Sunday 21st of May - Kyo mai & Q&A with Maiko

Have you dreamed of ever becoming a maiko? or enjoying the beautiful dance and culture?
we welcome you to a relaxing hour with us in our Museum of art and culture. The maiko of Hanafusa will perform for you and after you may ask them questions about their career and choice to become a maiko, geiko apprentice.

10.20 am slt
1hour duration
dress code - informal ( but not shorts or tank tops full clothing)

Ozashiki in Hanahusa Ochaya

Senior Maiko Kikutsuru playing koto and entertaining guests with music

Yesterday Maiko san from Hanafusa okiya entertained guests during Sunday ozashiki at Hanahusa ochaya. Delicious kyoto kaiseki dishes were served alongside with refreshments. The weather is changing rapidly - it is already summer in Kyoto Kagai sim.
During the time when guests enjoyed their meal, Senior Maiko Kikutsuru san played the koto.

Junior Maiko Kikune. It is her last ozashiki as 1st year maiko. She will soon paint her both lips

Maiko Kikumaru serving guests with Kaiseki dishes

May Kitsuke

Okaasan Geiko Kikuyu

For May Okaasan Geiko Kikuyu has decided that she will wear light purple beautiful susohiki with geometrical pattern. As i said before, its a rare sight to see a geiko wearing susohiki with this type of pattern, but it happens from time to time, for example yabane(arrow shaft/arrow feathers), multi flowers and stripes or little snowflakes. This susohiki reminds us of wisteria that is now in full bloom.
This marvelous susohiki is accompanied by silver obi with small flowers of purple and orange. Material is best silk with woven flower patterns.
Geiko Kikuyu's juban(or thin kimono that is worn under the susohiki) is pink with spring flowers painted on it. Only Geiko san can wear it - maiko san have to use red colored ones.

Senior Maiko Kikutsuru

For this month maiko Kikutsuru has
chosen soft pink hikizuri with hand-painted motif. Textile is exquisite silk and has soft and comfortable touch. This hikizuri has flower of wisteria hand-painted on it.
The darari obi is longer than the one worn by Geiko Kikuyu; it is also tied in a special knot, worn only by maiko. It has dyed wisteria flower pattern on a black background and it suits the hikizuri well.
Her hairstyle is called ofuku(as you remember it is hairstyle of Sr Maiko) and is decorated with senior maiko kanzashi featuring iris flower; this is seasonal and is worn only during this month.


Senior Maiko Kikumaru 

For May Kikumaru san is wearing fabulous sweet pink hikizuri with hand-painted flowers and string knots motifs. It is linned and can be worn before summer heat comes.
Her obi is decorated with wisteria  flower pattern on pure white background. End of the obi has okiya mon or emblem(as every family in japan, all okiya and yakata in have their own emblems too) which means she comes from this family - Hanafusa okiya. 
Her hairstyle is same as Kikuturu san's as they both are senior maikos and is decorated with seasonal iris flower kanzashi.

Junior Maiko Kikune

NOTE! Starting from June Maiko Kikune will be ichiname(second year maiko) - she will cut the shidare from her kanzashi and from than on she will be painting her upper lip. 

Omedetou san dosu Kikune san!

Beautiful Kikune san is wearing very colorful green hikizuri with hand-painted flowers and butterflies - a true springtime flower.

Her lovely darari obi is purple with beautiful woven butterfly pattern.
Maiko Kikune's hairstyle is called Wareshinobu and is decorated with shidare kanzashi, composed by long chains of silk flowers. This month her kanzashi represent the trailing blossoms of wisteria that is in bloom now.

Junior Maiko Kikushino

Jr Maiko Kikushino is wearing light purple color hikizuri with painted shells (hand-painted by talented kimono artist). These are not just simple clam shells from the beach, but special painted ones for the ancient heian court game called Kaioke or hokkai and is played with 360 double-valved shells (kai), half of the shells enclosed a poem,  the other half a drawing which corresponded to it; the shells were distributed one by one and the goal was to match the poem with the drawing; whoever was left with an ‘orphan’ lost the game.
Her darari obi is golden with beautiful wisteria flowers pattern. Fact! Maiko's Darari obi is 7 meters long and needs to be tied specially.

