy blue)
Photo by Shikomi Amaya

Story night at Kyoto Kagai sim

When the summer evenings get too hot, it is time for chilling story telling. Just imagine - you enter an old house that seems empty yet you can feel that there is somebody watching your every move. When joined by your friends you come into the biggest room of the house and sit on a zabuton that seem to have been prepared for your arrival. Geiko Kikutsuru takes a place in the center - a place reserved for the storyteller - and presents the guests of the event with a scary story...

Obon celebrations 2019

"Bon Odori" at Kyoto Kagai sim

When August is in its peak, every child knows that it is time for Obon celebrations in Kyoto Kagai sim. What can be better than dressing up in a nice cotton yukata, tying a colorful obi sash and admiring the fireworks, accompanied with horror stories? Definitely nothing!
That is why every year Kyoto Kagai sim holds Obon where everyone can come and participate and learn about this traditional feast. First of all, there was a Bon Odori or "Bon Dance", a sacred dance performed only on this special occasion. After the dance, guests could take a snack at the near-standing food stalls, or participate in festival games: catching a goldfish, shooting, darts etc. This year, our guests and patrons could compete with maiko and Geiko members of Hanafusa okiya and win some splendid prizes :)

"The time has come to say farewell..."

After guests have played games and danced the sacred Obon dance, the time has come to enjoy fireworks and floating lanterns on the stone bridge that crosses the Kamo river. By lighting a lantern and putting it on the clean waters of the river, we say farewell to the spirits that visit this world during Obon. By this, we remember our beloved once with joy...

Geiko Kikutsuru watching the lanterns floating on the Kamo river (photo taken by talented shikomi Amaya)

Maiko Kikune praying (photo by Shikomi Amaya)

Maiko Kikushino watching the lanterns(by Shikomi Amaya)

Shikomi Amaya chan helped with Obon celebrations

August Kitsuke

Mid-August in Kyoto Kagai...Geiko and Maiko from Hanafusa okiya are enjoying a beautiful walk around the sim in their semiformal garments and this means the time has come for our monthly kitsuke post!

P.S. Don't forget about Obon that will take place this weekend, take your friends and family with you as there will be fun for children as well as adults!

from left to right:
Geiko Kikutsuru(green), Maiko Kikushino(navy blue),  Maiko Kikune(pink gradient) and Geiko Kikumaru(beige)
Photo taken at Kyoto Kagai sim(http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/147/160/31)

Geiko Kikutsuru is wearing gorgeous green kimono with a bamboo design. Her obi is eye-catching and is a unique piece - it features lit paper lanterns of the Yamaboko floats during Gion Matsuri Festival. Also her juban undergarment has both red and pink, which is also a unique piece. In her hands she's holding a kago basket that has a kawaii golden fish charm hanging from it. On her feet you can notice Rikyu Geta, and not the most commonly worn Atomaru geta. 

Geiko Kikumaru's semiformal outfit for August features waves on the beige background. You can see at the back er kimono has waves hitting the rock design. As she is a fresh Geiko, who had her erikae in the end of the last month, her make up has some pink, less of course than her younger maiko sisters. With time there will be only red and black colors left to apply. As she is now wearing a more mature hairstyle, a wig actually, the decorations are also limited - maezashi at the front, a comb and seasonal tama at the back.

Maiko Kikune, as the most senior maiko in Hanafusa okiya, gets the first pick of newest hikizuri. So for August she is wearing a gradient kimono that goes from pink at the top to blue at the hem - newest creation from the Isomesh kimono shop. Carefully hand-painted water lily design are located on the sleeves and under the waist, reminding us that this piece can only be worn by a senior maiko. Her hair is decorated with newest seasonal kanzashi from the Kisetsu store - beautiful Asagao or Morning Glory.  

Maiko Kikushino is wearing beautiful dark navy hikizuri with fireflies design. It is one of the summer activities - to watch or catch fireflies so there is no wonder that the maker of this kimono wanted to depict this beautiful tradition. Her wareshinobu hairstyle is crowned with silver color flower which actually is pampass grass designed in a way of a flower. It is another seasonal motif for kanzashi apart from Asagao, that is worn mostly by Senior maiko. 

from left to right: Geiko Kikumaru, Maiko Kikune, Maiko Kikushino, Geiko Kikutsuru
Photo taken at Kyoto Kagai sim (http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/147/160/31)

Yukata Kai 2019

Last weekend Miyagawacho Kaburenjo held summer odori, know as Yukatakai. For those who do not know, this is annual event, in which maiko and geiko of Kyoto kagai sim participate in. During it, guests and patrons could admire talents as well as notice changes that came in the kagai since springtime. I'd like to mention that his year was special for Hanafusa okiya: it was first time performing at Yukatakai for Geiko Kikutsuru(she had her eriake last year) and fresh-after-erikae Geiko Kikumaru. Senior Maiko Kikune and 2nd year Maiko Kikushino have also matured in their dancing and writing skills.
For those honorable guests and patrons who couldn't come but extremely wished to, here is a small description of the acts. Please enjoy :)

Act 1: "Hayashi"

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

Okaasan Kikuyu welcomed patrons and guests to annual Yukatakai odori with a speech. During this act all members of Hanafusa okiya showed their skills by playing music instruments that are unique to Kagai: Maiko Kikune played drum called Otozumi, Geiko Kikutsuru san played the shinobue fue, Okaasan Kikuyu played the Kotozumi, Geiko Kikumaru played the drum known as shimedaiko and Maiko Kikushino played the shakuhachi.

