#yoohatsu

February 2019: Jikata Geiko Ichisumi (Ichi Okiya) of Kamishichiken playing the shamisen and singing at an ozashiki at the Umeno Ochaya.

Ichisumi debuted in September of 2016 directly as a Jikata Geiko, when she was already in her fourties. Her Misedashi was so low-key that, for about a month, I didn’t even know that she was around!

Except for Gion Kobu, all kagai of Kyoto allow women too old to become Maiko to debut directly as tachikata Geiko (dancers); however, the age limit for that is around 30 years old. Jikata Geiko can debut at all ages, there are several more recent example of jikata debuting well into their sixties.

That is not to say that women debuting as Jikata Geiko are simply too old to become tachikata; almost all of them are already proficient in music before entering training and see being a Jikata Geiko as their ideal profession.

January 2019: Jikata Geiko Fukunami (Minoya Okiya) of Gion Kobu on her way to an engagement.

Other than most Jikata Geiko in Gion Kobu, Fukunami debuted as a Maiko in 1990 and switched to being a Jikata shortly after becoming a Geiko in 1995. She has been active for a total of 29 years, is around 44 years old right now and became a natori Geiko years ago.

October 2018: Maiko Kimimoe (Toshikimi Okiya) and Geiko Tanefumi (Takayoshi Okiya) of Miyagawacho practicing a dance together.

August 2018: Famous Geiko Toshimana (Komaya Okiya) of Miyagawacho opening the entrance door to an ochaya she just visited during Hassaku.

Toshimana had her Misedashi on the 26th of January in 2010, just 6 weeks after her best friend Geiko Toshikana, and had her Erikae on the 7th of March in 2013, so she was a Maiko for less than 3 years and 2 months, which is impressively short.

Toshimana had taken lessons in traditional dance for years before becoming a Maiko, and was so advanced and determined that her okaasan figured it would be unfair to hold her back behind her skill-level and she thus had her Erikae about 1 and a half year earlier than most Geiko do.

Toshimana quickly rose to fame during her Maiko days already, due to her beauty, artistic skills and calm and cheerful nature. She is currently the second most senior Geiko affiliated with Komaya and is just 23 or 24 years old.

April 2018: Natori Geiko Mameya (Ninben Okiya) of Gion Kobu performing at the famous Ichiriki-tei.

Mameya had her Misedashi in 1993 and her Erikae in 1998, so she has been active in Gion Kobu for 25 years and should be 40 or 41 years old right now. She originally debuted from Shibata, but moved her affiliation to Ninben not too long ago.

July 2018: Geiko Mameroku (Arai Okiya) and Geiko Masaki (Minoyae Okiya) of Gion Kobu at the Yasaka Shrine during Miyabi-Kai.

August 2018: Maiko Umechie (Umeno Okiya) of Kamishichiken performing at an banquet, while Jikata Geiko Katsuna (Daimonji Okiya) plays the shamisen and sings.

Sadly, Katsuna will retire at the end of this month, and Umechie will retire at the end of next month. They are two of the most famous Geimaiko of Kamishichiken.

1st September 2018: Maiko Koyoshi (Shigemori Okiya) of Miyagawacho did her hiki iwai rounds today.

Hiki Iwai is the rite that Geiko perform at the end of their career. They give rice and pieces of paper containing their geimei (artist name) and real name on them to okiya, ochaya, sisters and customers who have supported her throughout her career to them thank them.

Only in Miyagawacho, Maiko who have completed their apprenticeship are also allowed to perform Hiki Iwai; in all four other kagai of Kyoto, only Geiko are allowed to do so.

Koyoshi had her Misedashi on the 19th of December in 2012, so she was a Maiko for over 5 years and 8 months, which is a very long Maiko period. Her definite reason for retirement is unknown, but since she purposefully stayed a Maiko for as long as possible because she enjoyed it so much, it‘s very likely that she wants to try out other opportunities in life and feels now (she is 21) would be the right time to do it.

Koyoshi has a very successful career and many achievements to be proud of. I wish her all of the best for her new life!