Junior Maiko Kikuyae

The youngest maiko in the Hanafusa okiya, Maiko Kikuyae, is wearing wearing springtime hikizuri with sakura pettals and flowers hand-painted on the subtle green backround. The material is silk.
Her eri is mostly red and is decorated with woven butterlies on the red background.
The darari obi of this young maiko has a wave pattern on the pueple background and fits well to hikizuri.
As she is still Jr Maiko, her hairtyle is Wareshinobu - same as her older sisters. The hairstyle is crowned with wisteria blossom kanzashi. She is so cute ^-^

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a maiko?

Have you ever dreamed wearing elaborate kimonos and learning new about Japanese culture? Have you ever dreamed of walking the Kyoto streets in high wooden okobo?

If yes, than Hanafusa okiya is for you:)
You are provided with a near real life course or training in Japanese History and culture. You will learn how to be a Geiko ( term for Geisha in Kyoto)
At the moment we have open space for 4 Shikomi.
Ready to give it a try? Contact  Maiko Kikutsuru of Hanafusa (Miehina resident) if you are interesting in starting your journey in a close family such as Hanafusa, that focus on realism and quality.
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/144/105/25

Kyo Odori 2017 Memories

One of most important events in the life of Miyagacho Hanamachi and its maiko is annual Kyo odori. Preparations start several months before the actual event - program, outfits, props, dances, backdrops etc. everything is being prepared for the grand event of Spring. This year's Kyo odori was special for several reasons - first of all, it was first performance of Miharu chan, who soon is to debut as minarai in Hanafusa okiya. Secondly, this was last Kyo odori for Kikutsuru san as Maiko; next spring we will see her as fully fledged geiko san.

This years performers :

Hanafusa okiya:

Geiko Kikuyu

Sr Maiko Kikutsuru

Sr Maiko Kikumaru

Jr Maiko Kikune

Jr Maiko Kikushino

Jr Maiko kikuyae

Shikomi Miharu(was allowed to perform as soon she will debut as minarai)

Before the odori, traditional tea ceremony was performed. Okasan Geiko Kikuyu was otemae and prepared the tea, while Maiko Kikuyae was ohikae and severved the guests with special treats and tea.

Here are photos from the 5th annual Kyo odori(created by Maiko Kikuyae):

Act 1:

Maiko walking towards their appointments along the Higashiyama Ku. Younger maiko walking behind the Senior ones. Everyone is hurrying...Hope fill their hearts of the evening as their mind anticipate fun games, interesting conversations and hopefully perfectly performed dances.

Act 2:

Maiko are gathered in the tatami room, arrived for their appointments, ready to perform...They fill the room with gazing eyes and dreaming minds as they present self written poems giving the mind images of the spring. 

During the dance Maiko san hold sakura branches to represent beauty of the springtime.  

The dressings of the senior and junior maiko are copis of rl Kyo odori wear of Miyagawacho maiko and geiko.

 Act 3:

This kabuki play tells us a story that took place in Yoshiwara quarters during the Meiji era Japan. In one of the yukaku rooms, young women are talking about the amazing possibility of becoming high ranking courtesan. Would that bring them happyness?... 

Act 4:

A fresh Oiran(high ranking courtesan) is preparing for the walk of her life that she wished for. She hoped this day would come since she entered the yukaku...

But it seems that this life is not proving to be a dream...

Act 5:

With fan of silver and red, maiko san of Hanafusa okiya enter the stage in their most formal outfits, worth more than a house in today's money. Their dance represent the story of maiko's thought and regrets before becoming full fledged geiko(geisha)

                   

Act 6:

Long black hair is this dance called, or Kurokami, a dance performed by maiko in their formal stage before becoming geiko and by "fresh geiko". As this Kyo odori was last for Kikutsuru san as maiko, it was decided that she will perform this magnificent and magestic dance before the audience...

Act 7:

The dance that crowns the Kyo Odori is called Miyagawa ondo as is performed by every miyagawacho maiko who participated in the odori. Younger maiko san dance on the special platform at the back, while seniors dance in the front. 

This is most traditional ending of the odori.

