How unexpected in
the dormancy of winter --
from between the trees
I almost see them as flowers,
the snowflakes that have fallen.
(Ki no Tsurayuki, (ca. 872-945))
LM: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/67/203/31
Do not forget to take an umbrella with you ❄️
This coming Saturday Maiko Kikune of Hanafusa Okiya will take the step that not many before her choose to do in the SL Karyukai, she will become a Geiko. We hope that you will be able to join us this Saturday to celebrate all her accomplishments and dedication.^^
"Becoming Geiko after 6 years of training at an Erikae ceremony is a once in a lifetime event that I wish to share with you. I dearly hope you will be able to attend on December 4th 2021 at 11:00 A.M. SLT."
- Maiko Kikune of Hanafusa okiya
Date&Time: Saturday, 4th of December, 11.00 AM slt
Your taxi to Ichirikitei tea house : http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/122/178/31
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| Maiko Kikune and her oneesan Geiko Kikutsuru Both from Hanafusa okiya |
In the event of Kikune san's Erikae ( official debut as a fully fledged Geisha) We are now accepting bookings for Congratulations posters, that will be placed on display in the Okiya and ochaya.
If you wish to have one assigned to Kikune in your name, please contact Geiko Kikutsuru ( Miehina resident) with a NC including your Name either as a kanji or written in English.
Please let us come together and celebrate this rare and special event in the second life's flower and willow world together ^_^
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| Maiko Kikuyae posing in front of the Mokuroku (congratulation posters) |
Yesterday, Ichirikitei tea house held a public banquet in order to celebrate the debut of Maiko Kikuyae from Hanafusa okiya. For those who wanted but couldn't come, here are few photos from the event. Big thanks to the photograph - Maiko Toshimomo of Komayaka okiya
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| Maiko Kikiuyae performing her misedashi dance and poem "Its a long way" |
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| Geiko Kikumaru accompanied the dance with a shamisen melody |
On the 2nd day of Misedashi celebrations, Hanafusa okiya and their new Maiko Kikuyae san continue to receive sincere congratulations and warm gifts from friends and patrons. Kikuyae san and her oneesan Geiko Kikumaru are thankful for all the attention and support and are humbly asking for the same support in the future.
When evening came, it was time for celebratory event, an very special ozashiki. As this event is private, we will not post pictures from it, just a small photo taken outside the Hanafusa okiya when Kikumaru san and Kikuyae san were walking towards the tea house. Let's all together give Maiko Kikuyae, whose name means "Many chrysanthemums around the bay", a warm welcome into the profession and wish her luck on the artistic path she has chosen.
Misedashi - is the most important event in any maiko's life. From now on, the new girl is seen as official part of the Kagai, no matter if its RL or SL.
And one of the most important events in Misedashi is the ceremony called San san Kudo, which can be translated as "three times three". What is about this ceremony that makes it so special? Well, this is the ceremony or better to say a ritual, similar to the one used in weddings, that is performed to bound a new Maiko (imouto) and her Oneesan (maiko or geiko who will be her mentor, "older sister"). There is also highly respected and honorable person, who performs the ceremony - in SL Hanafusa okiya it is Okaasan. Like it is during the wedding, the Sake is poured into 3 different cups which represent different yet important aspects. When drinking, you bring the sake cup 2 times to your lips and only by the 3rd sip you can sip. That is how you get three times three! This ceremony is so important that participants wear most formal kuromontsuki (formal hikizuri with 5 crests of the okiya) and most expensive hair ornaments.
Though Sansan kudo ceremony is no public and can not be witnessed by outsiders, we would like to welcome everyone to public celebrations on the Misedashi (debut) of Maiko Kikuyae of Hanafusa okiya that will take place this Sunday 11 am slt at Ichirikitei ochaya (http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/122/178/31)
It is an honor and pleasure to announce the Misedashi (debut) of Maiko Kikuyae of Hanafusa okiya, that will take place during the upcoming weekend.
To celebrate this special day, on Sunday, November 28th, at 11 am slt Ichirikitei ochaya will hold special Misedashi Ozashiki with high class Kyo Kaiseki, served by Hanafusa okiya members dressed in their Best attires. The highlight of the event will be beautiful dance and poem, performed by the newest flower of Second Life Kagai, who's name means "Many chrysanthemums around the bay"
❀ Date: Sunday 28th of November
❀ Time: 11 am slt
❀ Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/122/178/31
Kikuyae san's misedashi celebrations are starting on Friday November 26th and will last till Sunday November 28th. On Sunday 28th, 11 am slt there will be a grand public ozashiki and Hanafusa okiya would like to welcome friends and patrons to join this very special celebration Please visit Kyoto Kagai more often during the upcoming weekend because then you will be able to whiteness the young flower of the kagai, Maiko Kikuyae, wearing her special Misedashi costume.
In the event of her debut we are now taking orders for the congratulation posters. If you wish to have one assigned to Kikuyae chan with your name I ask that you contact Geiko Kikumaru(belliebeth) with a nc including your name and kanji if you wish it to be in kanji.
* Misedashi - formal debut of Maiko, literary means "open for business". New maiko is presented to hanamachi and the society. She wears Kuromontsuki(formal, black, crested kimono) with with matching formal golden obi and with the okiya crest on the bottom. No obijime or obidome. During Misedashi maiko wears wareshinobu hairstyle with distinguishable kanzashi: special hair ornaments of tortoiseshell called chirikan, two ougi bira kanzashi( silver, fan-shaped kanzashi with silver flutters hanging by rings). She will also wear miokuri(bands of metal sticking out from the bottom of the bun).
