Hanafusa Okiya Second Life: March 2022

March 31, 2022

Important news!

On Sunday, March 13th, 2022 Geiko Kikune stepped down as an Active Geiko.

On Sunday, May 1st, she will fully retire due to health reasons

Ookini san dosu Kikune for all your years of service to the Karyukai as a Geiko

Sincerely Hanafusa Okiya

March 30, 2022

it is our honour to welcome you to our first Hanami - cherry blossom viewing of 2022, We welcome you to join us for a relaxing picnic in Maruyama Park, this Saturday, under the rain of cherry petals enjoying sakura flavored treats, and the company of Geiko and Maiko san.

Time&Date - Saturday, April 2nd, 11 am slt ( meet early to get a spot)

LM: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/116/216/32

Kyo odori 2022 coming soon!

Dear friends and patrons,

While you're spending time at home due to coronavirus outbreak, possibly having your trips and other plans canceled, Kyoto Kagai sim would like to invite you and your friends to this years 10th annual Kyo odori. This is also the second odori, created in unity by Komayaka and Hanafusa okiyas.

For those who have not been to any odori but are interested, Kyo odori is a traditional dance event in Miyagawacho Hanamachi of Kyoto Kagai sim. Every year, in end of April, Maiko and Geiko welcome Spring with their beautiful dances and poems at Miyagawa-chō Kaburen-jō Theatre.

Before the Odori starts, a tea ceremony is held for all the guests. The program changes every year, apart from last act - traditional ending known as "Miyagawa Ondo".

This year, Maiko and Geiko of Hanafusa okiya and Komayaka Okiya will be honored to entertain you on Saturday April 30th at 10 am slt - 11.30 am slt! So that to present our visitors with high quality performance, maiko san and geiko san have already started preparations and practice relentlessly every day.

🌸 We have reservations available. For booking please inworld contact Maiko Kikutsuru(Miehina).

🌸 If you would like to have this year's Kyo Odori posters at your store or sim, please contact Geiko Kikumaru (belliebeth).

We are looking forward to welcoming you at our Kaburenjo. Please stay safe, wash hands and be cautious about the virus. Let's welcome the Spring together at Miyagawacho Hahamachi Kaburenjo! ( >click for taxi< )

Poster by Geiko Toshiha (Komayaka okiya)

Poster by Geiko Kikutsuru(Hanafusa okiya)

Hina Matsuri celebrations

Dear friends and patrons of Kyoto Kagai sim,

Thank you for celebrating Hina Matsuri with us. We look forward to seeing You later this month during annual Kyo Odori, that will take place on April 30th and let us not forget weekly events such as ozashiki, hanami, museum events and story nights.

For those who wanted but couldn't participate, i'll give a small report. The celebrations took place in Ichiriki tei in Kyoto Kagai sim. Guests were welcomed by Maiko and Geiko of Hanafusa and Komayaka okiyas together with magnificent displays of Hina dolls, that belong to okiya.

And, as always, please enjoy a few photos from this annual event :)

Maiko Kikushino and Maiko Kikuyae (Hanafusa okiya)

Geiko Toshiha as Jikata

Geiko Kikutsuru as jikata

Maiko Toshimomo and Maiko Toshiryuu (Komayaka Okiya)

March Kitsuke

Geiko Kikutsuru is wearing deep blue kimono with hand-painted sakura blossoms. Light golden obi accompanies the kimono well and holds kimono close to the body. Her katsura or wig is decorated with a very stylish maezashi which is a sakura blossom. It is said to be very stilish or "iki" to wear designs or kanzashi slightly before the season for the comes(for example, the sakura season is April but wearing slight before April is considered Iki)

Geiko Kikumaru has chosen bright yellow kimono that features iris flowers as well. If we talk about symbols, iris symbolizes rebirth, new beginnings, renewal (early Spring), beauty and the transience of life. Deep blue obi, that featured waves, holds the kimono close. She also wears katsura and for March she has decorated it with a daffodil maezashi.

Obasan Kikune is wearing a perfect subtle pink springtime kimono, that features sakura blossoms.

Maiko Kikushino is wearing subtle green hikizuri with playful plum and sakura blossoms. It is tied with black Darari Obi with fan design. Senior Maiko in Miyagawacho start "tying" their obiage as soon as they start wearing Ofuku hairstyle. This is different from Gion Kobu when Maiko start tucking obiage into obi as a sign of preparing for Erikae. Her hairstyle is decorated with seasonal triple hanakanzashi which feature suisen (daffodil).

This month you can spot Maiko Kikuyae wearing gorgeous black hikizuri with temari(traditional toys, which are nowadays used as a decoration, made by winding dyed thread around a ball construction). It is tied with exquisite golden obi that can be worn whole year round. Maiko Kikuyae's hairstyle is called Wareshinobu and is decorated with colorful seasonal kanzashi. This month kanzashi for junior maiko feature rape blossoms that are in bloom now.

Shikomi Midori is wearing a light purple Komon tied with dark purple nagoya Obi. Shikomi san do not wear any special hairstyles as minarai or maiko san, but usually they have their hair in a neat bun. As Midori san is now more "visible" during events it is quite possible that soon this year Hanafusa okiya will have a new maiko san ^_^

Standing: Shikomi Midori, Maiko Kikuyae, Maiko Kikushino
Sitting: Geiko Kikumaru, Geiko Kikutsuru and Obasan Kikune

Baikasai at Kitano Tenmangu (2022)

In the end of February, Kyoto Kagai sim's Kitano Tenmangu shrine held Baikasai - the Ume Blosom festival.

The guests were invited into the specially built for this event tent and told the story of about Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, the plum blossoms and, of course, about the festival itself.

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.