#tama okiya

[missmyloko]

Hi! Is there such a thing as exclusive okiya dances? If there is, is there one belonging to the Kaida Okiya in Gion Kobu? And what is it called/do you have any links?

No, okiya do not have exclusive dances as geimaiko across the kagai will learn the same dances. However, the Tama okiya in Gion Kobu prides itself in promoting that all of their geimaiko can successfully perform "Kin No Shachihoko" at ozashiki ^^

[maigeiko]

The look of... VII: Mukojima

Welcome to the 18th installment of this series (my 7th). This time, we’re having a look at the Geigi that work in one of Tokyo's Hanamachi: Mukojima (向島).

Historical context Geisha started to live in Mukojima in the early Meiji period (1868-1912) [1]. From the Edo to Meiji period, Mukojima was a recreational area for the common people, and was frequented by Yanagibashi and Yoshiwara Geisha with their customers. [3] The earliest record of a Mukojima Geisha (known to me) is Omomo お百, who was featured in "Contemporary Beauties", 1897 [2]. In 1906, 30 Geisha lived in the area. By 1928, their number had increased to 239. In 1940, several Kenban united, further increasing the number of Mukojima Geisha to 1300. Like in all Hanamachi around Japan, their number declined steadily after the second world war. In 1951, their number was 600, in 1993 240 [7], in 1996 170, in 2007 120 [3], in 2020 around 90 [4]. This makes Mukojima approximately as populated as Gion Kobu and Tokyo's largest Hanamachi.

The look of Mukojima Geiko. Local Term: Geisha 芸者 ※ Hairstyle: Taka shimada, Tsubushi shimada ※ Kanzashi: Kushi, Maezashi, Hirauchi or Tama in the back, rice husk in the new year period ※ Makeup: Oshiroi ※ Kimono: everyday Kimono: Homongi. Kuromontsuki Hikizuri mostly in the new year period or for Erikae, rarely non-black Hikizuri. ※ Haneri: white ※ Obi: Taiko musubi, Yanagi musubi with Kuromontsuki Hikizuri, Tsunodashi musubi with other Hikizuri ※ Obijime: mostly light-coloured. No obijime with yanagi musubi ※ Obiage: mostly red, pink, or white. Seldomly turquoise, white/green, white with red shibori (red/red-white shibori with Kuromontsuki) ※ Footwear: mostly Zori, also Geta

Casual/Jikata look ※ Hairstyle: Yohatsu ※ Kanzashi: none ※ Makeup: western makeup ※ Kimono: Homongi, Kurotomesode ※ Eri: white ※ Obi: Taiko musubi ※ Obijime: mostly light-coloured. In rare cases with pocchiri ※ Obiage: white with red shibori, pink, white, pink/turquoise ※ Footwear: Zori

The look of Mukojima Maiko. Local term: Hangyoku 半玉 ※ Hairstyle: Momoware (own hair or wig), Yuiwata for senior Hangyoku (only wig). Shibori, Kanoko and Chinkoro are mostly red, but can also be pink during summer. ※ Kanzashi: seasonal flower kanzashi (1-2 Daikan, Katsuyama, 1-2 Bira-Ôgi, Shidare popular during the entire apprenticeship), Maezashi (optional), Hirauchi. Minimal flower kanzashi with Yuiwata. ※ Makeup: Oshiroi, both lips painted from the start ※ Kimono: Furisode with or without tucks (all variations possible) ※ Eri: mostly white or red/white. But also pink/red, red/purple/green on white base, pink, green, black/pink/white, etc., etc. ※ Obi: kôken musubi ※ Obijime: light-coloured. sometimes with pocchiri ※ Obiage: most common colour variations are red/silver, or red/white shibori. But there are many other combinations. ※ Footwear: mostly Okobo (with red or pink straps), Zori

Dances [6] Some dances that are local speciality of Mukojima: ※ Asazuma bune かさずまぶね ※ Fuji musume 藤娘 ※ Fukagawa Kuzushi 深川くずし  ※ Gorô ごろう ※ Mukojima ondo 向島音頭 ※ O-Sumio お角力 ※ Otemoyan おてもやん ※ Sôran bushi ソーラン節 ※ Yosakuraya 夜桜や

Others that you can also see in Ozashiki outside of Mukojima: ※ Ayame Yukata 菖蒲浴衣 ※ Echigo Jishi 越後獅子 ※ Hanami Odori 花見踊り ※ Hatsuharu 初春 ※ Ina bushi 伊那節 ※ Kiyari Kuzushi 木遣りくずし ※ Sawagi さわぎ ※ Setsuhonkaina せつほんかいな ※ Shichi fukujin 七福神 ※ Takeda bushi 武田節 ※ Tatsumi no hidarizuma 辰巳の左褄 ※ Tsurukame 鶴亀 ※ Yakkosan 奴さん ※ Yoshiwara Suzume 吉原すずめ

