Geigi (geisha) Umeka of the Shinbashi geisha district in Tokyo. This postcard is signed by the photographer, Kyuzo Okamoto, and postmarked 1907. A fuller-length version of the same image appears in âGeisha of Tokyoâ by K. Ogawa, first published in 1902.
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Historical context
The first official date in the history of Shimizu Geigi is 1872, when "Machi Geisha" (ăŸăĄèžè ), who were distinct from "Kaku Geisha" (ć»èžè ), appeared. A Kenban (registry office) was established in 1877. At that time, Machi Geisha and Kaku Geisha combined were around twenty people. Only ten years later, in 1887, their number had increased to 100. The number of Geigi continued to grow.
In 1938, the number of Geigi was around 260, and they were highly regarded nationwide for their skills in art and behaviour. In 1951, a "Shimizu Geigi school" (æž æ°ŽèžćŠćŠæ Ą) was opened, around 150 Geigi attending the event.
In the 1970's, Japan's period of economic growth started tapering off, interest in traditional arts dwindeled, which resulted in less work opportunities for Geigi and the number of Ryotei decreasing. In response to this, local business leaders and Shimizu Geigi started an organisation to help fostering new Geigi (Seibikai æž çŸäŒ).
Allegedly, the number of Geigi hit rock bottom in 2011 with only two remaining. However, in 2012, around eleven Geigi worked in Shimizu. Since then, the city had a steady stream of Geigi coming and going again. At the end of this year, 2023, there are ten Geigi working in the city.
The look of Shimizu Geiko
Local Term: Geigi èžćŠ
â» Hairstyle: Taka shimada, Tsubushi shimada
â» Kanzashi: Kushi, Maezashi, bekko kogai, ear of rice in the new year period
â» Kimono: Homongi, Kuromontsuki Hikizuri
â» Haneri: white
â» Obi: Taiko musubi
â» Obiage: green, pink, white, red
â» Obijime: flat, 1 knot
â» Footwear: Zori
The look of Shimizu Maiko
Local term: Shinjin Geigi æ°äșșèžćŠ
â» Hairstyle: Momoware Katsura, sometimes real hair styled (shin nihongami)
â» Kanzashi: seasonal and non-seasonal Hanakanzashi, Katsuyama, maezashi, Shidare in all age groups
â» Kimono: Furisode with shoulder tucks or no tucks at all
â» Eri: white with white embroidery, plain white, white with multicolour embroidery, other colours possible especially during summer months
â» Obi: Koken musubi
â» Obiage: flat, mostly red/silver, red/white shibori, other colours also possible (green/beige/light blue)
â» Obijime: flat or round with 1-4 knots. No obidome
â» Footwear: ZĂŽri
Notes
Shimizu was merged with Shizuoka in 2003. Shimizu Geigi and other traditional arts performers are backed by éćČĄäŒç”±èžèœæŻè Shizuoka dentĂŽ geinĂŽ ShinkĂŽ-kai/Shizuoka traditional performing arts promotion association, which is the successor to Seibikai. You might notice I didn't start this post with a historical b/w photo. There are some old photos on the Shizuoka Dentogeino homepage, but they are the size of a postal stamp. And that's it. I feel let down. No chance to explore the historical style of Shimizu.
Anyways. "The look of Shimizu/Shizuoka" was requested by @geimaiko. The layout of this post is based on geimaiko's own. Also... geimaiko originally started these series. If you liked this post, you should go and thank her, because without her, there would be no "the look of..." ;)
Sources
https://www.shizuoka-dentogeino.jp/geigi/shizuoka_history/, https://www.shizuoka-dentogeino.jp/geigi/shimizu_history/, http://www.shimizu-port.jp/geigi.html, https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO41971500Z20C12A5L61000/ (headline and preview only), https://www.youtube.com/@shizuokadentogeino/videos
Pictures: Komachi May 17, Makoto May 17, Komachi+Makoto Oct 17 (sources nowhere to be found), Sakurako+Fukutaro Apr 22, Kikuno+Umeka Nov 14, Iroha Jun 20, Iroha Oct 20, Fukutaro Oct 20, Ichiryo+Komachi+Makoto ~2016, Komachi+Sakurako Apr 18, Fukutaro+Sakurako Oct 18, Iroha+Fukutaro+Sakurako Oct 20
Again., Chapter 7âa collaboration by myself and @a-shout-to-the-voidâ AKA Vaya. You can find all other IkeSen works of mine here, and Vayaâs here. NOTES:Â THIS IS THE ONE WEâVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. Umeka belongs to @war--lords.
