Little Yoshiwara Performance

After the O-zashiki in Kaishi Chou with Hoshiteru-san and Tsukiyumi-san I met with Reika-chan. It had been a while, and she looked beautiful in her autumn hikizuri.

Me and Reika-chan in Gion Higashi

Reika-chan in front of Mitsuhana Okiya

We decided to go somewhere, and as there was a show in Little Yoshiwara hanaamchi just starting, we decided to attend. So, we rushed to Little Yoshiwara.

The show was called "Autumn Flowers", and I have to say that the stage was really beautifully decorated.

The audience watching Little Yoshiwara geisha perform

performers on the stage, waiting to begin

The performers were three Little Yoshiwara Geiko. The okaasan of the okiya, Yoneyu-san, as well as always beautiful geishasan Sayu. The third performer was Musumesan Yokosuka. They all danced beautifully.

The young maiko was Sora-san

Ozashiki in Kaishi Chou

Konnichiwa! Today I attended an Ozashiki in the lovely Kaishi Chou Ochaya (tea house). It was great to be in Kaishi again, after a long week of working hard. O-zashiki banquets are a great opportunity to relax, have fun and enjoy the atmosphere in a traditional Japanese setting. To all of those who haven't attended an ozashiki so far, I'd really recommend Ozashiki! You won't be disappointed.

I really had no idea that there'd be an ozashiki in Kaishi Chou at noon. I logged in three minutes to twelve and was suddenly invited to join an Ozashiki. I'll never say no to a karyukai event! So I immediately rushed to Kaishi Chou and to the ochaya. There was a young, perhaps very new, shikomisan (a young apprentice) who opened the door to me and a few other guests.

I took off my shoes and met the maiko who were in the ochaya. And, there was maikosan Hoshiteru! It was great to see her, because I really enjoyed the Ozashiki with her and Hoshiko-san last week.

In the Kaishi Chou Ochaya

I was served some hot Ocha, or traditional green tea, in the cold autumn day. We talked and laughed for a while. Then I met minaraisan Tsukiyumi. I heard that she might just very soon become a junior maiko! How exciting that we'll have another O-misedashi soon.

Ochaya

 I also met the okaasan of Kaishi Chou, Murasaki Kimono-san, who is a geiko. She played the shamisen beautifully.

Murasaki Kimono-san playing the shamisen (sorry about the bad quality)

Junior Maiko Hoshiteru-san

   

Minaraisan Tsukiyumi and me in the ochaya

The young shikomisan, whose name was Kirakishou-san, also showed her skills as she filled my tea cup once.

Me and shikomisan Kirakishou

After some time maikosan Hoshiteru and minaraisan Tsukiyumi decided to entertain us with a dance. They danced the Gion Kouta, a ballad for Gion. I was really delighted to see a performance.

Gion Kouta

After the dance we played an ozashiki- asobi (game) called 20 questions. Like I said last time, I never win, so I am always the one who drinks sake until he can't walk anymore. Well, this time I won! Okay, once and it was the last round, but still. I won.

After the Ozashiki I met the atotori of Kaishi Chou, Aiyuzuki-san, who is a lovely geikosan. And, by the way, oneesan (elder sister) of Tsukiyumi-san!

Hoshiteru-san and Aiyuzuki-san

Ozashiki in Kaishi Chou

Konnichiwa! There was a lovely Ozashiki in Kaishi Chou with Hoshiteru-san and Hoshiko-san. It was really nice to be in the Kaishi Chou ochaya, after a too long time! We played 20 questions, I lost every time, and so I had to drink sake, and chatted. Is there a better way to spend the Friday evening than in the Ochaya?

I hope to visit Kaishi Chou more often, and I'll do my best to visit all the O-zashiki I can from now on. Why is it that I miss all the Omisedashi and erikae? Every time I can't be around, there are tons of them, but when I return, there are none. Well, I'll just need to try harder to be around more. I hope you enjoy these pictures:

Me and maikosan Hoshiteru

"Try to capture my good side", she said. I think maikosan Hoshiteru looks amazing all the time, especially in this kind of hikizuri.

Mizue-kai Odori 2013

Konnichiwa! The Mizuekai Odori 2013, the first annual Mizuekai of Miyagawa-cho in second life karyukai, has just ended. It was a wonderful show. The maiko and geiko of Hanafusa really did their best, and looked beautiful, wearing the colourful hikizuri kimonos. Their dancing was absolutely flawless and the traditional music was very elegant.

I managed to snap some pictures, even though my viewer was so slow that I was unable to take any pictures during the last three acts of the odori. But, please visit the blog of Hanafusa Okiya for more beautiful pictures of the Odori! Please click here to see Hanafusa Okiya Blog

The Odori had four acts, each of them unique. The first act was Kaede, and the apprentices of Hanafusa danced this elegant dance wearing their formal, black kimonos and golden obis (kimono belts).

The second act was called Aki, and this was danced wearing colourful hikizuri and white-red dance fans, known as maiougi.

The third act was a kabuki- styled play called "Ghost Hanamachi". It was very interesting to see Kabuki performed by maiko, as women are not usually allowed on kabuki stages in Japan. It is an ancient tradition, and due to this the Onnagata was created. (Onnagata are men actors who play female roles on the kabuki stages. One of the most famous Onnagata in Japan is the "Great" Tamasaburo.)

The last and fourth act was the traditional Manzai Odori.

Waiting for the Odori to begin 

Enjoying the Odori

The elegant lantern curtain of Miyagawa kaburenjo

The second act

The second act

Mizuekai and Shinrin no Akumu

Konnichiwa, everyone! I am already looking forward to this Friday and the Mizuekai (Autumn odori), hosted by Miyagawa-cho hanamachi. I wish to see you there! Also, the annual Shinrin no Akumu Odori, hosted by Gion Higashi hanamchi (Mitsuhana Okiya) will be on 5th. I have some pictures of the previous Shinrin no Akumu odori here in my blog, if you wish to see them.

For more information about Mizuekai Odori and to see a list of performers, please visit Hanafusa Okiya Blog

Ozashiki in Little Yoshiwara

Konbanwa everyone! I hope you are enjoying this lovely Saturday. Today I visited Little Yoshiwara, as geishasan Sayu hosted an ozashiki. It was a great event!

Me and geishasan Sayu

geishasan Sayu wearing a lovely kimono

Little Yoshiwara Ochaya

I am also looking forward to the Mizuekai dances (hosted by Miyagawa-cho hanamachi) this year. 

Ozashiki in Mitsuhana

Konnichiwa minna san. It has been such a long time since I've written a word here. Oh, how does the time fly! Today I had a wonderful time in a lovely, traditional ochaya with Mitsuhana maiko and minarai. Sadly, I arrived late so I missed the performances this time. Here I have some pictures.

Maikosan Mamehana

Maikosan Chiharu

Minaraisan Chikusayo, Imoutosan of Chiharu-san

Lights of the traditional tea house

It is wonderful to notice that the second life karyukai is busy, full of new apprentices, maiko, geiko, events and patrons again. It's getting back some of the glory it had in the golden days of the karyukai!