This website is to provide information about maiko of Kyoto, Japan, to non-Japanese overseas.
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Maiko Fashion
The look of Maiko is very brilliant and attractive. It says the unique Maiko style is based on girls of Muromachi Street wholesalers of Kyoto in Edo period.
The Kimono of Maiko is arranged shorter shoulder and sleeves with Okobo (wooden clogs) and Darari no Obi (Kimono belt with special way to tie) as they are young and in the middle of training.
Hair Style
One of the characteristic of Maiko is hair style. It is not a wig.
Darari no Obi
Darari no Obi is one of the symbol of Maiko.
Okobo
When you look at the foot of Maiko she has about 10 cm height wooden clog.
Kanzashi
The ornamental hairpins of
Maiko, there are several but the most representative one is
Tsumami Kanzashi which
arranged seasonal
flowers and leaves.
Making up
Maiko has white painted face with foundation which paints by herself.
Kimono
Furisode style Kimono and Darari no Obi.
Darari no Obi
Darari no Obi is one of the symbol of Maiko. The Obi (Kimono belt) has more than 5 meters long so it is not possible to prepare by herself.
The Darari no Obi arrangement has the both ends hang down which reach to her calf.
When she change to Geiko, uses normal Obi.
Additionally Shikomisan (training girl being Maiko) use Handara which has half long of hanging down of the ends of Obi.
Actually, this Darari no Obi arrangement uses for Shichigosan (a traditional event which 3,5 and 7 years old children take to shrine with Kimono). This is a remains that little girls were training to be Maiko. The little Maiko was working with seniors in Ozashiki party in night time. However the time was late so some of little Maiko were fall in sleep. For that case, there are crest of Okiya where belong to on the ends of Obi. The crest worked as a name plate after Ozashiki Party to take them to their Okiya. This crest culture is still exists.
Making up
Maiko has white painted face with foundation which paints by herself. The rouge paint only lower lip in the first year of Maiko. And painting white the face is because it is easy to recognize the face under candle light at that time. Kabuki actors paint the face as the same reason.7
For the make up, the face have to coast with oil but it says it is not so easy. A Maiko who just became, is not good at for making up.
After a year, start to put rouge to upper lip, too. But actually it is depends on how does she look like. A Maiko looks younger keep making up as the first year even she is not. This decision make by Okami of Okiya.
The back neck painting also prepare by herself.
However in the case of important event or festivals make three lines. In that case, ask for a help to the other with model.
Okobo
When you look at the foot of Maiko she has about 10 cm height wooden clog. This calls “Okobo” which makes sound of “Kobo” when she walk. This Okobo does not good for walk long distance and it has status value. When she have to walk rainy day or hill, she use normal Japanese foot wear. Okobo thong is red and the rule of colors is exactly same as collar which changes depends on the experience.
Kimono
Furisode style Kimono and Darari no Obi. This Furisode is arranged as shorter shoulders and sleeves. This arrangement is to remain a little girl. Long time ago, Maiko was job for little girls and it was necessary to arrange the size of Kimono. It says the arrangement is remains of that history background.
And the Furisode’s hem is longer than a normal Kimono. So when a Maiko walk down the
street, hold the hem on the left hand. This makes unique attractiveness.
The collar of Kimono of Maiko is red with embroidery of white string. The color change red to white by experienced years.
To be a Geiko call "Erikae". This means the color of collar change from red to white. So by looking the color of collar is able to recognize how long doing Maiko.
At the same time, the pattern of Kimono changes larger brilliant to calmed design.
The Kimono of Maiko is rented from Okami of Okiya.
Kanzashi
The ornamental hairpins of Maiko, there are several but the most representative one is Tsumami Kanzashi which arranged seasonal flowers and leaves.
Tumami Kanzashi has one which has Bura hang down decollation and which has not. Tsumami Kanzashi with Bura is for the first year Maiko. The flowers which arranged on Kanzashi change the size small to large by the year.
The decollation has rules based on seasonal nature and events such as;
Jan. pine, bamboo, plum;
Feb. plum, ornamental ball, pinwheel;
Mar. rape blossoms, narcissus, peachm peony;
Apr. cherry, gorocho;
May wisteria, iris;
Jun. willow, hydrangea;
Jul. fan, festival;
Aug. pampas grass, morning glory;
Sep. balloonflower, bush clover;
Oct. chrysanthemum;
Nov. maple, ginkgo;
Dic. Minamiza no Kaomise Maneki.
And other Kanzashi such as Hirauchi Kanzashi, Tama Kanzashi, Makie Kanzashi, etc uses at the same time based on the rule.
Kanzashi has rules based on seasons, position, etc. So for a person well known it is able to recognize the situation of Maiko.
Hair Style
One of the characteristic of Maiko is hair style. It is not a wig.
The style has some types but the first year is always Wareshinobu style. After one or two year change to Ofuku. And at the Gion Festival make Katsuyama. It is prohibited to change hair style as they want.
Wareshinobu:Comparing with Ofuku, it has smaller width and Kanoko cloth color have to red. Kanoko position is little upper than Ofuku.
Ofuku:It has larger width comparing with Wareshinobu. Kanoko cloth could be pink, sky blue, etc. the position of Kanoko is little lower than Wareshinobu.
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