#jikata

June 2018: Famous Jikata Geiko Katsuna (Daimonji Okiya) of Kamishichiken enjoying the view at a park.

Oirangeisha’s high hopes for the 2017 girls.

I told you my opinion and my hopes on my new favorite girls who have had their misedashi this year. It’s not very objective because I don’t speak about some of them. Also this is just a quick opinion nothing too serious I don’t claim to know those girls.

1/Tatsuha and Yuriha, debuted in January under Takeha in the Tama okiya. Those two girls are super lucky to start with such an impressive onesan! They seems very dedicated in their work and fun to be around. They are also such cutiepies that i do look forward to see them bloom! (Source)

2/Mamesaya, debuted in March under Mameya in the Shibata okiya. I do like the girls of Shibata okiya to start with and Mamesaya’s bright smile do caught my eyes. She also does seems to be popular with the photographers which is nice for her. I’m sure she is a hard-working girl and I’m whishing her all the best! (Source)

3/Ichisato, debuted in March under Ichiemi in Masunoya okiya. She have such a striking look I wish for more photographs of her in 2018. And it’s always refresing to have a new face in Pontocho so I do hope the best for her! (Source)

4/Tomichie, debuted in October under Tomitae in Tomikiku okiya. To be honest i am into all the new Gion Higashi girls of this year but i decided to feature my favorite of the four, Tomichie. Being under the Tomitae’s wing I can’t wait to see this cute girl grow into a full fledged artist.(Source)

5/Fumiyuki, debuted in September without an onesan in Katsufumi okiya. She is the very first maiko of her okiya and she seems to be very dedicated to make her okiya shine. I also adore her cute look and i’m sure she will be very asked by the photographers. Can’t wait to see her progress for 2018! (Source)

6/Katsuki, debuted in October under Katsune in Daimonji okiya. I am very happy for this okiya to have a new maiko and Katsuki is such a sweet girl. I  wish her the best and I do think that she can be a popular girl in Kamishichiken! (Source)

7/Mamewaka, debuted in December under Yoshimame in Shibata okiya. It is so refreshing to have a new jikata geiko in Gion Kobu. And I am so glad to see Gion Kobu allowing new girls in as geiko like Mamewaka and Danmitsu. So I am really looking forward to see her progress, best luck Mamewaka-san!(Source)

Great news! 

According to kyoto_insider on Instagram, super famous maiko Katsuna of Kamishichiken will become a geiko (during erikae ceremony) on May 18! She’s going to study traditional Japanese music and become a jikata. I’m always hypnotized by her stunning dancing style but, at the same time, I remember that Katsuna is interested in classical music and played the violin (just like me!) before she became a maiko. Lots of luck!

April 2018: Famous Jikata Geiko Katsuna (Daimonji Okiya) of Kamishichiken under blooming wisteria.

In a rare turn of events the Pontocho Kabukai has decided to upload the Kamogawa Odori deban to their website this year! So, for the first time ever I present, the Kamogawa Odori Deban for 2018! The Kamogawa Odori will be held from May 1st to 24th at the Pontocho Kaburenjo.

Tea Ceremony Schedule

May 1st: Ichiemi (市笑) and Ichiaya (市彩) May 2nd: Hizuru (ひづる) and Ichiteru (市照) May 3rd: Hisamomo (久桃) and Minarai Makoto (眞壽) May 4th: Chizu (千鶴) and Ichisumi (市すみ)  May 5th: Ichimame (市真芽) and Minarai Hitomi (瞳) May 6th: Taka (多香) and Mitsuhana (光はな) May 7th: Momifuku (もみ福) and Ichiyū (市結) May 8th: Ichiraku (市楽) and Ichisato (市沙登) May 9th: Ayano (あや野) and Momika (もみ香) May 10th: Mitsuna (光菜) and Ichiai (市愛) May 11th: Hizuru (ひづる) and Minarai Hitomi (瞳) May 12th: Momiyuki (もみ幸) and Minarai Makoto (眞壽) May 13th: Hisachō (久蝶) and Ichiaya (市彩) May 14th: Ichifuku (市福) and Ichisato (市沙登) May 15th: Taka (多香) and Momika (もみ香) May 16th: Tomoka (朋佳) and Ichisumi (市すみ) May 17th: Hisakayo (久加代) and Minarai Hitomi (瞳) May 18th: Hisamomo (久桃) and Minarai Makoto (眞壽) May 19th: Ichino (市乃) and Ichiai (市愛) May 20th: Hisasuzu (久鈴) and Ichiteru (市照) May 21st: Ayano (あや野) and Momika (もみ香) May 22nd: Chizu (千鶴) and Ichiyū (市結) May 23rd: Ichisayo (市さよ) and Ichisato (市沙登) May 24th: Momiyuki (もみ幸) and Mitsuhana (光はな)

