#ofuku

Sugar Mommy

福の神

---Enemy Description---

"Be not afraid. Little one, you'll experience no scarcity ever again if you spend eternity by my side."

Maiko Umehina’s elegant nape of neck

May 2019: Maiko Kanako (Kawahisa Okiya) of Miyagawacho throwing the first pitch during a baseball game at the Koshei Stadium.

It’s a tradition for a Maiko or Geiko from Miyagawacho to throw the first pitch during a Hanshin Tigers baseball game once a year! Last year, now retired Geiko Kimihiro was chosen to do it.

Don’t get confused by Kanako’s kanzashi by the way: She’s wearing her January kanzashi because it features lucky motifs and a small Hanshin Tigers flag is pinned to it!

Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan, alongside Sumo, Judo and soccer. They have a unique tradition when it comes to throwing first pitches: The batter is supposed to swing and miss the ball on purpose!

มิถุนายน 2562: ไมโกะ Hidekano (โอกิยะ Masamiya) จากเขต Pontocho กับเครื่องประดับผมรูปแบบดอกไฮเดรนเยีย (紫陽花: Ajisai) สำหรับเดือนมิถุนายน

Maiko Nihongami 101: The Ofuku (おふく)

The second hairstyle a maiko wears in her apprenticeship is the Ofuku (おふく). From the front, the senior maiko Ofuku is very similar visually to the junior maiko Wareshinobu. However, the back of the hairstyle is different. Instead of the large circular red fabric cushion (the Arimachi Kanoko (ありまち鹿の子)) that prominently displays the Mage (髷) aka the bun of hair on the back of the Wareshinobu, the Ofuku lacks any cushions or supports. The bun goes from circular and raised to a subdued, naturally volumed half moon shape. Additionally, instead of the flashy, bejeweled, valuable Kanokodome (鹿の子留め) pin stuck in the center of the of the Wareshinobu mage, the Ofuku is simply decorated with a triangular piece of cloth called the Tegara (手柄). Tegara come in many different patterns done in silver, gold, black, or even other colors- the design on the Tegara fabric is up to individual Maiko and Okamisans. However, the base color of the Tegara fabric is codeified. Upon being promoted to senior status and changing over to the Ofuku hairstyle, a maiko will wear a red Tegara initially. Over the course of 6-12 months, she will change to a pink Tegara. Finally, as the closing years of her apprenticeship pass, Tegara with base colors like blue, green, orange, lavender, yellow, and more will appear. 

While the Wareshinobu and the Ofuku hairstyles are the standard hairstyles for junior and senior maiko respectively, there are numerous other hairstyles worn for special occasions like Setsubun and Gion Matsuri.

Tune in for the next episode of Maiko Nihongami 101:

November 2017: senior maiko Mamesumi with ofuku hairstyle by  mirajyu7 on Instagram

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