maigeiko

[maigeiko]

9th June 2025 in Tokyo-Mukojima: Debut of Kanon 香音. She is the third Hangyoku to debut in Mukojima this year and currently the only Hangyoku in her Okiya Sengoku. Congratulations to your debut, Kanon!

[maigeiko]

Hello I saw on Shigemori and Toshikimi’s website a maiko can be from 15-18 so does that mean they allow to debut girls aged 17 and 18 too

It's possible, if the Okiya think it's still enough time for the applicant to get a good enough level of skill in a shorter period of time... why not? But I don't keep track of the age at which Maiko debut, so... not sure

[maigeiko]

Hi

This question is a bit long but I have been wondering this for a while to share my thought.

Japan has taken care of the culture of geisha and even called them national treasure but in other countries like India, their culture was destroyed by calling the tawaifs impure. What do you think, why was this done? Why do some men despise the tawaifs or geisha? Can't they see a woman being independent , earning money by respect and taking classical art forward? Do they want women to just be the shoes on their feet and do pole dancing or other vulgar activities? I think men do this because they consider a woman to be inferior to them and take away their rights.

Hello, I can only speak for the Geisha aspect. The only time I've heard about "men despising Geisha" is when fathers don't want their daughters become Maiko because of stereotypes that live on to this day. Although "despising" is a very strong word in this context. If you think about the "Danna" and "Mizuage" of prewar times - it was all about money and prestige (for both the Okiya and the respective Geisha). Without consent or even active encouragement of the respective Okasan, it wouldn't have happened. I've read only two books of prewar Geisha who talked about it. The Geisha herself didn't have much of a choice. In less wealthy Hanamachi, Mizuage was sold multiple times for more profit (Okiya's profit), and having a Danna was crucial for survival (funding lessons and wardrobe if your income from work wasn't sufficient). If I remember correctly from reading Sayo Masuda's autobiography, only a very small number of Geisha in her town could make ends meet with just working their normal job, instead of becoming double-registered or taking on a Danna. If you think about the recent case of the former Pontocho Maiko Kiyoha - a lot of shady business is going on in the Hanamachi (not limited to the Hanamachi). Is it illegal? Yes. Are some places safer than others? Also yes. Do Hanamachi officials care to do something about it? Unlikely.

[maigeiko]

Is gion_koai on instagram really former gion geiko koai?

Yes, she is.

[maigeiko]

Can a 17 year old girl join okiya in gion? I had heard that to join an okiya you need to be 15 or 16 and girls who are 17 are rejected, is this true?

Yeah, as far as I know, 17 is too old for Gion if you want to become a Maiko. And probably a bit too young in case you want to debut directly as a Geiko. Kamishichiken and Pontocho take in slightly older girls.

[maigeiko]

Hi! I read somewhere that in October this year, there should be a new geisha in Shinbashi. Her name was Seiko (晴子) and she is 18. Don't you think thats too young to debut directly as a geisha?

Oh, interesting. Let's hope she will debut!

Mahiro was 19 when she debuted last year. I suppose 19 is still young enough to debut as Hangyoku, but she became a Geisha right away. Whether she's Hangyoku or Geisha, the training is the same, and (judging from my limited experience) her outfit will reflect her junior status. In cities that don't train Maiko or Hangyoku at all, like Nagasaki or Kanazawa, girls can also become Geisha as young as 18-19 years old, so it's not too young IMO :)

[maigeiko]

It was flagged as nsfw, I told tumblr to check it please and they decided it's nsfw indeed. Guys, please. Is it too much skin showing? Do you have eye problems?

It seems an actual human checked the post. It's no longer flagged as NSFW.

Congratulations to Shiho (志穂) from Niigata, who became a Tomesode-san on 24. May 2023. She originally debuted on 15. May 2017, together with Momoka (百々花, retired 2020). With her Erikae, the number of Tomesode-san in Niigata has increased to four.  All pictures are from Ryuto Shinko website.

[maigeiko]

Today - 2nd June 2025 - in Kagurazaka: Waka 和香 became a Geisha after being a Hangyoku for little more than two years. Kyôka 杏香became a Hangyoku after being a Minarai for a little less than two months. Source of the pictures: today's instagram story of the Kagurazaka Kumiai Kyôka is the fourth Hangyoku to debut in Tokyo this year.

[maigeiko]

Hi! Are there any specific name lines in Hachioji?

Yes, Kikuyoshi Okiya uses "ko" 小 (Kotarô, Kofuku, Kotone, Kozuru, Komaki). Now closed Okiya Enya used "yu" 友 (Yume, Yû) Fuminoya uses "no" 乃 (Mayuno, Otono) Ebisuya and Yukinoe don't use any naming lines, and of the other two Okiya Buntakemoto and Sunoya, only one member is known.

[maigeiko]

According to Eiko on instagram, Kyoka will debut tomorrow, on 2nd June 2025!

New Hangyoku Minarai in Kagurazaka:

Meet Kyoka 杏香, who started her apprenticeship in Kagurazaka in the week of 7th April 2025. Her debut is going to happen in around two months.

Her name means apricot incense/perfume.