Ieyasu grew to love their coffee meetings. And they were meetings in his head--he was very careful to tell himself that--because date was too intimate, too real, too much something he told himself he didn't want. And it was so easy to tell himself he didn't want⊠whatever it was his stupid heart did every time he saw them. Together, Williams and Mitsunari were so beautiful.
Of course they were. They were both brilliant and gorgeous, with flashing smiles and open hearts and loving personalities. They bent their heads in together and Ieyasu watched her twists tangle with Mitsunariâs feather-soft locks. It was like a painting⊠one he didn't belong in.
Who was he? Just Ieyasu Tokugawa, with hair that never fell flat and too many insecurities to be kind. He knew his place. It wasnât between the two of them. (And honestly, that wasnât how relationships worked--right? There werenât three, it was always two. Anything else was too complicated.)
He went to the coffee meetings regardless. Every day they all met, and his heart felt a little softer around the both of them.
And then one day she didn't show up.
âDo you think she got hung up with something?â Mitsunari asked, nursing a lukewarm coffee heâd only just started on out of politeness.
âMustâve.â Ieyasu checked his cellphone for the thousandth time. It wasnât like her to not contact them. âWe have court in an hour and a half. Maybe she had an appointment, too.â
âMaybe,â Mitsunari repeated. âIâve a bad feeling.â
For a split second, Ieyasu noted both that Mitsunari was the only person who said âIâve a bad feelingâ, and that he also had a sinking pit in his stomach. But he shook it off, tucking his phone away. âNothing for it now. Letâs go.â
---
It was fifteen minutes before they had to leave for court when someone knocked on the office door. Umeka answered, the brief flash of shock in her dark eyes disappearing as she turned. âUh, Mr. Tokugawa?â
He was midway through adjusting one of Mitsunariâs haphazard note piles. âYeah?â
âMr. Takeda is here to see you.â
Shingen? Ieyasu halted in his tracks and stared across his desk at Mitsunari. The other man seemed just as surprised. Shingen Takedaâs dislike of the whole prosecutorâs office was nigh legendary. That he would stop by was almost unheard of. âSure. Have him come in.â
Umeka backed up and waved him forward. The tall redhead nodded and winked at her, breezing inside as if he owned the place. âIâll be quick. Have you two heard from Ms. Williams today?â
âWhat makes you think we would?â Ieyasu answered, stiffer than he meant. âIs there a reason a PI is looking for her?â
âUnfortunately.â Shingen delved into his pockets and produced a small ledger. âShe has a death threat out on her. Weâre trying to find her.â
Silence. Every second stretched on like infinity. Ieyasu could hear his blood rushing through his ears.
âNo,â he managed at last. âShe was--she was supposed to--â
âWe usually all meet up for coffee around eleven,â Mitsunari managed what Ieyasu couldnât, providing a tangible detail. Ieyasu stared at the papers in his hands, all the words running together. âShe didn't show or text.â
âMmm.â If Shingen had something to say, he mercifully bottled it down. âThatâs not good. Nothing else?â
âNo. Nothing.â
Ieyasu leafed through the court documents one at a time, slowly arranging them. Mitsunari and Shingenâs conversation blurred into white noise. Where could she be? She had to be fine. She had to be.
And then Mitsunari touched his shoulder, gentle as a feather.
