Okaasan Geiko Kikuyu
For this last summer month, geiko Kikuyu has chosen amazing subtle susohiki, decorated with hand painted autumn leafs, several chrysanthemum flowers and, most important for a geiko, maioughi(dancing fans). Chrysanthemums and falling leaves are the reminded for us that autumn is coming to our doorstep and soon will be taking over out Kyoto Kagai sim. The pattern of her woven Obi is called Hakata and suits the susohiki well.
Her gorgeous katsura is decorated with simple but perfect small maezashi hairpin.
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Susohiki is usually worn by geiko or by stage performers of the traditional Japanese dance. Susohiki literally means "trail the skirt". It is quite long, compared to regular kimono, because the skirt is supposed to trail along the floor. As geiko walks, her trailing skirt reminds us of a beautiful tail of a goldfish.
Senior Maiko Kikutsuru
Sr Maiko Kikutsuru has chosen beautiful purple hikizuri with falling leafs pattern. Leafs are not autumn-like orange or red, they are summer green, but they are falling and reminding us that soon seasons will change.
Her darari obi is dark and has a painted fans woven pattern - the one who has created this obi has created truly a masterpiece.
Her hairstyle is called Ofuku(Sr maiko Hairstyle). Once a week(most commonly) maiko goes to the hairdresser to have her hair done. After that, Maiko are not permitted to wash their hair and also have to sleep on a special ”Wooden Pillow” for an entire week as not to destroy their elaborate hairstyle.
Senior Maiko Kikumaru
Sr Maiko Kikumaru decided to wear a beautiful hikizuri with gradation between white and navy blue, accompanied by weeping willow, falling leaves, chrysanthemums and flow hand painted motifs.
Textile, used for creating this masterpiece, is exquisite soft silk.
The darari obi is longer than the one worn by Geiko Kikuyu; it is also tied in a special knot, worn only by maiko san. The one worn by Kikumaru san has geometrical motif.
Her hairstyle is called Ofuku and is only used by senior maiko san. Seasonal kanzashi decorate her hair - as you later will notice, If you look attentively on the picture of Kikumaru san and than on the picture of Kikune san, you will notice that Sr maiko use different kanzashi from the ones used by Junior maiko and minarai. Sr Maiko dont use dangling kanzashi and flower bridge combs.
Junior Maiko Kikune
For September, Maiko Kikune decided to wear a stunning hikizuri with subtle purple background with flow pattern motif. If you look closely, you can see orange maple leafs and different types of flowers, taken away by the flow. I believe that by this, kimono painted wanted to remind us that everything changes, and anything can be taken away by the flow of time...
Her obi is woves and was created by same kimono artist.
As Kikune chan is still a junior maiko, her hairstyle is wareshinobu(worn not only by jr Maiko but also by minarai), decorated with seasonal kanzashi. Also, because she's only on her first rank as maiko("Haninmae maiko").Also Kikune chan has to wear dangling type kanzashi
and is allowed ONLY to paint her lower lip(its a tradition, signifying that she's still a "baby").
Minarai Kikushino
Minarai Kikushino is wearing cute hikizuri with beautiful purple background and summertime flowers, such as Kikyou(bell flower), hand-painted by talented kimono artist. Her obi is woven and fits the hikizuri beautifully.
Her hairstyle is called wareshinobu and is decorated with season kanzashi. How are the kanzashi chosen? Well, they are all monthly. For example, Bell flower or in Japanese kikyou is the flower of September and this means that all kanzashi of maiko san during this month will be bellsflowers. They will look differently due to wanks but the motif flower will be the same.
Minarai Kikuyae
Not long ago, Minarai Kikuyae had her minaraia ozashiki. In Miyagawacho, Minarai san wear special minarai hikizuri with shorten sleeves and shorten "half" obi only for about a week or two. This is one of the differences of the minarai rank in Miyagawacho in compare to other hanamachis. But now, Back to Kikuyae chan :)
Her Minarai Hikizuri has multi seasonal pattern on a pink background. This type of pink is called "childish"and is associated with youth. Her obi is half of the size of Maiko san. It has butterflies, as a symbol of girls transforming into graceful young ladies, as well as of young womanhood in general.
Kikuyae's hairstyle is same as her Kikushino neesan's - Wareshinobu, and is with Kikyou Kanzashi.
