Geisha: Le crepuscule des fleurs: Part 2

Geisha: Le crepuscule des fleurs: Part 1

A Year Of Kanzashi: January

These style of Kanzashi (hair ornament) are worn during Shin Aisatsu (new years greetings). All of the Geiko and Maiko go around and greet the teahouse owners, friends, and neighbors. Each year the New Years Kanzashi are different. They also wear a special Kanzashi of un-husked rice with a white dove. At the end of the night they have a client fill in the eyes of the dove.

Azuma Odori 2008

Tokyo's flower and willow world is not a clearly lined up geographical area such as Kyoto. Hidden behind the teahouse gates, looking like a plain private home to any normal passer-by. The geisha of Shimbashi, known for their more "homely" and wifely repertoire.

Being named after the Shimbashi bridge, which no longer exists. It was built in 1630 on the Shiodome river making it's teahouses and inns around the area easily reachable by boat.

The geisha which performed in it's many teahouses became known as Kompura Geisha, later changing it to Shimbashi Geisha. The term Shimbashi became common once people began to compare them with the geisha in the Yanagibashi district.

Azuma O-dori ("Dances of the East") which is held by the Geisha of the Shinbashi district for only three days, usually around May 28th-May 31st in the Shimbashi Embujô located in Ginza.

"The Azuma Odori has been held in the Shimbashi Embujo Theater since 1923. It is one of the publics only chances to see the geisha of Shimbashi, Tokyo in action. This is an event that happens annually, usually at the end of May, and is usually attended by geisha representing all the districts in Tokyo, and many made the trip from Kyoto, including the top names from Gion Kobu and Miyagawa-cho."-- Peter Macintosh

This prime event of Tokyo's past is a much scaled-down, but exquisite survivor of it's traditions. It used to last a month like Kyoto's Miyako O-dori, but today it only lasts three days.


For tickets call: 03-3541-7206 or visit: http://www2.odn.ne.jp/shinbashikumiai/azumaodori.html

-- Photo's thanks to Peter MacIntosh

Kyo Odori 2007 (recap.)

Kyo Odori 1
Kyo Odori 2
Kyo Odori 3
Kyo Odori 4
Kyo Odori 5
Kyo Odori 6
Kyo Odori 7
Kyo Odori 8
Kyo Odori 9


















Many thanks to Shigatsuhana for uploading the programs and letting me use them here on my blog.

Geisha events and performances

Kyoto performances:

• Miyako Odori: April 1-30, Gion Kobu.
• Kyo Odori: first two weeks of April, Miyagawacho.
• Kitano Odori: April 15-25, Kamishichiken.
• Kamogawa Odori: May 1-24, Pontocho.
  
• Miyako-no-nigiwai: Mid-June (2nd week), all hanamachi.
• Gion Odori: November 3rd-12th, Gion Higashi.

Tokyo performances:

• Kagurazaka Odori: one performance in April, Kagurazaka.
• Kumi Odori: coincides with the Sanja Matsuri in the 3rd week of April, Asakusa.
  
• Azuma Odori: May 28-31, Shinbashi.

Osaka performances:

• Konohana Odori: Starts April 15th, Horie.
• Ashibie Odori: Starts April 1st, Nanchi (Minami).
• Naniwa Odori: Starts April 1st, Shinmachi.

All of the Osaka dances run for a month.

Other Areas:

• Atami Odori: April 28-29, Atami.
• Furumachi Niigata Odori: one performance in June, Niigata.
  
  

For more information vist: immmortalgeisha.com

Kyo Odori 2008

The Performers at the Kyo odori 2008:

Geiko: Chiyoe, Chizuru, Fumicho, Fumiyu, Fumimari, Fukuaya, Fukuemi, Fukuha, Fukuka, Fukuteru, Haruyu, Kanachisa, Kimigiku, Kimina, Kiminao, Kikuno, Kikumaru, Kikutsuru, Komomo, Kosen, Mieka, Satotsuya, Toshihana, Yachiho, Yasuha, Yayoi.

Maiko: Fukuai, Fukue, Fukuhina, Fukuhiro, Fukuho, Fukukimi, Fukunao, Fukuya, Fukuyuu, Fumihana, Fumisono, Harue, Kanasuzu, Kikune, Kikuyu, Kimiaya, Kimichie, Kimiha, Kimiharu, Kimika, Kimishizu, Kimitomo, Kimiyu, Miehina, Miyofuku, Miyoharu, Satoai, Satonami, Satomi, Satono, Taneju, Tanewaka, Toshifumi, Toshimari, Toshiteru, Toshiyui.

-- More to come.