Notes Mukojima allows part-time workers, calling them Kamome かもめ [5]. Most of them are students or work in a different job already. Their task is mainly assisting Geisha/Hangyoku in the Ozashiki. Kamome can become Hangyoku or Geisha if they wish to work full-time. Mukojima dancers also play instruments at ozashiki: Hangyoku frequently play shime-daiko, Tachikata more often play ko-tsutsumi, sometimes fue. Shamisen seems so be reserved for Jikata.

Usually, Ryotei and Okiya are separate businesses in Tokyo. In Mukojima, however, several Ryotei also function as Okiya [3], similar to how in Kyoto, several Ochaya also have an attached Okiya.

Sources - Text [1] Foreign Press Center Japan, Mukojima Press Tour April 2006 https://fpcj.jp/en/assistance-en/tours_notice-en/p=6744/ [2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_ruin_1/28442353867/ [3] numbers 1906-1951, 1996-2007: Sumi Asahara "Tokyo Rokkagai", 2007 [4] not an exact number (account required) https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/tsurukomaiko/hanamachi-population-reference-wip-t2000.html [5] Kamome http://sengoku-japan.com/ [6] dances compiled at Tsurukomaiko, it's by no means a complete list (account required) https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/tsurukomaiko/list-of-dances-in-all-hanamachi-t1988.html [7] 1993: Tsuiseki (追跡): The World of the Geisha, ca. 1993 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkhRWNDwTyM Sources - Pictures Omomo ※ Kingyo Ozashiki ※ Momoka ※ Komachi ※ Yuki+Otokichi ※ Chikage ※ Senyume ※ Hiroya ※ Chikage+Natsuki ※ Tamaki ※ Shingetsu ※ Natsuki (twitter) ※ Soraka (insta) ※ Tomoka ※ Kingyo (fb) ※ Teruka 2x ※ Kanzashi ※ Kintaro (insta) ※ Ayame ※ Kingyo+Rin Ozashiki (fb) ※ Sakura matsuri 2023 I tried to trace back all pictures. If you find the missing links, let me know. "The look of" other Hanamachi: Yamagata, Tokyo Yoshicho, Niigata, Atami, Gifu, Tokyo Kagurazaka, Arima Onsen, Tokyo Asakua, Nagoya, Tokyo Shinbashi, Anjo I Osaka Kitashinchi, II Tokyo Akasaka, III Osaka Nanchi, Fukuoka, V Yuzawa, VI Morioka More Mukojima content: https://maigeiko.tumblr.com/tagged/mukojima Layout: @geimaiko, thanks as always! ♥

[karyukai-is-life]

July 24th, 2020: Geiko Mamefuji (まめ藤) of Tama okiya in Gion Kobu mid-dance. Mamefuji comes from a family of professional traditional artists and has been dancing her whole life. She was a superstar maiko but retired when a natural disaster hit her hometown. In an unprecedented move, a few years later Mamefuji rejoined the Kyoto kagai as a geiko.

Source: 55maiko Facebook Photographer: lenisphoto

[geikotaku]

Geiko Mameryū (Tama Okiya) of Gion Kobu

Source

[taisakuraokiya-blog]

พฤศจิกายน 2561: เกโกะ Mameryuu (โอกิยะ Tama) จากเขต Gion Kobu ในจังหวัด Kyoto

Source: christian12100 on Instagram

[geimei]

May 2019: Maiko Koeri (Hiroshimaya Okiya), Geiko Mameryū (Tama Okiya), Maiko Mameharu (Tama Okiya) and Maiko Mamesumi (Ninben Okiya) of Gion Kobu during the Miyako Odori Shūryō Hōgoku Matsuri.

The Miyako Odori Shūryō Hōgoku Matsuri takes place ever year on May 1st. During this event, the Maiko and Geiko of Gion Kobu gather at their local shrine to give thanks to their dance teachers for a successful Miyako Odori.

Source: Chuanlai on Instagram

[oiran-geisha]

Oirangeisha’s high hopes for the 2017 girls.

I told you my opinion and my hopes on my new favorite girls who have had their misedashi this year. It’s not very objective because I don’t speak about some of them. Also this is just a quick opinion nothing too serious I don’t claim to know those girls.

