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Japanese Women of Tradition |
While most of Japan is forging ahead into the
21st century, some people are holding tight to
their connection with the past. This
relationship with ago-old customs and traditions
is most evident in the city of Kyoto, once
Japan's capital for more than 1,000 years. One still finds
remnants of "Hanamachi" (geisha districts) in
isolated pockets of the city where maiko and
geisha shuffle quickly to and from their evening
appointments. For everyone else, Kyoto past is
kept alive through numerous events, ceremonies and annual festivals.
This In-Focus portfolio takes a look at the people, in particular the girls and women, who not only maintain tradition
by wearing colorful kimono during culturally-rich holidays and events, but who, in some cases, literally embrace
a lifestyle that comes straight out of the history books...namely, Kyoto's maiko and geiko.
There is no better place than Kyoto to see real maiko (geisha apprentice) and geisha (called "geiko"
in Kyoto) in their historic surroundings. But, one must be aware that all the girls encountered wearing a doll-like, powder-white
face and kimono are not necessarily authentic maiko. For about
3,500 Yen anyone (and that means women or men)
can dress up like a maiko for an afternoon and stroll the backstreets of the city.
The geisha mystique manifests itself throughout mainstream culture in ways that are less obvious than in the Floating
World. Girls ages three and seven dress up in expensive silk kimono,
sometimes looking like little maiko, to visit the shrine during
a November event called "Shichigosan." Female assistants at shrines known as "miko" execute
precise dance moves as part of Shinto ceremonies, not unlike the disciplined gestures of performing maiko and geiko.
For traditional wedding ceremonies a bride wears an elaborate hairpiece and kimono all the while keeping her emotions
well disguised. In January, on the national holiday "Seijin-No-Hi" (Coming of Age Day), 20-year-old girls
wear special kimono with long sleeves as they visit the shrine to pray for their journey into adulthood. |
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Two Geisha
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Geisha Serving Tea
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Geisha Portrait
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Z2-149-35>Lightbox
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Z2-156-09>Lightbox
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Z2-072-27>Lightbox
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Kanikakuni-sai Ceremony
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Maiko Up Close
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Maiko Greeting
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Z2-288-18>Lightbox
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Z2-091-33>Lightbox
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Z2-156-27>Lightbox
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Maiko Friends
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Maiko Sighting in Kyoto
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Maiko Wearing Casual Kimono
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Z2-091-05>Lightbox
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Z2-093-24>Lightbox
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Z2-090-32>Lightbox
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16-Year-Old Maiko
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Maiko Entering Tea House
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Maiko Hurrying to Appointment
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Z2-091-14>Lightbox
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Z2-090-25>Lightbox
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Z2-062-11>Lightbox
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Outdoor Tea Service
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Festival Girls
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Ohime-sama Enjoying Garden
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Z2-262-03>Lightbox
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Z2-254-27>Lightbox
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Z2-264-17>Lightbox
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Palanquin Ride
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Playing New Year's Karuta Hajime
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Girls in Ceremony
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Z2-064-23>Lightbox
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Z2-025-01>Lightbox
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Z2-025-29>Lightbox
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Japanese Sake Signboard
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Maiko Promoting Products
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Happy Maiko in Taxi
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Z2-248-01>Lightbox
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Z2-245-36>Lightbox
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Z2-288-04>Lightbox
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Oiran Public Appearance
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Three Tourist Maiko
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Tayu (Courtesan)
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Z2-306-21>Lightbox
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Z2-313-34>Lightbox
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Z2-309-26>Lightbox
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Tourist Maiko
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Shichigosan Sisters
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Male & Female Maiko
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Z2-029-27>Lightbox
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Z2-370-15>Lightbox
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Z2-029-33>Lightbox
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20-Year-Old on Coming of Age Day
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Autumn Garden Scenery
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New Year Shrine Visit
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Z2-107-12>Lightbox
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Z2-321-06>Lightbox
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Z2-005-27>Lightbox
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"Miko" (Shrine Assistants)
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Miko Performance
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Miko Helping Toka Ebisu Customer
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Z2-007-25>Lightbox
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Z2-056-25>Lightbox
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Z2-073-18>Lightbox
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Wedding Ceremony Assistants
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Traditional Bride Fashion
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Special Wedding Taxi
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Z2-370-36>Lightbox
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Z2-369-34>Lightbox
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Z2-154-21>Lightbox
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