FAQ
Geiko: is Kyoto dialect for Geisha or Geigi. Geiko are traditional Japanese entertainers: they sing,dance and entertain customers at ”ozashiki” parties at ochayas or traditional tea houses. You can recognise geiko by their wigs, more toned down wardrobe and their obi is tied in ”taiko musubi” or drum knot.
Maiko: is an apprentice geiko (in Tokyo,they are called hangyoku-half jewel). Maiko’s ensembles are usually colourful(matching the season),with rich kanzashi (hair ornaments). Maiko’s obi is called darari obi or dangling obi).Maiko’s training usually lasts 5 years. Training can start at the age of 15.Stages of training are :
shikomi - when a girl first joins okiya (geiko house),she goes through shikomi or ”servant” phase,where she will do house chores,help her older sisters and attend classes. Example of shikomi : (Geiko Yukako and shikomi who became maiko Chisako)
minarai - is the phase after shikomi and before ”misedashi”(formal debut). It usually lasts for a month. Minarai wear full maiko ensemble,but you can recognise them because their obi is half of the usual maiko obi length. Minarai means ”watch and learn”,meaning they will go to ozashiki but only to observe their older sisters at work. Example of minarai:
misedashi - is maiko’s formal debut. She will wear two ”ougi” kanzashi - two kanzashi with danging metal pieces on each side of her head. Her kimono is ”kuromontsuki” - a formal black ensemble. She wears white make up but only her bottom lip is painted red as a sign of her immaturity. She will wear high wooden shoes called ”okobo”. In the back of her hair are two silver ”wings”. Example : Koyoshi’s misedashi
First year maiko are usually recognised by dangling kanzashi and only bottom lip painted,indicating they are junior. Their collar is also has very much red on it. Hairstyle they wear is called ”wareshinobu”. Example of Junior maiko : (on the picture is maiko Koyoshi)
Senior maiko usually wear ”ofuku” hairstyle and paint both lips. Gradually their collars will be more and more white until they are at their ”erikae” ceremony or turning the collar - when a maiko becomes a full geiko,she goes through erikae. Example of senior maiko : (Toshikana)
example of ofuku hairstyle (on maiko Ayano). The ofuku goes from red to pink,white or blue,depending on the seniority of the maiko.
Before erikae,she will usually wear ”sakkou” hairstyle for 2 weeks,indicating she is close to erikae. Some maiko also paint their teeth black (ohaguro) while in their sakkou period. This is an example of how sakkou (or sakko) hairstyle looks.
ohaguro - blackening maiko’s teeth during sakkou period. Example of maiko Fukuhina with ohaguro.
Geiko usually wear wigs and white make up,but they are not always required to,so sometimes they will be wearing a formal hairstyle but without wig and without white make up (oshiroi).
example of formal geiko attire : geiko Mamehana
informal attire of geiko Kimika:
KYOTO HANAMACHI
There are 5 hanamachi (flower towns) in Kyoto:
Gion Kōbu (祇園甲部)
Gion Higashi (祇園東)
Miyagawachō (宮川町)
Kamishichiken (上七軒)
Pontochō (先斗町)