1/Tatsuha and Yuriha, debuted in January under Takeha in the Tama okiya. Those two girls are super lucky to start with such an impressive onesan! They seems very dedicated in their work and fun to be around. They are also such cutiepies that i do look forward to see them bloom! (Source)

2/Mamesaya, debuted in March under Mameya in the Shibata okiya. I do like the girls of Shibata okiya to start with and Mamesaya’s bright smile do caught my eyes. She also does seems to be popular with the photographers which is nice for her. I’m sure she is a hard-working girl and I’m whishing her all the best! (Source)

3/Ichisato, debuted in March under Ichiemi in Masunoya okiya. She have such a striking look I wish for more photographs of her in 2018. And it’s always refresing to have a new face in Pontocho so I do hope the best for her! (Source)

4/Tomichie, debuted in October under Tomitae in Tomikiku okiya. To be honest i am into all the new Gion Higashi girls of this year but i decided to feature my favorite of the four, Tomichie. Being under the Tomitae’s wing I can’t wait to see this cute girl grow into a full fledged artist.(Source)

5/Fumiyuki, debuted in September without an onesan in Katsufumi okiya. She is the very first maiko of her okiya and she seems to be very dedicated to make her okiya shine. I also adore her cute look and i’m sure she will be very asked by the photographers. Can’t wait to see her progress for 2018! (Source)

6/Katsuki, debuted in October under Katsune in Daimonji okiya. I am very happy for this okiya to have a new maiko and Katsuki is such a sweet girl. I  wish her the best and I do think that she can be a popular girl in Kamishichiken! (Source)

7/Mamewaka, debuted in December under Yoshimame in Shibata okiya. It is so refreshing to have a new jikata geiko in Gion Kobu. And I am so glad to see Gion Kobu allowing new girls in as geiko like Mamewaka and Danmitsu. So I am really looking forward to see her progress, best luck Mamewaka-san!(Source)

8/Toshinana and Toshinami, debuted in December under Toshikana in Komaya okiya. Komaya okiya does make popular maiko and having Toshikana as onesan is such a chance for those two girls. I am sure that they will become a powerful duo in their karyukai! Best luck to you both!(Source)

[victorian3]

This is THE Mameharu of Gion Kobu. 

[geisha-kai]

December 2016: family photograph of the Tama okiya - (first row) maiko Mameharu, Mameryu, okasan Tama san, geiko Eriha, maiko Mamekinu, (second row) minarai Mameaki, Yuriha, and Tatsuha by  photo_tanaka on Instagram

Note: all of the minarai girls were still shikomi back then, but dressed up as minarai for this photograph in particular. Other geiko of the Tama okiya are missing on this photo (i.e. Tsuruha, Mayuha, Mamesuzu, etc) because they’re already independent and live on their own.

༼ つ ◕◡◕ ༽つ  Geisha-kai on P a t r e o n || Instagram

[itsmarjudgelove]

Maiko Mamefuji-san from Tama-okiya of Gion Kobu

[polytoxikomaniac]

Maiko Mamefuji of Tama Okiya looking awesome wearing that stunning kimono and obi.

[missmyloko]

Hi Justine!🌸

Today I wanted to ask you if you could give us more information about Takeha

Thank you so much and I hope you are having a nice day ☺️ ☀️

Takeha (竹葉) of Fujimoto (藤本) debuted in 1950 and quickly rose to become one of Gion Kobu's preeminent dancers by the 1960s. She was so famous for her dancing that by the 1980s she was featured in the Kyoto section of a book about famous active geiko/geisha of the time. Even though she stopped performing in the Miyako Odori by the early 1990s, she continued to dance solo performances at Onshūkai into the early 2000s. She was onesan to numerous imoto, most of which have been lost to time, but the last 5 that are known are Tamaha (多満葉), Fukuha (福葉), Shizuha (倭葉), Yuriha (ゆり葉), and Tatsuha (多都葉), all from the Tama okiya. Takeha was lifelong friends with the Tama okasan, Tamakazu, as they debuted within a year of each other. After she stopped performing publicly she still remained an active geiko and was even president of the geisha union for a time. She sadly passed away in February 2020 in her late 80s.

[maigeiko]

The look of... III: Osaka-Nanchi

Historical context "Nanchi" (南地), referring to southern Osaka, was originally an umbrella term for five Hanamachi, called Kuroemon-cho (久郎右衛門町), Soemon-chô (宗右衛門町), Namba-shinchi (難波新地), Saka-cho (坂町) and Yagura-cho (櫓町). It is said that in 1935, around 2000 Geiko and Maiko called Nanchi their home, making it the biggest Hanamachi in Japan. Geiko numbers declined heavily in the meantime. Other big cities like Kyoto and Tokyo could maintain a fairly high number of traditional entertainers (currently ca 260 Geiko and Maiko in Kyoto and ca 200 Geisha and Hangyoku in Tokyo, plus a hand full of Taikomochi), whereas Osaka's Hanamachi population is currently around 10 Geiko and no Maiko. From at least 2014 to 2018, there was only one Geiko working in Nanchi, a veteran of the profession named Kikutsuru (菊つる). It's likely she has retired meanwhile, as no mentioning of her was found after the official introduction of Tanigawa's (たに川) fresh blood in May 2019.