The Scenes

As a preface I have never read or seen A Midsummer’s Night Dream, so I made educated guesses as to who each character is. With that said, I listed both the literal Japanese pronunciation of the role and which character I believe that matches up to. If you have read the story or seen the play and can point out who should be who then please let me know ^^

Part 1 W. Sheikusupia Manatsu No Yo No Yume ~ Yori Sora Omoi (W. シェイクスピア 真夏の夜の夢より~空想い) - W. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream 

Set 1: May 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd White Dog (Theseus?) (白狗丸): Ichigiku (市菊) One Who Helps With a Bright Light (Robin Starveling?) (出味明之丞): Ichiyoshi (市㐂) Refined Feather Princess (Hippolyta?) (羽雅姫): Ichisayo (市さよ) Protector of Gates and Wells (Peter Quince?) (来井左衛門): Momiyuki (もみ幸) Lotus Song Princess (Titania?) (蓮音姫): Ayano (あや野) The Four Fish/Your Insect (Robin Goodfellow?) (鯉四郎•蛀の君): Aya (亜矢) White Lily (白百合): Hisasuzu (久鈴) Dianthus (撫子): Hisamomo (久桃) King of The Forest (Oberon?) (松の王): Kazuko (一子) Set 2: May 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd White Dog (Theseus?)(白狗丸): Ichiho (市穂) One Who Helps With a Bright Light (Robin Starveling?) (出味明之丞): Momino (もみ乃) Refined Feather Princess (Hippolyta?) (羽雅姫): Momichō (もみ蝶) Protector of Gates and Wells (Peter Quince?) (来井左衛門): Mitsuna (光菜) Lotus Song Princess (Titania?) (蓮音姫): Tomoka (朋佳) The Four Fish/Your Insect (Robin Goodfellow?) (鯉四郎•蛀の君): Hisachō (久蝶) White Lily (白百合): Momifuku (もみ福) Dianthus (撫子): Hisamomo (久桃) King of The Forest (Oberon?) (松の王): Hisamaru (久丸)  Set 3: May 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 24th White Dog (Theseus?)(白狗丸): Hisakayo (久加代) One Who Helps With a Bright Light (Robin Starveling?) (出味明之丞): Ichiemi (市笑) Refined Feather Princess (Hippolyta?) (羽雅姫): Ichiwaka (市若) Protector of Gates and Wells (Peter Quince?) (来井左衛門): Ichino (市乃) Lotus Song Princess (Titania?) (蓮音姫): Ichimame (市真芽) The Four Fish/Your Insect (Robin Goodfellow?) (鯉四郎•蛀の君): Ichiraku (市楽) White Lily (白百合): Ichifuku (市福) Dianthus (撫子): Chizu (千鶴) King of The Forest (Oberon?) (松の王): Mamechika (豆千佳) 

Ensō Rokuon (演奏録音) - Musical Interlude - All Days

Singers (唄): Mamechika (豆千佳), Hisamaru (久丸), Momino (もみ乃), Miyosaku (ミヨ作), and 鳴物 藤舍呂船社中 Shamisen (三味線): Mamechiyo (豆千代), Kazumi (かずみ), Momichō (もみ蝶), and Ichigiku (市菊). 

Part 2: Hana No Irodori Kyō Nana Ko Machi (花姿彩京七小町) - The Seven Colorful Blooms of The Capital

Scene 1: Jojō (序章) - Prologue

Set 1: May 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd Maiko (舞妓): Ichiteru (市照), Taka (多香), Mitsuhana (光はな), Momika (もみ香), Ichisato (市沙登), Minarai Hitomi (瞳) Set 2: May 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd Maiko (舞妓): Taka (多香), Ichiaya (市彩), Ichiyū (市結), Mitsuhana (光はな), Momika (もみ香), Ichisumi (市すみ), and Ichiai (市愛). Set 3: May 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 24th Maiko (舞妓): Ichiteru (市照), Ichiaya (市彩), Ichiyū (市結), Ichisato (市沙登), Ichisumi (市すみ), Ichiai (市愛), and Minarai Hitomi (瞳).

