Cherry Dance

Spring has come!
The cherry blossom season began and another spring blossoms started blooming. The cherry trees are in full bloom in many areas of Kyushu Region and Kochi Prefecture. cherry trees started blooming in Yokohama on March 30th, in Tokyo on March 31st. People will go on a cherry viewing picnic this year.

In Japan, school starts and companies begin a new business year in April. Many companies have welcoming ceremonies today. Most students are on spring vacation.


Cherry dance in Kyoto, Japan 都をどり、京都、日本　6 
by Conveyor belt sushi /flickr



Cherry dance in Kyoto: 京都、 都をどり　１ 
by  Conveyor belt sushi /flickr
（Gion Kobu Kaburenjo）

 The MIYAKO ODORI(Cherry-Blossom Dance, Cherry Dance) is being held from April 1st to 30th at Gion Kobu Kaburenjo(祇園甲部歌舞練場, Gion Kobu's Dance Performance Theatre) in Kyoto. Tourists have an opportunity to see many geiko and maiko only during this annual event.






Gion Kobu's Dance Performance Theatre. 祇園甲部歌舞練場 
by  CLF /flickr

Its ticket are also available by phone/fax.
The official site of MIYAKO ODORI presents information in English and Japanese.

Miyako Odori; cherry dance in Kyoto; 都をどり、舞妓、祇園、京都 
by  Conveyor belt sushi /flickr

Miyako Odori; cherry dance in Kyoto; 都をどり、祇園、京都 by Conveyor belt sushi /flickr



Cherry dance in Kyoto: 京都、 都をどり　2 by Conveyor belt sushi /flickr

Miyako odori by PYONKO /flickr

Cherry dance in Kyoto; 京都、 都をどり　5 by Conveyor belt sushi /flickr

Tea at Miyako Odori by Joi /flickr
maiko(left) and geiko(right)

Special-Class-Ticket bueyers can enjoy traditional Japanese tea service by geiko and get complimentary gift.

Geisha in Kyoto 舞妓 2 : Suzuha：寿々葉 
by Conveyor belt sushi /flickr
(not geisha but maiko)

An apprentice geisha(芸者) is called hangyoku(半玉) in Kanto region, and an apprentice geiko(芸妓) is called Maiko(舞妓) in Kansai region. Maiko and hangyoku differ from each other in appearance and many ways. Similarly, geiko and geisha are different.

Only maiko leaves a trail of obi(sash). Maiko and hangyoku wear an ornamental hairpin called hana kanzashi(花簪) which is created by a technique known as tsumami(つまみ) in their hairs, but geiko and geisha don't it. 

Maiko Satsuki 舞妓 紗月 by CLF /flickr

Girls wear the hairpin at events such as Shichi-go-san festival. In the past, children aged from 8 to 12 years started training to be maiko.  So today's maiko copy the clothes and styles of children. They wear kimono in a way children do.
Maiko wear different hana kanzashi every month. Its motif is associated with each month such as cherry blossoms in April, wisteria or iris in May.


Geiko and Maiko, Fumikazu and Momokazu, at Gion in Kyoto, Japan;
芸者と舞妓、章佳司と百佳司、祇園、京都 by Conveyor belt sushi /flickr
geiko(left) and maiko(right)



Katsunosuke and Satsuki. by CLF /flickr

Hina and the Red Umbrella by CLF /flickr