âIeyasu?â He murmured. âI--are you okay?â
âWorried,â Ieyasu admitted. âNot that we can do anything about it. Thereâs--thereâs court in thirtyâŠâ
Except there was something. He knew it as soon as he looked up into Mitsunariâs amethyst eyes. There were two of them. Only one of them had to go to courtâŠ
âDo youâŠâ Mitsunari started, then stopped. âIs it possibleâŠ?â
âGo.â Ieyasu choked out the words. âJust give me the documents and go. I can carry it. Youâve done all the paperwork, so I can just read up before weâre called. Itâll be fine. The judge is only expecting me.â
âAre you sure?â
âYes. Maybe--maybe sheâs on the L train somewhere. She told us her stop when she was drunk, right?â
Mitsunariâs eyes flashed resolutely. âThatâs what I was thinking.â
âGreat. Iâve got it.â Ieyasu stuffed the papers into his briefcase. âGo.â
He didn't have to say it again. Mitsunari swung on his thick grey designer coat and flew out the door.
---
Usually, he was calm in court. Judges didn't scare him. Where once the oppressive atmosphere sank like a rock in his stomach, it was now as mundane as a grocery store.
Except for today.
He didn't monitor his phone. It vibrated against his thigh a few times, but he didn't have opportunity to check it. God only knew what messages waited him! We found her--itâs too late⊠I canât locate her anywhere⊠we received another threat⊠Ieyasu wanted to punch a wall. Or, at the very least, slam his hands down on the table he was trapped behind, waiting for a recess.
His only solace was more than he expected. Mitsunari was a genius. No one else in the whole world was more trustworthy than him. Forget Shingen Takeda and the investigators--Ieyasu put his faith in Mitsunari Ishida.
Finally they called for a recess.
Ieyasu almost sprinted out the door. The phone was in his fist the second he exited. Emails, notifications⊠a text from Mitsunari. He tried not to swallow his heart as he pulled it up.
I found her. Phone got snatched and the L train was down.
âOf course,â he snarled to no one, too elated and relieved to sound nicer, âOf course the fucking L train was down.â
A second text: weâre at the office.
âWhat?â Ieyasu snapped, punching the dial button. It only rang twice before Mitsunari picked up.
âHello?â
âThereâs a death threat out on her, and youâre still in public?â No greeting was necessary. âAre you serious?â
âThereâs security to get through to get in here, I only thought--â
âNo.â Ieyasu fumbled through his mind before settling on a solution. âTake her to my apartment. My spare key is in the drawer. Umeka has the master key. You know where I live, right?â
âText me the address. Iâll make it happen.â
âGreat. And--â He paused briefly. âTell--tell Williams I said hi.â
A shuffle. âHe says hello!â
âHi!â Came her voice in the background, a small chime of her laughter music to his ears. Ieyasu let out a breath he didn't know heâd been holding.
âYeah. Great. Get her there.â And then he hung up, too embarrassed to properly end their conversation.
---
He didn't even bother going back to the office. Instead Ieyasu texted Mitsuhide a brief summary of the situation and boarded the subway immediately after court. What was usually a tolerable commute felt like waiting in line at Hellâs DMV--infinite and agonizing. When the building doors swung open he charged up the stairs two at a time, reaching his small apartment in moments. Typically he took off his shoes before coming in.
Not this time.
This time he shoved the key in the lock and bumped open the door with his hip, stumbling in to find Mitsunari and Williams on the couch. There she was--there she was--whole and in one piece and genuinely okay.
âIeyasu!â She called, her smile stretched. âHi!â
What did he do? He hung in the door just long enough before remembering it was a security risk to keep it open, then he shut, locked, and deadbolted it. âDid you call Takeda?â
âAlready done,â Mitsunari replied. âI made some tea. I hope you donât mind.â
âIâll make you a new cup,â Ieyasu deadpanned at Williams. âSorry you had to drink his butchered swill. Hold on, just--youâre okay?â
She nodded slowly. âI didn't even know⊠I mean, I hadnât heard there were any threats. I donât think theyâve arrested anyone yet.â
The very real possibility something couldâve happened to her passed unwanted through his mind. He sat his briefcase heavily in the doorway and made his way into the kitchen, scooping up a small dusting of stray tea leaves and discarding them in the sink. His hands were shaking. Ieyasu did his best to still himself, but even as he filled his old metal kettle, it banged against the sides of the sink. Williams emerged at his side.