(TODAY) Kyo odori at 11 am slt

As the flower petals cover the grounds, and the blooming has passed, a different kind of flower will show itself on stage of the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo - Kyo Odori the annual Spring dance performed by the geiko and maiko of Miyagawacho Hanamachi will be held this Sunday 30th - the tea ceremony starts already from 11 am slt.
TAXI: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/186/82/25

Kyo Odori reservations/bookings - for Kyo Odori Sunday 30th April

As the flower petals cover the grounds, and the blooming has passed, a different kind of flower will show itself on stage of the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo - Kyo Odori the annual Spring dance performed by the geiko and maiko of Miyagawacho Hanamachi will be held this Sunday 30th - the tea ceremony starts already from 11 am slt.
We have now Bookings available - 2 rooms upstairs - 250 lindens
and reservations if you should wish downstairs to be sure.
For booking please contact Maiko Kikutsuru(Miehina).
We hope you will enjoy the Kyo odori 2017 as this will be last for Senior maiko Kikutsuru(who is soon to become geiko) and first for a new member, who is to debut right before your eyes...
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/186/82/25

Heian Jingu Reitaisai Hono Buyou at Kyoto Kagai sim

Several days ago Maiko of Hanafusa okiya performed special dances at the Kitano Tenmangu shrine. For those who couldn't come Miharu chan made several amazing photoshots ^^

Heian Jingu Reitaisai Hono Buyou

Dear guests and patrons of Kyoto Kagai sim,
On Tuesday, 18th of April, Maiko san of Hanafusa okiya will be performing at Kitano Tenmangu. This special event is hold to honor Spring and the deities of the Shrine, to thank and ask for blessing.
Please come and enjoy this sacred dance performance at ancient Shrine accompanied with traditional Japanese music.
Date:  Tuesday18th of April
Time: 10.30 am slt
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/56/103/25

Ozashiki Memories

This Wednesday Hanahusa ochaya hold very special ozashiki for patrons and guests of the Kyoto Kagai. It was special for several reasons: first of all, youngest maiko of Hanafusa okiya, Maiko Kikushino and Maiko Kikuyae, performed their first dance after their Misedashi. The dance was accompanied by talented koto play by Maiko Kikutsuru. Secondly, it was notices that maiko Kikumaru started wearing pink cloth on her ofuku hairstyle. This means that soon she will step into her last stage as Maiko.

It was last public ozashiki of April. Next grand event will be Heian Jingu Reitaisai Hono Buyou(dance performance at Kitano Tenmagu Jinja) on Tuesday 18th of April(10.30 am slt - 11.15 am slt). After - Kyo odori on Sunday 30th of April.

April Wednesday ozashiki(12.04.217)

Dear Guests and Patrons of Kyoto Kagai sim,

It is with great pleasure to invite you to the springtime ozashiki of Hanahusa ochaya on Wednesday 12th of April. Come and celebrate the breathtaking but short lasting beauty of blooming sakura trees with the traditional japanese music and the rustle of silk sleeves. You'll be offered special Miyagawacho "flying" sake and delicious green tea served by maikos of Hanafusa okiya. 

Time of arrival: 10.30 am slt
Dress code: Semiformal
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/220/44/25

Application Hanafusa Okiya

Do you like to be a member of Hanafusa okiya?

You are provided with a near real life course or training in Japanese History and culture.
You will learn how to be a Geiko ( term for Geisha in Kyoto)
At the moment we have open space for 3 Shikomi.

Contact  Maiko Kikutsuru of Hanafusa (Miehina resident) if you are interesting in starting your journey in a close family such as Hanafusa, that focus on realism and quality.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/144/105/25

Kyo odori coming soon!

This is the final Kyo odori Performance Maiko Kikutsuru will perform in as a maiko. As she have now stepped into her final year as a maiko.

This years Odori will be held in 7 acts + a teaceremony beforehand

Performing at Yasaka Jinja...

by Annie Brightstar

Higashiyama Hanatoro (also written Hanatouro) is one of the two Hanatoro events held in Kyoto sim every year; the other one being Arashiyama Hanatoro in December. There is really a lot to see at Higashiyama Hanatoro, from dancing Hanafusa Maiko to Yasaka Jinja beautifully bathed in light. Higashiyama Hanatoro is held while it should still be a bit early for sakura cherry blossoms but you should be able to see plum blossoms.

The event is a chance for you to see Kyoto in a new spring light – with a lot less light, one could also say. Walk in the narrow streets of Higashiyama and hope that an apprentice geisha, maiko, comes by, or just go see the maiko dance at Yasaka Shrine where you are guaranteed to see them!
Pictures: by Annie Brightstar

Application Hanafusa Okiya - Open for two weeks

Do you like to be a member of Hanafusa okiya?
You are provided with a near real life course or training in Japanese History and culture.
You will learn how to be a Geiko ( term for Geisha in Kyoto)
At the moment we have open space for 3 Shikomi. 
Contact  Maiko Kikutsuru of Hanafusa (Miehina resident) if you are interesting in starting your journey in a close family such as Hanafusa, that focus on realism and quality.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Sun/144/105/25