Amazing news coming from Hanafusa okiya - Maiko Kikune was spotted wearing formal attire and with her hair styled into Sakkou hairstyle. This means that in about a month Hanafusa okiya will have new Geiko. Kikune san's erikae celebrations will take place in beginning of winter and we encourage You to come and witness this extremely rare event in the life of the Second Life Karyukai
Now lets have a look at the outfit that Kikune san will wear during her "sakkou" stage:
Hair: during this last month as a maiko, a very special Sakkou (also known as saki kogai) hairstyle is worn and that is why this stage if often referred to as "sakkou". Before it was adopted by Karyukai, it was worn by the brides-to-be during the Edo era and it signified a dedication for a future husband. Nowadays, by wearing sakkou geiko-to-be shows her dedication for the profession and willingness to continue as part of the Karyukai. As you can see, from the front it does remind a normal Maiko hairstyle(such as ofuku or wareshinobu) but if you look at the back you will notice how extravagant this hairstyle really is - elegant and smooth lines of hair, decorated with silver wires and red bands. Truly, a masterpiece!
Kanzashi: specially ordered custom made daikan kanzashi crowns the hair of Maiko Kikune - it features crane flying upon a pine and a bekou fan that has Hanafusa mon (crest). all of these elements are considered lucky and are to bring good fortune. 2 bekkou hairpins and kushi were gifted to her by her oneesan Geiko Kikutsuru
Make up: Formal make up with three lines at the back is worn and you can notice that there is more black and almost none pink, meaning she is now a mature lady
Eri(collar): with formal sakkou looks also comes special eri that has red background with beautiful golden embroidery(small golden dots)
Kimono and obi: as Sakkou stage is considered a highly formal occasion, Kikune san will be wearing most ceremonial, custom made black kuromontsuki that has 5 Hanafusa crests on it. This masterpiece features peonies. Peony (Botan) is known as the 'King of the Flowers' and symbolizes good fortune (wealth), high honour (nobility) and ageless beauty. It is tied golden obi that has noble cart motif. .
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| Maiko Kikune posing near tokonoma at Ichirikitei chaya (Kyoto Kagai sim) |
Yesterday, Ichirikitei hosted a very special event. It held fist ozashiki banquet during which soon geiko-to-be Maiko Kikune first time in her career performed Kurokami. This dance is extremely special for every maiko as it is the last dance one performs before becoming a full-fledged Geiko! Maiko performs it wearing her most formal black kuromontsuki kimono and her hair styled in Sakkou hairstyle.
Accompaniment was provided by oneesan of Maiko Kikune - Geiko Kikutsuru
Dear Friends and Patrons,
it is my pleasure to invite you to our very first November ozashiki of 2021
I hope that you can make it, as we are hosting a special dance this evening performed by Geiko to be, Maiko Kikune. We have also made room for fun games, relaxing conversation and delicious food ^_^
Looking forward to seeing you this weekend
🍁 Date&Time: Saturday 13th of November, 11 am slt
🍁 Place: Ichirikitei ochaya of Kyoto Kagai sim
🍁 TP: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/122/178/31
山紅葉入日を空へ返す哉
yama momiji irihi wo sora e kaesu kana
mountain's red leaves
the setting sun returns
to the sky
(Haiku by Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827))
For November Geiko Kikutsuru has chosen solid beige kimono with a matsu(pine) design. Perfect kimono for autumn! Her obi is eye catching as it features golden and white waves on the bright orange background. Obiage and obijime are of red color and go well with the kimono's lyning.
Geiko Kikumaru's semiformal outfit for November features waves on the beige background. You can see that kimono has waves hitting the rock design. Her hairstyle is a wig actually, decorated with momiji maezashi at the front, a comb and seasonal tama at the back.
The most senior Maiko in Hanafusa okiya, Maiko Kikune, has stepped into the last stage of being a Maiko - the Sakkou stage. From nd of November 6th till mid around of December you can spot her wearing Sakkou hairstyle and formal kuromontsuki kimono. This signifies that she will continue to be an active member of the Second life Karyukai, which is a good thing as nowadays there are only several active geiko around (3 of which come from the same okiya: Geiko Kikuyu, Geiko Kikutsuru and Geiko Kikutsuru and 1 from the Komayaka okiya - Toshiha kaasan). There is a special post about Maiko Kikune's style worn during the Sakkou stage.
On October 30th Miyagawacho Kaburenjo theater opened its doors to those who came to enjoy the annual Mizuekai odori - autumn dances and poems created by Komayaka and Hanafusa okiya Geiko san and Maiko san.
This year's participants were :
Komayaka Okiya: Geiko Toshiha, Maiko Toshimomo, Maiko Toshiryuu
Hanafusa okiya: Geiko Kikutsuru, Geiko Kikumaru, Maiko Kikune, Maiko Kikushino, Minarai Kikuyae
Act 1 "The Diary of a Geiko from Miyagawacho"
This dance and story leads us through the years from a teenage girl joined her okiya, the many things that she had to learn choices to make and experiences she had, will she decide to become a Geiko?, or retire as a Maiko.
🍁Written and Choreographed by Geiko Kikutsuru
Act 2 "Manzai Odori"
🍁Choreographed by Geiko Toshiha
Act 3 & Act 4 "The sparrows of the Yoshiwara"
🍁Written by Geiko Kikumaru
Act 5 "Autumn in Kyoto"
Maiko san and Minarai san from Hanafusa and Komayaka okiyas put into words that which makes Autumn special for them
🍁Written and Choreographed by Maiko Kikune, Maiko Kikushino, Maiko Toshimomo, Maiko Toshiryuu and Minarai Kikuyae
Act 6 "Miyagawa kouta"
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| bowing (from left to right): Geiko Kikutsuru, Geiko Toshiha, Geiko Kikumaru standing (from left to right): Maiko Toshimomo, Maiko Toshiryuu, Maiko Kikune, Maiko Kikushino, Minarai Kikuyae |
