#nanchi

Congratulations... to Tomizuru 富鶴 (left) and Fukuzuru 福鶴 (right) from Osaka-Nanchi who made their debut as Geiko on 9th December 2024! There are now six to seven Geiko working in Nanchi. It may seem a low number compared to other Hanamachi, but after a long draught, the triple debut in May 2019 and social media presence of almost all Nanchi Geiko seems to have changed things for the better: since then, seven new Geiko debuted and six of them are still active. Photo by Kotone

メイドインアビスまとめ2

Hello there, there haven't been any Erikae in Osaka in general for over 20 years - both Nanchi and Kitashinchi only had Geiko Misedashi. Nanchi Tachikata start out wearing a simple outfit wearing regular Kimono/Yukata and having their own hair styled, before receiving a rented "practise Katsura" from Kyoto Imanishi (worn with Hikizuri) while in the advanced stages of being Minarai. Shortly before debuting, they receive their individually fitted Katsura in Taka Shimada style. Their outfit for the debut is almost like Erikae in Kyoto: Hairstyle: Taka Shimada Katsura Kanzashi: bekkô Kushi, Hirauchi and Kogai plus bira bira Maezashi Haneri: white with white embroidery Kimono: Kuromontsuki Hikizuri Obiage: red Obi: gold brocade embroidery on a white base tied in taiko musubi Obijime: white, purple or red Footwear: Geta Nanchi Jikata wear a more casual outfit (there's been 2 debuts since 2019): Hairstyle: Yôhatsu from their own hair Kanzashi: none Haneri: white without embroidery Kimono: pastel-coloured Homongi Obiage: white or white with red Shibori Obi: gold brocade embroidery on a white or black base tied in taiko musubi Obijime: white or pink Footwear: likely Zôri Tamizuru (debuted 2019) was a Tachikata from the start, but wore a more casual outfit for her debut, very similar to that of the Jikata. All Tachikata who debuted after her wore an outfit as described above. Sadly, I don't know much about traditions in Nanchi. They probably make rounds for the occasions of their debut and Shigyoshiki (no proof) and appear at the Yukata-kai of Hanayagi-ryu (dance) and Kineya-ryu (nagauta). Before 2020, they also appeared at the Otaue Shinji (御田植神事) ritual. They might still be doing it, but last photos I saw are from 2019. It's probably a tradition too, their outfits change in the summer months - kanzashi become transparent in July and then white in September, before turning dark again in October. From June to September, they wear pink Obiage and Juban is also pink or white.

Osaka-Nanchi Geiko and Maiko in the 90's. The lady who posted these pictures on her blog became a Geiko in the early/mid-90's at the age of 26 in Yamatoya 大和屋 Okiya. After becoming mother, she continued to work as part-time Geiko until 2014. Yamatoya was established in 1910 and became one of the more famous Okiya in Soemon-chô. In later years, it was a Ryotei until closing its doors forever in 2003. As of 2024, five Geiko work in Nanchi. They debuted from the only Okiya in this district, Tanigawa たに川.

Osaka retirement Ichizuru いち鶴, who debuted in October 2020, has retired in February 2025. There are now five Geiko working in Osaka-Nanchi, the most senior being jikata Orizuru おり鶴, who made her debut together with Ichizuru.

Both Fukuzuru 福鶴 and Tomizuru 富鶴 from Tanigawa たに川 Ochaya in Osaka-Nanchi will debut on 9th December 2024!

Upcoming Geiko debuts in Osaka: Tomizuru (富鶴) reported that she and Fukuzuru (福鶴) will debut together in December 2024. With them, the number of Nanchi Geiko will rise to 6.