Scene 2: Shikibu No Shō (式部の章) - Shikibu Chapter

Set 1: May 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd  Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部): Ichisayo (市さよ) Set 2: May 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd  Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部): Tomoka (朋佳) Set 3: May 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 24th  Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部): Ichimame (市真芽)

Scene 3: Shizuka No Shō (静の章) - Shizuka Chapter

Set 1: May 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd  Shizuka Gozen (静御前): Ichiyoshi (市㐂) Set 2: May 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd  Shizuka Gozen (静御前): Ichiho (市穂) Set 3: May 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 24th Shizuka Gozen (静御前): Ichifuku (市福)      

Scene 4: Yokubue No Shō (横笛の章) - Yokobue Chapter

Set 1: May 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd  Yokobue (横笛): Ichisono (市園) Takiguchi Nyūdō (滝ロ入道): Hisafumi (久富美) Set 2: May 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd  Yokobue (横笛): Ichimitsu (市光) Takiguchi Nyūdō (滝ロ入道): Hisamaru (久丸) Set 3: May 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 24th  Yokobue (横笛): Ichiwaka (市若) Takiguchi Nyūdō (滝ロ入道): Mamechika (豆千佳)

Scene 5: Okuni No Shō (阿国の章) - Okuni Chapter

Set 1: May 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd  Okuni (阿国): Aya (亜矢) Nagoya Sanza (名古屋山三): Kazuko (一子) Female Kabuki Troupe Members (女歌舞伎衆): Momiyuki (もみ幸), Ayano (あや野), and Hisasuzu (久鈴). Set 2: May 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd  Okuni (阿国): Momino (もみ乃) Nagoya Sanza (名古屋山三): Hisachō (久蝶) Female Kabuki Troupe Members (女歌舞伎衆): Mitsuna (光菜), Momifuku (もみ福), and Hisamomo (久桃). Set 3: May 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 24th  Okuni (阿国): Hisakayo (久加代) Nagoya Sanza (名古屋山三): Ichiraku (市楽) Female Kabuki Troupe Members (女歌舞伎衆): Ichino (市乃) and Chizu (千鶴)

Scene 6: Yoshino Tayū No Shō (吉野太夫の章) - Yoshino Tayū Chapter

Set 1: May 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd  Yoshino Tayū (吉野太夫): Ichigiku (市菊) Set 2: May 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd  Yoshino Tayū (吉野太夫): Momichō (もみ蝶) Set 3: May 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 24th  Yoshino Tayū (吉野太夫): Ichiemi (市笑)

Scene 7: Fuji No Shō (藤の章) - Wisteria Chapter (Finale)

Set 1: May 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd Maiko (舞妓): Ichiteru (市照), Taka (多香), Mitsuhana (光はな), Momika (もみ香), Ichisato (市沙登), and Minarai Hitomi (瞳). Geiko (芸妓): Ichisayo (市さよ), Ichiyoshi (市㐂), Ichisono (市園), Hisafumi (久富美), Aya (亜矢), Kazuko (一子), Momiyuki (もみ幸), Ayano (あや野), Hisasuzu (久鈴), Ichigiku (市菊), and Hisamomo (久桃). Set 2: May 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd Maiko (舞妓): Taka (多香), Ichiaya (市彩), Ichiyū (市結), Mitsuhana (光はな), Momika (もみ香), Ichisumi (市すみ), and Ichiai (市愛). Geiko (芸妓): Tomoka (朋佳), Ichiho (市穂), Ichimitsu (市光), Hisamaru (久丸), Momino (もみ乃), Hisachō (久蝶), Mitsuna (光菜), Momifuku (もみ福), Hisamomo (久桃), and Momichō (もみ蝶). Set 3: May 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 24th Maiko (舞妓): Ichiteru (市照), Ichiaya (市彩), Ichiyū (市結), Ichisato (市沙登), Ichisumi (市すみ), Ichiai (市愛), and Minarai Hitomi (瞳). Geiko (芸妓): Ichimame (市真芽), Ichifuku (市福), Ichiwaka (市若), Mamechika (豆千佳), Hisakayo (久加代), Ichiraku (市楽), Ichino (市乃), Chizu (千鶴), and Ichiemi (市笑).

Jikata Musicians

She did pop out of nowhere and was a big surprise and mystery for a while! She is retired Geiko Ichiharu, the imouto of (also retired) Ichimaru and was active quite a while ago. She debuted as a Jikata Geiko under a new name in February and is now affiliated with Tama. I can’t check for information about her in odori programmes though, because the person who collected the vast majority of them has set them to private.

Katsuna’s timeline:

1)2012, misedashi, (Source)

2)2013, first year, (Source)

3)2014, second-year, (Source)

4)2015, third-year, (Source)

5)2016, fourth-year, (Source)

6)2017, fifth-year, (Source)

7)2017, sakkou, (Source)

8)2017, erikae, (Source)