June 2021: Aoi-tayuu, of Suehiro okiya, demonstrating a magnetic accessory from Waraku, a store which allows patrons to buy and create miscellaneous Japanese goods and accessories.

February 2022: Aoi-tayuu and Tsukasa-tayuu, of Suehiro okiya, posing in costumes for Obake with a bikuni (i.e. Buddhist nun) at the Senbon Enmado at Injo-ji Temple in Kamigyo, Kyoto, Japan. 

Obake is a part of Setsubun celebrations where the wearing of outrageous costumes is meant to confuse ghosts who would bring bad luck. On the right, Aoi-tayuu is wearing a costume resembling the character Tsuri Onna from the kabuki play “ Ebisu Môde Koi no Tsuribari,” who is considered to be an ugly woman. On the left, Tsukasa-tayuu is wearing a tiger inspired costume because 2022 is the year of the Tiger.

February 2021: Aoi-tayuu and her kamuro, Miwa-chan & Rio-chan, of Suehiro okiya modeling their lace face veils in order aesthetically maintain Covid safety protocols.

April 1999:  Aoi-tayuu in 1999, age 12, debuting as the Furisode-tayuu of the Wachigaiya okiya, most likely during their April tayuu-dochu.

September 2021: Aoi-tayuu and her kamuro, of Suehiro okiya, and Mai-geigi, of the Aizu-Higashiyama Geigi Association, posing for photos at the Iori-no-Yado Ashina Inn where the 8th Regular Broadcast - Kyoto Shimabara Tayuu's Dream Writing will be livestreamed.

Nihongami: Hairstyles of the Karyukai - Tayuu, Shinzo & Kamuro

Historical Time Period: Mid-Edo Period - 2nd Half (1753-1789)

Hairstyle Name: Otoko Genroku (男元禄) lit. “Genroku Man”

     This hairstyle is different from its sibling style, the Onna Genroku, in that the topmost gathering of hair is styled in a tall, shaku-like pattern, compared to that of the female style. These hairstyles are a reference to the loud, flamboyant gender-fluid style of fashion during the Genroku period of Japanese history, a time when men and women dressed so alike you couldn’t always tell them apart on sight.

June 2021: Aoi-tayuu, of Suehiro okiya, modeling her new wisteria kanzashi from Floresta.