Fuji Musume video!!

Konnichiwa! Here is the Fuji Musume video by Mitsuhana Okiya. ^^

Fuji Musume pictures

Konnichiwa! The Fuji Musume performance is over. Here I have the pictures. 

I will be posting some videos tomorrow. ^_^

Fuji Musume by Gion Higashi:

Tomohana-san

Tomohana-san

Sayohana-san and sakura kouta

Sayohana-san and sakura kouta

We all on stage, curtain closing before I could take a picture.

A happy Okaasan after a great performance. 

Nervous Feelings before performance.

Konnichiwa! I decided to take and post some pictures before the performance, and I did.
More wil be posted when the Fuji Musume is over.

Reiko-san and Sayohana-san on stage, waiting for the performance to begin.

Male musicians, and Mamehana-san. (I am in the middle)

Fuji musume today!

At 3pm in Gion Higashi, Flytrap!! welcome!

Fuji Musume

Konnichiwa! ^^ I was asked to be a male musician in the Fuji Musume on 25th, and of course I was honored to accept!
I today went in Kisetsu to buy a kabuki kimono, and I also got a new shamisen.
Reika-san helped me out with my kabuki clothes, domo arigatou gozaimasu, Reika-san!!
I already look forward the Fuji Musume. If I recall right, it starts at 3pm SLT.
Don't worry, if you cant make it there, I'll take lots of pictures, and hopefully can record at least parts of it.

Fuji Musume - Wisteria maiden

Konnichiwa! ^^
There is fuji musume (wisteria maiden performance) in Gion Higashi, on 25th.
It's by Geikosan Tomohana. You really don't want to miss this! I look forward to see You there!

My shop in marketplace

You can now find my shop in Marketplace  - Uchiwaya! Okoshiyasu, otano moshimasu! ^^ (welcome!)

My shop opened!

Konnichiwa! Today I opened my shop in Gion Higashi, flytrap.
It doesn't have a name yet, but I sell fans, parasols and textures, hopefully  soon kimono too!
The store has no name yet, please feel free to let me know if you have any good name ideas :D

A living beauty - Oiran

Konnichiwa! Today I met Oiran in Gion Higashi. She was absolutely the most beautiful Oiran I have ever seen! She was something to unique.. Even her kimono.. and fan.. They were simply perfect!

Ichisumi-matsu san

Here is a picture of her!

Ichisumi-matsu san

Ramen, Ramen or Ramen?

Gion Higashi has a ramen noodle stand! :P

No matter what they say, I love Gion

"No matter what they say,
I love Gion.
Even in my sleep
The sound of water
Flows beneath my pillow"

Yoshii Isamu

Today I visited the new Gion Higashi sim. I met Reika-san. 

She showed me around. Here you can see Reika-san in front of Mitsuhana Okiya. 

If you go to gion higashi, you can even find Isamu memorial stone, the poem written on it!

Ozashiki in Ichiriki-tei

Today I decided to join Ozashiki in Ichiriki-tei, the new Ochaya. On the new sim!
I had only been there once before.
There were some other patrons as well, but Shikomisan Aisha, Tsukihana-san and Tomohana-san, who is now a Geiko!
We ate delicious meal, and as usual, talked. In Kyoto every meal is a piece of fine art, and so was today.
After delicious meal, Tomohana-san performed a dance. Her performance was stunning, like always.
I have some pictures for you!

me and Tomohana-san

Tsukihana-san

Tsukihana-san playing shamisen
Tomohana-san's fan dance:

Ozashiki in 20 minutes!!

There is an Ozashiki in Ichirikitei of Gion Higashi in 20 minutes! I hope to see you there!! :)

Gion Higashi sim reopened

Gion Higashi sim has opened again! The location has changed to Flytrap! Make sure that you'll visit there! ^^

Mitsuhana, all together

Konnichiwa! Yesterday one of the Mitsuhana girls was kind enough to share one really amazing picture with me.

Mello-chan, Komomo-chan, Tsukihana Chan, Tomohana san, Reiko san, Reika san, Mamehana san, Chisaki san, and below is Momoka san.

Gion Higashi sim closed for public!!

Konnichiwa! I just found out that GH sim is closed, until they have everything ready. :)
But I don't want you to get bored while waiting for that. There are plenty of news from Gion Higashi hanamachi to share! And today I decided to share one amazing dance by Momoka-san.

