Page 193 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

GEISHA, GEIKO, AND MAIKO
Despite the fact that the profession, dating from A maiko’s hair
the 17th century, is in decline and blurred by the is her own, not
activities of so-called onsen geisha and others a wig.
who offer more sex ual than classical arts, geisha
still tread the streets of Kyoto. Known as geiko
(child of the arts), their enclaves are Gion-kobu, The white face
Pontocho, Miyagawa-cho, and Kamishichi-ken. and red lips are
classic Japanese
ideals of beauty.
GEIKO AND MAIKO COSTUME
Less polished than their geiko “sisters,”
maiko, apprentice geisha, are a Kyoto-only
phenomenon. They wear their hair in a
distinctive style, with ornamental hair pins,
and sport a unique costume featuring a
long, hanging obi (sash), tall koppori clogs,
and an under-kimono with an embroidered Under-
collar. When becoming a fully fledged geiko, kimono
they exchange the embroidered collar for a
white one in a transition known as eri-kae.
PERFECT PERFORMANCES
Geishas’ knowledge of traditional arts, skill
at verbal repartee, and ability to keep a
secret win them the respect, and some-
times love, of their well-heeled male clients.
The geisha world moves to the rhythm of
the shamisen, a three-stringed instru ment
that originated in Okinawa. Poised and
posture-perfect, the geisha dance to this
eery sound, sometimes using a fan as a prop.
Geisha who choose not to specialize in dance
will instead master the shamisen or another Tabi
instrument, and play throughout their life. socks

A maiko wearing her traditional
costume before she becomes Koppori
an accomplished geiko clogs

INSIDER TIP
When to Visit
If you want to see
geisha, the best time
to visit Kyoto is April.
Every day of this month,
geisha in Gion-kobu
stage perfor mances,
and the Miyagawa-cho
district holds the Kyō
Odori dance. For small-
scale shows, head to
Kamishichiken in the
last two weeks of April
for Kitano Odori.
A geisha playing a shamisen with
her teacher as another looks on

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