Yellow Flowers and Silver Butterflies

Yellow Flowers and Silver Butterflies, originally uploaded by Erika Snyder.

The Red Street

The Red Street, originally uploaded by Erika Snyder.

Kyoto Streets

Kyoto Streets, originally uploaded by Erika Snyder.

Maiko

Maiko, originally uploaded by Erika Snyder.

Maiko

Geisha posing, originally uploaded by SirPurple.

Life of a Geisha

Life of a Giesha, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Geiko (or geisha, front and left) and maiko (apprentice geiko, right) perform in Kyoto's Pontocho district."

Girls of Gion 祇園

Girls of Gion　　祇園, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Geiko and Maiko gather outside the Ichirikiya, Japan's most famous and exclusive teahouse, at dusk, to cheer on the men of Gion as they carry omikoshi, or portable shrines, during Kyoto's Gion Matsuri."

Child of the Court 大宮の子

Child of the Court　大宮の子, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"A young girl dressed in Heian period court costume sitting with Geiko and Maiko during Kyoto's Festival of the Ages."

K O T O H A : Miyako Odori

K O T O H A : Miyako Odori, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Kotoha, one of my favorite maiko, performs during the grand finale of Miyako Odori, the annual spring dance of Gion (Kyoto's most famous geisha district)."

Maiko, 1920s

Maiko, 1920s, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

Scanned from Taschen's "Japanese Beauties".

Click image for 695 x 999 size.

K O S E N : Hassaku

K O S E N : Hassaku, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"The young maiko Kosen emerges from a narrow, bamboo lined alley in the Gion Kobu district after a long morning of Hassaku visits.

Kosen

Hassaku is a very important event in Gion Kobu. Robed in the most formal black kimono and full makeup, young maiko and geiko visit the teahouses, teachers, senior geiko and establishments they depend upon to express their gratitude for their support and beg their favor in the future.

Hassaku in Gion"

M A M E T E R U : Hassaku

M A M E T E R U : Hassaku, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Mameteru passes beneath a special noren, or Japanese door curtain as she leaves a teahouse while making her Hassaku visits.

Hassaku is a very important event in Gion Kobu. Robed in the most formal black kimono and full makeup, young maiko and geiko visit the teahouses, teachers, senior geiko and establishments they depend upon to express their gratitude for their support and beg their favor in the future.

Hassaku in Gion

More images of Mameteru"

M A M E T E R U : Asagao

M A M E T E R U : Asagao, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Dressed in a fine, black silk gauze kimono, Mameteru carries a parasol and a fan to protect her from the summer heat as she makes her Hassaku visits. In her hair she wears a summer hanakanzashi (flowered hair ornament), the asagao, or morning glory.

Hassaku is a very important event in Gion Kobu. Robed in the most formal black kimono and full makeup, young maiko and geiko visit the teahouses, teachers, senior geiko and establishments they depend upon to express their gratitude for their support and beg their favor in the future.

Hassaku in Gion

More images of Mameteru"

S A N B O N A S H I : Hassaku

S A N B O N A S H I : Hassaku, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Hassaku is a very important event in Gion Kobu. In the heat of the summer, robed in the most formal black kimono and full makeup, young maiko and geiko visit the teahouses, teachers, senior geiko and establishments they depend upon to express their gratitude for their support and beg their favor in the future.

Because it is a very formal, specical occasion, they leave three tapered prongs of skin bare on their neck, as opposed to the usual two. This is called sanbonashi, or "three legs"."

, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Kosen and Koyuki leave a teahouse after making a Hassaku visit.

Hassaku is a very important event in Gion Kobu. Robed in the most formal black kimono and full makeup, young maiko and geiko visit the teahouses, teachers, senior geiko and establishments they depend upon to express their gratitude for their support and beg their favor in the future.

Hassaku in Gion"

I C H I R I K I

I C H I R I K I, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"A maiko (apprentice geiko) follows her "big sister" into the Ichiriki Teahouse for an evening of traditional entertainment: music, dance, and drinking games!"

P I N K : Takahiro

P I N K : Takahiro, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"An older image from Miyako Odori, the annual spring dance of the Gion Kobu district. Takahiro, a beautiful young maiko (apprentice geiko) shows off the long, flowing sleeves of her kimono as she dances."

K A T S U R Y U: Matcha

K A T S U R Y U: Matcha, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Katsuryu, a young maiko who recently made her debut in Kamishichiken, prepares to serve match, whisked, powdered green tea, to guests at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, in Kyoto."

Naozome and Ichiteru

Naozome and Ichiteru, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Maiko of Kamishichiken, Kyoto's oldest hanamachi (geiko entertainment district) surrounded by the plum blossoms of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine."

N A O K A Z U: Kamishichiken

N A O K A Z U: Kamishichiken, originally uploaded by mboogiedown.

"Naokazu is a young maiko in her second year of training in the Kamishichiken district. Katsuryu, behind her, debuted only last month (Feb. 2007)"