Act 2: "Odori no Natsu "

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

During this act all Geiko and Maiko perform together and represent main Japanese celebrations of the summer: Obon and Tanabata. The main prop in this scene is summer fan called uchiwa with Hanafusa mon(crest)

Act 3: "Natsu no Hi"Ac

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

In this beautiful scene Geiko and Maiko from Hanafusa okiya are sharing self-written poems about summer. In their hands they are holding dance fans called maiougi. This style of maiougi is used only in Miyagawacho Hanamachi

Act 4: "Odori no Natsu wa Okiya"

from left to right: Geiko Kikumaru, Maiko Kikune, Maiko Kkushino and Geiko Kikutsuru

This scene focuses on the summer in the Kagai. During this scene Geiko san performed with wagasa(paper umbrellas) while Maiko used uchiwa

Act 5: "Natsu wa Hotaru"

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

In this final scene of Yukata Kai 2019 Geiko and Maiko from Hanafusa okiya again performed with summer uchiwa fans

Vintage Kyodai Gacha(by Kisetsu)

Picture by Kisetsu

Tired from the modern vanity tables that look all the same? Or maybe you are looking for good quality Japanese one? Than you must definitely visit this month's Gacha Garden.
For many years i have been searching for something like that and, thankfully, this August Kisetsu has made a perfect Kyodai set gacha. It has everything you might need during your beauty routine and also you can place many other beautifying products that you use daily and most important of all - you can adjust the size of these gacha items to fit your room, so no need to worry that it will be too small or too large.

P.S After 20 play you will be gifted a specially created for this event vanity table so do not worry.


Name: Vintage Kyodai Gacha
Creator: Kisetsu (Nix Marabana)
It has 2 rares (vanity table and zabuton pillow) as well as 7 commons(mirror stand, combs, combs cup, powder, bowls, jars and small drawers)
Available at Gacha Garden event (August 2019th): https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Gimme%20Gacha%20Productions/127/135/26
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

Geiko Kikumaru posing with Kyodai gacha set by Kisetsu
at Kyoto Kagai sim
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/105/224/33

Hassaku 2019

from left to right: Maiko Kikune(purple), Geiko Kikutsuru(blue),
Geiko Kikumaru(beige) and Maiko Kikushino(pink)

1st of August is always one of the most busy and important days in August for Hanafusa okiya members as this is the day of Hassaku. This year is really special for this famous okiya as it is first Hassaku for two new geiko san: Geiko Kikutsuru(who became geiko last year) and Geiko Kikumaru(who had her erikae last month). Also, for Maiko Kikune it is, in a way, as well first Hassaku since she became Senior maiko in the beginning of 2019 and first for Maiko Kkushino as she stepped into her second year of being a Maiko.
During this event, there was a new member spotted - her name is Amaya and she is a shikomi san in Hanafusa okiya. She was extremely busy helping her seniors to prepare that she excused herself after introducing and run to the okiya. This is great news as we can see how Hanafusa okiya is growing. Who knows, maybe soon we will get to celebrate misedashi?...
But for now, let us return to yesterday's event.So, what is Hassaku and why is it considered that important? Well, it is similar to greeting rounds that take place in winter(Shin Aishatsu) but, of course, there are several differences. Every year on this hot summer day, all okiya members from Miyagawacho Hanamachi dress up in their casual komon or iromuji and go on rounds, paying respects to teachers, establishments and sometimes long time patrons. Indeed, this takes time to make all visits and greet people that play important if not major part in the life of the okiya - kimono makers, local shop keepers, kanzashi makers, tea house owners, teachers, fan and prop makers etc. This is same both for Rl and SL, as Hanafusa okiya tried to keep all traditions as realistic as possible.
If you have seen pictures from Hassaku, you might have noticed that some Maiko and Geiko wear most formal kimono called kuromontsuki while others (as do Hanafusa maiko on the picture) - simpler kimono and no make up. So who wears what during Hassaku?
Gion Kobu: Maiko san and Geiko san from Gion Kobu hanamachi wear formal regalia (kuromontsuki with 5 crests of the okiya and formal obi, formal make up with 3 stripes, tortoise shell kanzashi alongside with august pampas hanakanzashi; in case or senior maiko hairstyle is called Yakko Shimada, while junior maiko wear their hair styled in Wareshinobu).
Gion Higashi: casual komon or iromuji, no make up, hairstyle: Wareshinobu or Ofuku
Kamishichiken: casual komon or iromuji, no make up, hairstyle: Wareshinobu or Ofuku
Miyagawacho: casual komon or iromuji, no make up, hairstyle: Wareshinobu or Ofuku
Pontocho: casual komon or iromuji, no make up, hairstyle: Wareshinobu or Ofuku
This is one of the best times to see the members of Kagai, as they flow through streets in small groups. Also, this is a good time for you to notice the changes that have occurred since springtime odori's: who has become senior, new members or who has returned to kagai etc. This year, Hanafusa okiya of Second Life has showed us that it has been doing quite well - 2 Geiko, 2 Maiko and 1 shikomi shows us that they keep flourishing. Let's wish them best!

Members of Hanafusa okiya posing in front of their okiya
from left to right: Maiko Kikushino(pink), Geiko Kikumaru(beige), Geiko Kikutsuru(blue), Maiko Kikune(purple) and
the newest member of the okiya Shikomi Amaya