Kyoto Kagai sim: upcoming events

 Dear guests and patrons, this week Kyoto Kagai sim will be holding several events dedicated to Hina Matsuri - Girl's day in Japan.

🌸 March 3rd - Wednesday 10 am slt - Hina Matsuri mini ozashiki

🌸 March 6th - Saturday 3 am slt - Hina Matsuri event

You are welcome to explore the sim and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the springtime Kyoto

Lm: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/147/155/31

Baikasai at Kitano Tenmangu (2021)

 Yesterday, Kitano Tenmangu shrine for the first time held Baikasai - Ume Blosom festival. The outdoor tea ceremony was performed twice - first at 3 am slt and second - 10 am slt so that guests and patrons from different timezones could enjoy this event.

Geiko Kikutsuru let the guests into the specially built for this event tent and told the story of about Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, the plum blossoms and about the festival

The tea ceremony was performed by Geiko Kikumaru (otemae), whilst Maiko Kikune and Maiko Kikushino (ohikae) helped with serving wagashi and tea.

Those who have missed the event we would like to encourage to visit Kitano tenmangu temple grounds of Kyoto Kagai sim so that they could enjoy the blooming plum trees. The best time to view the blossoms is the period from the end of February until the middle of March, when ume trees with either red or white blossoms, and both single and double-flowered blossoms fill the Baien Ume garden with their sweet fragrance.

Kitano Tenmangu & Ume Gardens Tour, Wednesday 24th @ 10 am slt

Tomorrow, Wednesday 24th at 10 am slt, please join us for an informative tour around Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in the Kamishichiken district of Kyoto, as we wander through the sweet perfume of the Ume gardens and finally enjoy tea and wagashi treats in the pavilion where the tour guide will answer any of your questions.

Date&time: Wednesday 24th of February, 10 am slt

Your taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/78/43/32

Baikasai coming this weekend!

 Dear guests and patrons,

Kyoto Kagai Sim this weekend invites you to enjoy Baikasai (first plum blossom festival ). This centuries old festival will take place on the grounds of Kitano Tenmangu shrine in a special tent-like construction, that is surrounded with blooming ume (plums). In the centerstage of the festival lays an outdoor tea ceremony or "nodate" performed by skilled geiko and maiko from Hanafusa okiya SL. 

This year tea ceremony will be held 2 times - 3 am slt and 10 am slt, so that guests and patrons from different time zones could come and enjoy first plum blossom festival with us!

Date&Time: February 27th, 3 am slt and 10 am slt

Your Taxi:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/35/43/32

February Kitsuke

Spring is slowly but firmly sis strating to take over Kyoto Kagai sim. Although there's still some snow the ground, first plum blossoms are starting to peak through the icy harden barks. One by one, all of the Plum trees will soon take over the area with their beautiful and magnificent sweet scent

Geiko Kikutsuru

For this month, Geiko Kikutsuru has chosen to wear gradient pink kimono with spring motif: ume blossoms, pine, bamboo leaves, sakura petals. It is tied with elegant vine obi that has a hand-painted kimono and silk on a hanger. 

Her juban is pink and features blossom pattern. Geiko also use red juban but mostly for the formal events when they wear kuromontsuki.

Sometimes geiko can wear warm fur shawls during winter, epsecially on the colder days.

Kikutsuru san is wearing a wig, styled in Geiko Shimada style also known as Chuu Taka Shimada. It is decorated with carefully chosen seasonal maezashi pin featuring ume blossom.

On her feet you can spot winter geta that are perfect for cool winter ways and protect Geiko's white tabi from the snow.

Geiko Kikumaru

Her sister and imouto, Geiko Kikumaru, decided on wearing beautiful and very expensive white geiko hikizuri, with water and mandarin ducks motif on it. This piece is held with silver obi that fits the kimono perfectly. The motif on the obi is known as "sayayagata" and it is a pattern of interlocking manji (swastika). In South Asia, the Manji is omnipresent as a symbol of wealth and good fortune and is used as a religious symbol in Buddhism.

As a finishing touch, Kikumaru san has added a small plum bosom maezashi(small hairpin) to her katsura.

In her left hand Geiko Kikumaru is holding a bright red kago that has Kikumaru san's name embroidered on it. This is a special kago that was gifted by okaasan on the day of the Misedashi way back in 2013.

Maiko Kikune

Maiko Kikune's February kitsuke consists of fabulous light blue hikizuri with hand-painted spring blossom motif and a golden obi, different from two of her Geiko sisters'  - it is much longer(over 7 meters!) called darari obi. Please notice a delicate pocchiri, tied with red obijime - this is the most expensive element in the maiko's wardrobe. 

Her juban is bright red with plum and sakura blossoms on it. As mentioned before red juban can be optional by geiko but is a must for maiko.

During Setsubun Maiko san in some districts switch from their normal hairstyles to more elaborate ones. This year from Maiko Kikune wore Oshidori mesu hairstyle, which is quite rare and means to mimic the look of a male mandarin duck. You can see a large and eye-catching kusudama hanakanzashi decorating this unique hair.

Maiko Kikushino

The youngest flower of the Hanafusa okiya bouquet, Maiko Kikushino, is wearing light green hikizuri with blossom arabesque and kusudama design. It is tied with beautiful black Darari Obi that features maioghi and kotsuzumi. The style of the Hikizuri of Maiko Kikushino are getting more mature and simplistic which means that she is progressing on her path of a Maiko.

For Setsubun Maiko Kikushino switched from Wareshinobu to Osome hairstyle. This hairstyle is worn by junior maiko in their second or third year into profession.

Both Maiko Kikune and Kikushino are wearing special style of geta, known as Okobo or Pokurri. These are only reserved for the Maiko and you can tell he rank by looking at the straps holding the foot - if you see red than it means that the wearer is Junior Maiko and if you see pink or other - Senior. You can notice the difference in the picture above

Setsubun at Kyoto Kagai sim (2021)

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 from 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 the 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: Geiko Kikutsuru, Geiko Kikumaru, Maiko Kikune and Maiko Kikushino