#English

2019年7月28日

Practice of Gion Festival Music in the Community

It's July. The Gion festival (祇園祭) has begun. At the Iwatoyama (岩戸山) float community where I live, the symbol lanterns are lit at the eaves of a famous restaurant within our community. The practice of Nikai Bayashi (二階囃子, Gion festival music unique to each float) has begun too. After the Kippu-iri (吉符入り, the ceremony for the commencement of the festival), each community conducts the practice of their traditionally inherited music at the second floor of their meeting place. Si

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2019年7月27日

61. Beer Garden

When I was a Maiko (舞妓), a beer garden was held on the roof terrace of Kaburenjo (歌舞練場, Maiko theater) every summer. An old Chinese restaurant set a stall there, and we performed a dance by turns on a small stage. We wore Yukata (浴衣, summer cotton Kimono) and danced for several songs. When I was not performing, I was often invited by acquainted customers to their tables. As for the dancing, I vividly remember that I used to get somewhat nervous, becuase the songs were not the

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2019年7月15日

60. Yukata, Summer Cotton Kimono

Maiko (舞妓) do not wear Yutaka (浴衣, summer Kimono made of cotton) at Ozashiki (お座敷, Parties with Maiko and Geiko. Work place for Maiko). However, at our lessons, we wear Yukata. Not like colorful Yukata for the general public, Yukata for Maiko are usually in white and navy, and the patterns are very simple. Every year around the end of May, a lot of Tanmono (反物, a roll of cloth) are delivered to our Yakata (屋形, Maiko house) from schools of Japanese dance, Nagauta (長唄, Japanes

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2019年7月2日

59. Inside the Kago (Straw) Bag

When I was a Maiko (舞妓), sometimes I was asked what kind of items I carried in my Kago (かご, straw bag). The items I usually carried in my Kago were mostly two Maiougi (舞扇, fan for Japanese dancing), a Tenten (てんてん, a towel used for Japanese dancing made of silk crepe), an Obeni (お紅, Japanese style lip color), Aburatorikami (脂取り紙, facial blotting paper) sheets, a mirror, and a pair of Tabi (足袋, socks for Kimono). I carried two fans because I had a dance program which used two

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2019年6月5日

58. Aijo, Reservation Letters

When we Maiko (舞妓) get calls from clients, it is referred to as "Aijo". For example, it goes like this: Hey, Beniko, you got an Aijo tonight. Hey, Beniko, do you have any Aijo tomorrow? I once wondered what are the kanji (漢字) charcters for that. The Kanji characters are "逢い状”, which literally means "a letter of proposal for a rendezvou", and it worked as "a reservation letter". According to my Oneisan (お姉さん, Geiko as a mentor figure), Aijo was a kind of love letters from cust

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2019年5月24日

57.Fukiwata, Padded Hem of Kimono

It's May. All Maiko (舞妓) must have been feeling relieved by now after the completion of the busy season of sring dance performance. Their Hanakannzashi (花かんざし, flower head dress) has been changed from cherry blossoms to wisteria or iris. Another singature event in Hanamachi (花街, Maiko adn Geiko district) in May is the social calls by the troops of newly debut Maiko. Cheerful voices of "congrats" and "thank you" can be heard everywhere in the town. They have just graduated fro

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2019年5月14日

A Consert at weBase Kyoto

I enjoyed a concert of violin & cello at weBase Kyoto located at Iwatoyama-cho (岩戸山町), one of the community of Gion Festival (祇園祭) float. The entrance of the hotel is already cool. Getting excited! Free refreshment and snacks were served in a casual manner. The music begins. They play a lot of tunes from the Beatles and the Studio Ghiburi animation films, and I enjoyed a lot. The concert took place at the wide and cozy lounge of the hotel, with a thousand of travel-related bo

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2019年5月5日

56. Ashiarai, Excursion with Colleagues

Ashiarai (足洗い) is an overnight excursion trip for Maiko (舞妓) after the completion of spring dance performance each year. The destination of my first Ashiarai was Kashikojima (賢島) in Mie (三重) prefecture, which later became famous as the venue of Iseshima (伊勢志摩) Summit. The trip was long time ago so that I don't remember where we went to, or what we did. However, I vividly remember how happy I was during the trip. We talked and talked all the way, having a lot of snacks and swe

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2019年4月9日

55. Cherry Blossoms at Daigoji Temple

Ever since the Heisan (平安) period, Daigoji (醍醐寺) temple is otherwise called as "Temple of Flowers", and I have a particular memory of visiting there as a dancer of a votive dance performance. It was right after my Maiko (舞妓) debut, and the temple was colored in pink of cherry blossoms all over. The colors of pretty flowers, falling petals on the winds, and the blue sky...those were only things I could recall until recently, and I coudn't remember which program I danced, nor h

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2019年4月8日

54. Tatazumai, the beautiful appearance

During the training period to become a Maiko (舞妓), we are engaged in a series of very strict lessons, such as manners at Oszashiki (お座敷, dinner and drinking party with Maiko and Geiko), choice of words, dancing, tea ceremony, and Japanese instruments, etc. After the bedut, I was told by my Okasan (お母さん, the female owner of Maiko house) that Maiko should earnestly pursue beautiful "Tatazumai (佇まい, appearance)". "What is beautiful Tatazumai?", I wondered. I asked my dance teach