Tanigawa was founded in 1969 and is Nanchi's only remaining Ochaya/Okiya. After a long drought period with no apprentice actually making it to debuting as a Geiko, five Geiko have debuted from this business since 2019 and one more should debut later this year or maybe in 2022, depending on how the general situation in Japan develops.

The look of Nanchi Geiko

Tachikata ※ Hairstyle: Geiko Shimada Katsura ※ Kanzashi: Kushi, Maezashi, Hirauchi in the back. Nemaki cut ca 1 year after debut. At occasions which require the wear of Kuromontsuki, additional Bekkô Kogai is worn in the back. New year's celebrations see the addition of a rice husk in front and the Hirauchi may be swapped for prong kanzashi with coral Tama. ※ Make-up: both lips painted, Oshiroi ※ Eri: white ※ Kimono: Hikizuri. Kuromontsuki have white lining. Komon pattern seems to be very popular. ※ Obiage: red, during the summer months pink (also applies to Juban colour) ※ Obi: Taiko Musubi ※ Obijime: flat, single knot ※ Footwear: mostly Geta, Zori are worn with Montsuki Kimono

Jikata/Minarai/"casual" outfit ※ Hairstyle: Yôhatsu or simply combed back with a bun ※ Eri: white ※ Kimono: mostly Hômongi, but also Komon and Iromuji ※ Obiage: warm pastel colours, mostly pink and beige ※ Obi: Taiko Musubi ※ Obijime: flat or round, single knot ※ Footwear: Zori

Notes: ※ Tachikata have the opportunity to wear the "casual" outfit instead of Katsura+Hikizuri (Tamizuru did so five to six months after her debut) ※ the two Jikata who debuted since 2019 didn't appear in promotional photos after their debut, but sometimes, you can get a glimpse of them ※ Minarai wear the "casual" outfit until a few months before their debut. Their professional names are revealed around 1 month after becoming minarai. ※ every year on 14. June, the Ochaya owner and Geiko (and others who are unrelated to the Hanamachi) appear in public wearing dark-coloured Iromuji (purple, dark blue), visiting Sumiyoshi-Taisha shrine, where a ritual called Otaue shinji (御田植神事) takes place. It has been designated as an "important intangible Folk cultural Asset" by the national government as one of the most representative rituals in Japan. ※ before the debut of Yaezuru, Tamizuru and Tamako, Geiko from Nara and Kitashinchi were frequent guests at Tanigawa ※ Miyagawacho Geiko Tae (多栄) was originally working as a Geiko named Fukuemi (福笑) in Nanchi, before retiring in 1993. She continued to teach Nagauta in Osaka until she debuted as a Geiko again in 2017 ※ once again, thanks a lot to @geimaiko for inspiration and allowing me to use her layout. Go and check out her blog if you're interested in the Hanamachi! Lots of interesting stuff to read!

Sources: Sumiyoshi 1║Sumiyoshi 2║Otaue Shinji║║Fukuemi║Nara Geiko with junior Owner of Tanigawa║1935 population numbers ║kanzashi terms

Picture sources: debut 2019║Tamako back║new year (couldn't find the original source. If you know, pls contact me and I'll add it)║Ichizuru+Tamako║summer 1║summer 2║Katsura back view║striped Hikizuri║Yaezuru 1║Yaezuru 2║Orizuru║Ichizuru+ Tamako 1║I&T 2║I&T 3 ║I&T 4

[karyukai-is-life]

April 2019: Maiko Tatsuha (多都葉) of Tama okiya in Gion Kobu performing in the Heian Jingu Reitaisai Hōno Buyō Matsuri.

Photo by Kunihiko Takenaka on Facebook.

[geikotaku]

Maiko Tatsuha (Tama Okiya) of Gion Kobu dancing with a Mai Tenugi with her name written on it

More pictures on Instagram

[taisakuraokiya-blog]

พฤศจิกายน 2557: ไมโกะ Mamefuji (โอกิยะ Tama), และไมโกะ Ichiharu (โอกิยะ Nakagishi) จากเขต Gion Kobu ในจังหวัด Kyoto

Source: @toshio_koga on Twitter