   So, this is Mitsuhana Okiya winter Odori. Pretty old, but one of the best dances I've ever seen!

For Momoka-san!

Momoka-san.. She is the creator of many dances in second life. She has created the plum tree dances.. She is a mitsuhana maiko.. She is skilled builder, and absolutely a lovely person. I really admire her very much. I made her a little video. It is a surprise! :)

Todays lecture, Geisha.

Today there was a public lecture in Gion Higashi public geisha school, by Mamehana-san. She told us about Geisha.. History, ranks, hairstyles and such..

You can also see Tomohana-san (in the red kimono), as a Geisha. 

Congratulations, new Geiko!

Congratulations, Tomohana-san. She is now a Geiko in Mitsuhana. And she is the FIRST Geiko in Mitsuhana! I made a little video for her.

Big day!! Erikae, becoming geisha, TOMORROW!

I just wanted to remind that Tomohana-san, mitsuhana senior maiko will become a geiko tomorrow.

Tomohana-san on her sakkou. 

Last moment to get a maiko picture of her!! :)

Tomohana - Friendly Flower

Tomohana, Mitsuhana Sr. Maiko

First touch with the Karyukai

"Since I first saw a picture of a maiko, I thought she was so beautiful... I love kimono mostly, so that is how I found out about maiko. When I heard the music and saw the dancing, and their grace, I knew I wanted to learn more myself. I joined Mitsuhana a month after it opened, or less,  if I recall right. A senior maiko I became one month ago."

Duties as a senior 

"It's important for senior maiko to watch their younger sisters and help with teaching, and guiding the others. It's also important to keep vigilant in classes and performances.I teach about kitsuke (dressing in kimono), about music, and various etiquette, mainly. There are many small nuances in how one dresses, that you can spot and tell a lot about a person. For example, looking at me, someone should be able to tell I am dressed formally, and I am a senior maiko about to become a geiko. Even my hairstyle is part of my kitsuke. This pure red and gold collar is only worn by maiko about to become full geiko."

Best in Ozashiki

" Best in Ozashiki is sharing the songs and dances with patrons, because we are passing on traditional Japanese culture to them--the real songs and dances in a traditional setting. People get to relax, have fun, and learn all at once."

Erikae - becoming a Geisha

"I plan on being a jikata... that is a musical accompanist, so I will be singing and playing shamisen. I love the mood and picture that kouta (short songs) invoke, as well as the simple sound of a plucked shamisen. It can be playful or mournful and evoke the times of Edo.

I am looking forward to teaching more and perfecting being a jikata... As a geiko I have to work even harder on my music and performances. Geiko need to be professionals and need to practice all the time.

I think I will take on more responsibility to make sure the okiya stays strong, and the ochaya busy... and from an outside perspective, I hope to be taken seriously as a professional performer. 

I guess I will miss the fun of being a maiko. But being a geiko gives you more freedom too. You can specialize in the classes you want, and take classes when you want. And everyone can look at you as a geiko and know she is a professional."

Tomohana

Reika - Lovely Petal

Reika, Mitsuhana Jr. Maiko

The first steps

"I have been in Mitsuhana for seven months. A total of nine and a half in Karyukai general. A maiko I have been for five full months. I am enjoying my rank, not rushing onto the next. I love the mystery of the Karyukai, I love the whole of Japanese culture. The language, how polite everyone is."

Specialty

"I have followed the footsteps of my Oneesan, and chosen Kyomai as my specialty. There is just something about a way a girl can express herself with her body. Her movements can portray a wide variety of emotions, telling a story without using words at all. I am also a Sensei. I teach emoting to the younger girls in the Okiya. Like Kyomai, emoting allows me express myself beyond the limitations that Second Life has. I can show the world what they should see, hear, taste, feel, and smell, but can't."

Being a Maiko

"Being in a higher rank, there is more pressure to be correct, less margin for error. Not only do younger girls look up to us maiko, but we are expected to represent the Okiya well to our patrons, and wherever we go. I love public performances. It gives me the opportunity to show what I can do, to make Mitsuhana look good.  I have an Imoutosan, the new Minarai Reiko chan. She just recently passed her exam! I have to be a good role model for her. I also have to correct her is she does something wrong. I also have to apologize those she has wronged. I have to impart all my knowledge to her, so she is prepared for anything she can be, and last but not least, I am her best friend, there to provide any support she needs."

