Gion Shirakawa Yoizakura
Every year at the beginning of April two maiko are chosen to pose for photographers in the Shimbashi/Gion Shirakawa area, the iconic area of Gion Kobu where the Shirakawa River, Tatsumi Shrine, old teahouses, and lots of cherry trees and willow trees are located.
This year it was Mameharu from Gion Kobu and Toshikana from Miyagawacho (source)
Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro - 10th to 20th March
“Hanatouro is an event held at two points of the year during which the beautiful landscape, architecture, and art of Kyoto are grandly illuminated beneath the moonlight.
Although both are known as Hanatouro, the “Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro” is held in March and “Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro” held in December.
The path for the “Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro” stretches 4.6km long from Shoren-in Temple near Sanjo Station down to Kyoto’s famous Kiyomizu Temple near Gojo Station. The streets and admirable surroundings are lit up and decorated to make for a very pleasant walk. (source)”
(Source: Flickr / yocca)
Maiko Ayano - Spring festival Higashiyama Hanatoro
(Source: flickr.com)
Setsubun - February 2-4th - Hanamachi: Gion Kobu, Gion Higashi, Pontocho, Kamishichiken, Miyagawacho
Setsubun is the day preceding risshun that is the first day of spring according to the old Japanese calendar, or the so-called lunar calendar. On the day of Setsubun, there is the custom of throwing roasted soybeans while chanting “In with Fortune! Out with Evil” in order to prevent evil ogres from entering one’s house. It is believed that the ogres are warded off by throwing beans, and that good fortune will then come to one’s home. On this day, events with entertainers are held at shrines all over the country. According to Japanese tradition, if you eat the same number of beans as your age, you will enjoy a year of good health.(source)
Setsubun - Mamemaki
The custom of Mamemaki (literally “bean throwing”) first appeared in the Muromachi period. Roasted soybeans (called “fortune beans” (fuku mame)) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon or ogre) mask, while the people say “Demons out! Luck in!” (鬼は外! 福は内! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door, although this is not common practice in households anymore and most people will attend a shrine or temple’s spring festival where this is done. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one’s life, and in some areas, one for each year of one’s life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come. (source)
More: Setsubun and Obake
Yachiyo Inoue V at kotohajime (2011), presenting her geiko and maiko students with new fans for them to use in the coming year. The color of the fan corresponds to the rank of the students.
In return the students gift her okagamisan (a pair of pounded glutinous rice cakes) and a red and white envelope containing money (the amount corresponds to the status of the student in the school hierarchy: less for maiko, more for senior geiko.)
(Source: youtube.com)
Mameji-san (okasan of Arai okiya) and maiko Mameroku making their way to the home of Yachiyo Inoue, the head of the Inoue school of dance in order to celebrate hatsuyori (january 13th).
Geiko and maiko of Gion Kobu gather at the house of Yachiyo Inoue and celebrate de begining of the year, dressing less formal kimono if compared to shigyoshiki (but few of them still dress formal kimonos). That’s just a little meeting where they talk informaly having shiro miso soup with rice cakes.
Ebisu festival - Jan 8th-12th
This festival is held at many shrines, particularly in Kansai. Ebisu, familiarly called “Ebessan” in the Kansai dialect, is the patron deity of business as well as of fisheries. A good luck bamboo branch decorated with lots of lucky items such as old, oval gold coins, sea bream and rice bales is a highly popular charm for business prosperity. This is a grand event which has continued ever since the Edo Period (17th-19th Century). January 10th is the main festival day, and the 9th is called the Eve of Ebisu, while the 11th is known as the “Last Helping of Luck.” (source)
Hatsuyori - Jan 13th - Hanamachi: Gion Kobu
January 13th, 2012
Maiko and two shikomi (beginner apprentices) from the Tama yakata (geiko house) returning from the home of Yachiyo Inoue, the head of the Inoue school of dance. Together with other maiko and geiko from the Gion Kobu district, they pledged to continue to work and train hard and celebrated the new year by eating zōni.(source)
