New beginning

Konnichiwa, dear readers. It has been such a long time since I've written a word in this blog I once used to write with such dedication. It brings me great sorrow to realize it has almost been a year since I've attended any events of the Karyukai! I have no words to apologize enough, but life has been so busy and I have had to do so many things that I've barely had enough time for myself to sleep. 

I'd planned to return to Karyukai as soon as possible, but I am ashamed to say it took me eight long months. But, here I am. Now I have returned and I will continue my task of writing about and photographing the wonderful world of the Geisha. I hope to rebuild my relationship with each Hanamachi and Okaasan. I also hope to be informed about important events and times of Ozashiki, as I assume they have greatly changed during my absence. I apologize for not being there when I should have taken pictures of Misedashi and Erikae, and I warmly congratulate every new maiko and geiko! I am glad to see the Karyukai alive and growing. Lets make 2015 a great year for the Geisha, guardians of Japanese tradition and art, and us patrons! 

Misedashi in Blue Lotus

It has been such a long time since I've had the chance to tell you about the events of the karyukai. It doesn't mean that nothing has happened, but that I have been really busy while working and being a geisha paparazzi. There have been many new faces within the karyukai, new debuts (misedashi) and erikae. It is wonderful to see the flower and willow world busy and alive!

Today I had to work a little longer than expected, but as I got home, I quickly changed my outfit and rushed to Blue Lotus hanamachi for a misedashi, or a debut, where I'd been invited. I was indeed a little late, but I still had enough time to take a few hundred pictures!

Maikosan Teruyo, whose misedashi it was, performed a dance from the piece Fuji Musume, or Wisteria Maiden. She really looked very beautiful and her dancing was very graceful.

Some pictures of maikosan Teruyo dancing Fuji Musume

What I enjoy the most in taking pictures during performances are the different "poses" the dancer makes while performing the piece. Here are some of my favourites from Teruyo-san's Fuji Musume:

In the beginning of the dance she wore the purple kimono (shown on the left) and then changed into the red/purple kimono (in the middle and on the right)

Here are other very beautiful "poses":

The atmosphere in this picture is very mysterious, and the way the dancer is laying on the stage is beautiful!

Then, after performing the Fuji Musume, Teruyo-san changed into a full misedashi outfit. I went crazy and took so many pictures that it took me two hours to choose the best ones for the blog!

Maikosan Teruyo bowing humbly after her misedashi performance

After the performance we went outside and I took some more pictures of Teruyo-san outside. All the guests enjoyed some sweets and congratulated the new maikosan.

The misedashi of maikosan Teruyo

 I also snapped some pictures of her outfit:

Misedashi and erikae are better than christmas for a paparazzi like me. There are always other maiko and geiko of the okiya (and other okiyas, too) present and dressed up beautifully! I took some pictures of the other maiko and geiko:

Maikosan Terifuji

Geikosan Teruha

And the last, but definitely not least, picture; I took a japanese newspaper -styled misedashi picture of Teruyo-san. Omisedashi ometedou gozaimasu!

Misedashi of maikosan Teruyo of Blue Lotus 2014