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2019年3月20日

Chilling out at a Cafe

When I feel like to have a quiet time alone by myself, I often visit a cafe called "Tuki to 6 Pence (月と6ペンス, The Moon and Sixpence)". It's located at the corner of Takakura and Nijo streets, and the building is so ordinary that you can easliy overlook and pass by. This small sign alone is your guide. At the front, you will be worried if this is the right door or not, because the door looks just like that of an ordinary apartment. However, as you enter, you will see a lovely r

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2019年3月11日

53. Head Dress of Canola Flower

It's still cold everyday, but sometimes, the hints of spring are found everywhere. For example, it's Nanohana (菜の花, canola flowers). Nanohana which tell us the arrival of spring, is also a motif of Kanzashi (簪, head dress) of March for Maiko (舞妓). For me, it has a sentimental value because it was the first Kanzashi I wore as a Maiko. When I was 15, I became a Minarai-san (見習いさん, Maiko trainee) from a Shikomi-san (仕込みさん, under-trainee) status, and was very excited about becomi

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2019年2月27日

52. A Burn in My Hip

One freezing day in February, I made a burn on my Kimono (着物) at the hip part. I was sitting too close to the stove, and was so absorbed in the conversation with my favorite colleague. I didn't notice that I was burning my Kimono until she said, "I smell something...", and found a huge hip-shaped burn on my expensive Kimono. At Yakata (屋形, Maiko house), I was terribly scolded by Okasan (お母さん, the female owner of Maiko house) and chaffed by Abachan (小母ちゃん, the chef/janitor of

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2019年2月10日

Goshuin, Stamps Given at Shrines and Temples

Lately, collecting Goshuin (ご朱印) is in among young people. Long queues of ladies are often seen in front of the receptions of shrines and temples. A seal of camellia is on Goshuin of Reikanji (霊鑑寺), known as a temple of camellia flowers. This is Goshuin of Chio-in (知恩院) with stamp of Mitsuba-aoi (三つ葉葵, three leaves of hollyhock), which indicates the Tokugawa (徳川) clan. YUMEYAKATA Gojo Information Center offers various kinds of Goshuin-cho (ご朱印帳, Goshuin notebook). Isn't it a

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2019年2月8日

Ofuroyasan, a Public Bath

During the Shikomisan (仕込みさん, Maiko trainees) period, we went to Ofuroyasan (お風呂屋さん, public bath) every night since we trainees were restricted from bathing at our Yakata (屋形, Maiko house). After becoming a Maiko, using the house bath was allowed, but we still went to Ofuroyasan because it was fun. It could have been very bizarre to see many naked Maiko bathing with their Japanese coiffure hair. However, that was nothing special because the Ofuroyasan was within the Hanamachi

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2019年1月26日

50. Erikae, Changing collar

Geiko (芸妓) promoted from Maiko (舞妓, trainee of Geiko) are called Erikae-san (衿替えさん, Maiko who changed her collar). Nowadays, not a few Maiko quit right after their Maiko and leave. I guess these girls want to remain the same forever. Despite the fact that Maiko is merely a trainee of Geiko, Maiko is gaining more popularity. However, as for myself, I was pretty much excited and was feeling impatient to be a Geiko. The reasons vary: Geiko 1) uses wigs so that they don't have to

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2019年1月16日

Kaiseki, Japanese Cuisine for Special Occasion

The other day, I enjoyed a course of Kaiseki (会席) cuisine at a long established restaurant called Kinobu (木乃婦). As the picture above shows, the course was so pretty. Above all, the ball shaped container with an illustration of a bore caught my eyes. Since the bore is one of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, this container is used only once in twelve years. It's my favorite winter dish, Kaburamushi (かぶら蒸し, steamed fish and grated turnip)! A specialty in Kyoto. For the de

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2019年1月4日

49. Tokaebisu Festival

Happy New Year, everybody! After the New Year's Shigyoshiki (始業式, a ceremony for commencement of the new business season, or a semester), Tokaebisu (十日えびす, a festival held in honor of Ebisu in January) begins. The Ebisu festival in January is called Tokaebisu, whereas the one in October is called Hatsukaebisu (二十日えびす), and the Tokaebisu is more renowned. During the festival period, namely from January 8 to 12, Kyoto Ebisu shrine (京都えびす神社) gets very busy and crowded with visit

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2018年12月29日

New Year's Eve at Byodoin Temple

A New Year's Eve ceremony is to be held at Byodoin (平等院) temple, where visitors can toll the watch‐night bell with other 4 to 5 visitors. The first 1000 ppl can receive a gift of votive tablet called Ema (絵馬) for the happiness in the coming next year. Date: Monday, December 31 Time: 11:30 pm - 1:30 am in the next Admission: Free (seeing garden, Hoodo (the Phoenix hall), Ho-sho-kan, NOT INCLUDED) : Byodoin (平等院) temple (https://www.byodoin.or.jp/)Venue 10 mins. on

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2018年12月28日

48. New Year's Leave for Maiko

For Maiko (舞妓), even the New Year's eve, nor the New Year's day, are not officially day-offs. During those holidays, some Ochaya (お茶屋, Tea houses) accept their regular customers from Tokyo or overseas, and Maiko have to work if their Oneisan (お姉さん, mentor Geiko) have Ozashiki (お座敷, banquet) of their frequent customers. However, we Maiko were able to go home because our Okasan (お母さん, female owner of Yakata) let us unless we had work. Maiko from Kyoto or neighboring regions wer

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京都烏丸五条観光案内所

Kyoto Karasuma Gojo Tourist Information Center

Kyoto Karasuma Gojo Tourist Information Center ( Kimono Yumeyakata )