Ozashiki

"The best in Ozashiki is the patrons definitely. We are there for them and they are the ones who make it fun for us!"

Future

"I just wish to be as knowledgeable as possible. I don't want to frame nor future, just to provide the patrons with the fantasy world they deserve!"

Reika 

Komomo - the Little Peach

Komomo, Mitsuhana Minarai 

Aiming to Geisha

"It all started with the Memoirs of a Geisha -movie. Of course I was interested in the Japanese culture before. But the movie made me to started to get hooked with Geisha. I wanted to learn more about the real Geisha, because I heard it had some parts wrong. I read several books on the topic and looked for a place in Second Life that would teach me more. And ultimately becoming a Geisha became my aim."

Little Peach

"I am fairly new minarai, I am minarai for only a month now. I love being a minarai, first of all because minarai is allowed to join her sisters during Ozashiki. I am learning a lot by watching and practicing at this point. I don't need to clean anymore, which I am really grateful for. Of course as one of the younger sisters I am always willing to help my elder sister wherever I can. Also I am allowed to dance and play instruments, as well as serving. It is great fun! For me it is hard to pick a favorite art, but I am planning to make dancing my specialization. My name, Komomo, I chose by following the tradition that part of your Oneesan's name would become yours. Since my Oneesan is the lovely Momoka, I became Komomo."

Tora Tora!

"Ozashiki allows me to meet a lot of new people. To learn about them, what they like and don't like. 

Maybe even their stories. I love meeting new people and it is always exciting to hear what they have to say. When it comes to activities, I love games. Especially Tora Tora!" 

In the future

"Our main duty is to become better by learning and practicing. So that one day we can become an honored maikosan. But of course, like I mentioned before, helping out each other is something that should be done at each rank. I look forward to become a maiko. I look forward to the darari obi, the long trailing one.. The lovely hanakanzashi.. when it comes to appearance. Otherwise of course learning more and getting better. Maiko are so elegant and yet so youthful. They just seem to be the image everyone has in mind when they hear the word "geisha". I am looking forward to my Misedashi, since then you are a fully accepted member of the Karyukai. Being Maiko is just.. great!" 

Life in Mitsuhana

"In Mitsuhana I love the most my sisters. I love the fact that we are all one big family. Everyone respects the other and is always there for you when you have questions and concerns. I should mention Okaasan too, she is a lovely person!"

Komomo-san

Aisha - The journey of a Shikomi.

Aisha, Mitsuhana Shikomi 

How did it start?

"My name is Aisha, and I have been a Mitsuhana Shikomi for six months now. 

I am interested in Japanese culture and that very much includes the Geisha, women artists.

Because I am from small country in Europe, there is only little knowledge I can gain about Geisha. 

So I joined to learn more!

To be honest, I didn't know anything about the Shikomi life in the Okiya. So I didn't expect anything. I am now glad, I have many wise Older sisters, who teach me a lot every day. Being a Shikomi is really great for me.

I believe Karyukai is kind of a woman "thing". It is a secret and exclusive world. And also traditional arts and japanese aesthetics are everywhere around. 

I love being a Shikomi. First of all because it is a beginning of a journey. I love beginnings. They are so exiting! Also I learn. That I take as a good part. Learning.." 

Is it difficult to be a Shikomi?

"No, not at all! The only thing really hard for me is being absolutely quiet at the lessons. The life of a Shikomi is though hard. But if you look to a brighter future, then everything is easier. When I joined dancing was the most difficult thing to learn. Kitsuke lessons I love!"

Duties?

"I do chores. I clean after Ozashiki, open doors and welcome quests. I prepare tea and lunches. 

Also the Okiya has to stay clean and tidy. I help my Older sisters."

Future plans?

"I look forward in becoming a Minarai. First of all, all the splendor of being dressed for Ozashiki and also to attend one, to learn more in practise. And also no opening doors and cleaning anymore! I also haven't tried Sake before. Every stage in life has it's pluses and minuses. So I think it shall be only different. Some things will be easy, some won't." 

Aisha-san (aishaloo) 

Thank you, Mitsuhana!

I would like to thank every Maiko, Minarai and Shikomi of Mitsuhana for all the wonderful Ozashiki and moments in Mitsuhana. Also great thanks to Akahana Ueta, Mitsuhana Okaasan!