[maigeiko]

Hello! are there any natori geisha outside of kyoto?Also do you know if there is an online catalogue/list of the nihongami worn by geisha in general?

Hello! Yes, there are plenty of natori Geisha outside of Kyoto. Basically anyone who studies traditional arts can become natori if he/she has enough money to spend on the certificate and if the skills are good enough. "Natori" basically means someone is a master of a specific school of traditional arts and has received an artistic name by that school (for example, Kasuga Toyokikumi is a student of Kasuga Toyokigiku. The founder of the Kasuga school of Kouta was called Kasuga Toyo). There are thousands of schools of dance and instruments, and not every of those has Geiko students! Over 100 natori Geiko from all over Japan were featured in the book "Hana akari: Showa Meigiren" はなあかり: 昭和名妓連 from 1988, and you can see some Geisha who recently became natori here: https://maigeiko.tumblr.com/tagged/natori

As for nihongami hairstyles worn by Geisha in general, that is fairly simple! The standard hairstyles used all over Japan are: ※ Geiko shimada 芸妓島田 (called Taka shimada 高島田 outside of Kyoto, it's the same hairstyle and different from bridal Taka shimada) ※ Tsubushi shimada つぶし島田 ※ Chû shimada 中島田/Kyofû shimada 京風島田 (Chû shimada is used during the Miyako Odori by Geiko and Maiko that dance at the opening act Sô odori, Kyofû shimada is the same hairstyle with different decorations worn by Geiko in the entirety of Kyoto if they are on tea ceremony duty during the major Odori) ※ Maeware 前割れ

[maigeiko]

Three new Maiko debuted in Yamagata today. Their names are Haruno 春乃 (red)、Yukari ゆかり (green)、and Tsuyuha つゆ羽 (yellow). There are now seven Maiko and six Geiko working in Yamagata.

Upcoming debuts in Yamagata On 7. May 2025, Minarai training will begin in Yamagata. The new girls have been in training for the past 2 months already: dance, dressing in Kimono, Oshiroi make up, getting to know the neighbourhood. During their Minarai period, they will learn etiquette and Ozashiki basics from their older sisters. They will debut as Maiko on 30. May according to this blog post.

[maigeiko]

Hi,

Do you know any other popular geisha from the old times apart from geisha teruha, sakae, hamayu, o momo and sada yacco

Yes, here's some I could think of: Haruko 春子 and Manryu 萬龍 from Tokyo Akaska (active 1900's-1910's). Especially Manryu was celebrated as an outstanding beauty. Marichiyo まり千代 from Tokyo Shinbashi (active 1920's to 1971), a renowned dancer. For 105 Tokyo Geisha who were popular in the 1890s, check "celebrated geysha" by Ogawa Kazumasa: http://www.baxleystamps.com/litho/ogawa/ogawa_geysha105.shtml

The 1912 book "the story of the geisha girl" by Fujimoto Taizo mentions Tama and Tomo (no Kanji), leading Geisha of Yamatoya 大和屋, and Yachiyo 八千代, Katsu, Shige of Tondaya 富田屋 in Osaka-Soemoncho.

[maigeiko]

Hi there. For public events, is asking an autograph from a geisha after their performance a possible request?

Hello. I've never heard of that. Most likely you can get an autograph if you attend ozashiki during the odori season and have the attending Geiko/Maiko sign their portrait in the odori booklet if you brought one.

[maigeiko]

Hi there,

Today I would like to ask, is there any place in Japan where geisha (not maiko or hangyoku) still tying their own hair? Or all geisha from all Japan just wear wigs?

Thank you so much for your time 😊

Hey you, apart from their daily Yôhatsu, they have their own hair styled in Nihongami at specific occasions. Think of Kyoto Geiko who host tea ceremony during four spring Odori and Gion Odori in October, or the Gion Kobu Geiko who dance at Sô Odori (opening scene of Miyako Odori). You can see some pictures here: https://maigeiko.tumblr.com/post/779023856835919872/ During Hachioji Matsuri in August (not sure if this event still happens), the Geisha dressed in Tekomai style had their own hair styled.

Otherwise, they only wear wigs!

[maigeiko]

Hi there. What are the annual events in Osaka Nanchi that involves their geisha and what month do they happen?

Hey, sadly I don't know much about the events in Osaka in general, but there's three that should happen every year: Shigyoshiki (始業式) in January - new year's celebrations Otaue shinji (御田植神事) in June - a ritual of the Sumiyoshi-Taisha shrine. Geiko don't play any role there, but they visit together with the Otosan (tbh last time I've seen pics was in 2019. They might still be there, but then, it's less public). Yukata-kai 浴衣会 in September - students of the Hanayagi-ryu gather for showing their skills wearing Yukata instead of their regular dance outfits Kitashinchi Geiko appear in public for Setsubun in February, but it seems that Nanchi Geiko don't celebrate Setsubun/Obake, or at least not in public...

[maigeiko]

Azuma Odori covers, around 1932 (top) and 1939 (bottom).

This year, 2025, marked the 100th anniversary and 100th performance of the Azuma Odori.