Maiko

A is an apprentice geisha in Kyoto and Their jobs consist of performing songs, dances, and playing the or other traditional Japanese instruments for visitors during banquets and parties, known as .

are usually aged between 17 to 20 years old, and graduate to geisha status after a period of training, which includes learning traditional dance, learning to play the , learning to sing , and, in Kyoto only, learning the Kyoto dialect. This apprenticeship usually ranges from a period of a few months to a year or two years, though apprentices too old to dress as may instead skip to the stage of geisha, despite still being in training.

Apprentice geisha in other locations in Japan are known by other terms, such as for apprentices in Tokyo. The traditions of apprentice geisha in these areas vary from those in Kyoto, sometimes to a considerable degree, including an apprentice's appearance and the structure of their apprenticeship.

Work

In the morning, take lessons in the traditional arts. At night, they go out to work. They dance, sing, play the , and serve visitors at exclusive (teahouses).

Origin

originated from women who served green tea and (Japanese dumpling made from rice flour) to people who visited the Kitano Tenman-gū or Yasaka Shrine in teahouses in Kyoto roughly 300 years ago.

Appearance

Hair

During their career, will wear different kinds of (traditional Japanese hairstyles) depending on rank, formality and occasion. These hairstyles are then decorated with seasonal and occasional (traditional hair ornaments).

Most , unlike geisha, use their own hair with the addition of extensions, though apprentices in different areas of Japan may also use wigs. using their own hair have their hair restyled every week, meaning they must sleep on a special pillow known as a – a raised wooden block with a pillow – in order to maintain it.

Kimono and outfit

Most also wear a style of kimono known as a . are typically anywhere from long, and often feature a lightly-padded hem to create weight allowing the skirt to trail along the floor. When walking outside, hold their up either with their hands, or by tying it in place with a small cord so that it does not drag along the ground. The style of worn by most features long, -style sleeves, and may feature tucks sewn horizontally into the sleeves and vertically along the shoulders; this is a holdover from before WWII, when often began their training at a young age, and would thus have the tucks taken out as they grew.

For formal occasions, wear a black, -style featuring 5 crests () to signify the they belong to.

wearing kimono typically wear it with an known as a . The is long, is roughly wide, and is worn exclusively by . Due to its length and weight, a male dresser (known as an ) is needed to tie it; can dress a in as little as five minutes, and may dress a number of each night. The crest of a 's is either dyed, embroidered or woven onto the end of the , below the (end lines). For formal occasions, gold brocade are worn.

Kimono

Some outside of Kyoto, and in particular in Tokyo, wear instead of ; these apprentices (sometimes known as ) may also wear a wig instead of having their own hair styled.

outside of Kyoto may also wear a instead of a , which is easier to tie and wear; apprentices in Tokyo typically tie their in the style.

Gallery

File:Satsuki and Kyouka walking.jpg, Two Kyoto walking
File:Katsunosuke minarai.jpg, wearing , composed by long chains of silk flowers
File:Fukuyu with willow kanzashi.jpg, with willow
File:Maiko Fukuyuu dancing selection 2010.webm, thumbtime=1, (video) A dancing

References

External links

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Types of geisha