âDo you need help there?â
âNo,â he snapped harshly, âItâs my kitchen. I know whatâs where.â
âDidn't say you didn't.â
âGo sit down.â
âYou seem rattled is allâŠâ
He set the kettle down onto the stove and flipped it onto high. âYeah, because Iâm the one who mightâve died.â
She fell silent and still. Mitsunari appeared in the corner, his bright eyes luminous. âIâm sorry for abandoning you at the court--â
âShut up!â Ieyasu snapped. A mental image of her, laying on the ground, bleeding out from some awful thing, the red liquid tangling in her twists bubbled unwanted in his mind. âJust--just go sit down--â
âIeyasu,â Williams murmured, âCome here.â
âNo.â He filled a mug for her. âSugar or honey?â
âYasu.â
The next thing he knew her arms were around him. Ieyasu almost struggled, but she was so warm, the strength of her arms buoyed by the breath in her lungs, the sweet smell of honeysuckle enveloping him. Without thinking he shut his eyes and braced her tight to him.
âItâs okay,â she whispered, and he wanted to yell that it wasnât.
âShut up,â he mumbled instead, clutching her tighter against him.
Her hand pressed soft against his cheek. Ieyasu looked at her, and there she was, so very close, her dark eyes beautiful. Hell. He felt himself falling into them (and if he were honest, he always wanted to, wanted to swim in the lagoon of her eyes, to soar through Mitsunariâs and come back to earth through her).
âCome here,â she breathed. âPlease?â
She tasted like peppermint and coffee. Ieyasu spent so long savoring the first kiss that he almost didn't surface for air. But then he did, and she was still there, Mitsunari leaning in the frame of the kitchen just watching, and Williams leaned back in for another.
âYou need another phone,â Ieyasu murmured when they broke away, and she giggled against him. âThis canât happen again.â
âNo?â Mitsunari was there now, his arms wrapping around her waist and Ieyasuâs shoulders. âAre you talking about the kissing or the death threats?â
Ieyasuâs mind whirled. âI--I was referring to being scared lifeless--what are you talking about--?â
âIt looked like fun. I wanted to try.â
Ieyasu was too blank from shock to fight it. When Mitsunari leaned in, he tilted his head back despite himself. Mitsunari tasted like book pages and sunshine, soft and sweet and warm. Williams buried her face in his neck and Ieyasu took a thick fistful of Mitsunariâs hair before they broke away.
âWhat the fuck,â Ieyasu managed.
Mitsunari cocked his head, expression too innocent for what had just transpired. âI didn't think that was on the table so soon.â
Williams barked a laugh into Ieyasuâs shoulder. All at once Ieyasu realized the tea was oversteeped and disentangled himself from the two of them, still struggling to make sense of everything. âI--sugar? Honey? You didnâtâI asked, but you neverââ
âHoney works, thank you--â
âYeah, uh, here.â He thrust the mug and the jar into her hand, shuffling around for a spoon. âDidn't, uh, didn't think they taught that at Yale, Mitsunari.â
Mitsunari smiled sweetly. âOh no. I learned that at Columbia. Those were interesting parties.â
Ieyasu dropped the spoon and fumbled for a new one. âAlright then.â
âDoâŠâ Williams squeezed a thick dollop of honey into the mug, accepting the second spoon gracefully. âDo we talk about this now?â
âYeah.â Ieyasu inhaled. âMaybe. Probably. Yes. Letâs--letâs move to the living room.â
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MashĂŽ (銏çž), Hachiji (ć «ć) and Umeka (æą éŠ) from Yamagata. The source doesnât have the photo dated, but from the print quality and style of their hair Iâd guess it was taken in the mid-1920âČs.