A Digital Karyūkai Experience

Kon'nichiwa! I'm Toshiemi としゑ美 and this is my Second Life. I am living on a digital simulation of Miyagawa-cho, Japan, where I study the culture and traditions of the Karyūkai on the Kyoto Kagai sim. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/188/203/31

[ayashiame]

2024 Setsubun Yasaka Jinja AM performance. Kyoto Kagai sim Maiko Toshiemi

[tanuki-kimono]

Modern muted kimono patterned with hanausagi (rabbits among flowers), an ancient motif part of the meibutsugire (imported fabrics especially popular during Muromachi period, and used to wrap for ceremonial objects like tea ceremony items).

[ayashiame]

-squeeks- snow bunny pattern! SNOW BUNNY PATTERN!

[missmyloko]

November 20th, 2023: Congratulations to Kyoto's newest geiko! Miwako (美羽子) of Nishimura (西村) in Gion Kobu is celebrating her erikae! She is the first imōto of natori geiko Mihoko (美帆子), also of Nishimura, to have her erikae, and is her district's fourth erikae this year! Her outfit is her own as it features her own kamon and is a testament to her popularity and the wealth of the Nishimura okiya. Her outfit features fans, pines, and lucky treasures among dreamy clouds while her obi features pines and flowers ^^ おめでとうさんどす美羽子さん ^o^! Image is courtesy of a friend who wishes to remain anonymous.

[ayashiame]

Saturday, December 2nd, is our yearly event of Kaomise Soken. I will most likely, and unfortunately, be occupied during this event. However, many of my sisters will be there to view this year's kabuki clips. If you have never seen Japanese Kabuki before, please come join us to relax and enjoy an in-world stream at our Kaburenjo (theater). maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/189/202/31

[ayashiame]

[ayashiame]

Next week, Toshichiyo-chan will debut as a maikosan from Komayaka Okiya. This is a very special day. We are excited for this event. We are all busy with many preparations. As usual, the event is open to the public, so if you'd like to join us we can help you figure out what to do. Friends may come. Really, you just come to get spoiled by us and celebrate Chiyo-chan. The event is business casual/semi-formal. Gifts and tips for the new maiko are highly encouraged. You can even message the okaasan (Toshiha.Magic) before the big day and commission a celebration poster in which Chiyo-chan will receive 100% of the proceeds. You'll also be able stroll by the building and see the many of the special posters created to celebrate her once they are set out.

[ayashiame]

First November Ozashiki

[ayashiame]

Several congratulations are in order. We have the erikae of Isako-san neesan of Maneki Neko Okiya. She is now a geisha. And, she is also the Atotori of the okiya. Okaasan Umeko will be stepping down in her duties a bit and attend events without her wig and makeup.

Also, Suki-chan has passed her test and will be debuting as a Minarai in the very near future. She had her hair set for the first time today and received her new name: Toshichiyo.

Omedettou san dosu!!

[tanuki-kimono]

Nice comparative chart by nature guide Kumasuke, showing the size differences between heron/egret species found commonly in Japan:

Daisagi: great white heron or great egret. Note how the blue-green gape going past the eye

Chûsagi: intermediate egret or yellow-billed egret. Note the yellow gape stopping under the eye

Kosagi: little egret. Note the yellow feet + the fluffy crown

If I remember well, most egret/heron species slightly change coloring and/or grow fluffy feathers during mating season. Those feathers were once used for kanzashi hairpins, a remnant are the katsuyama kanzashi worn by maiko for Gion matsuri (see the butterflies faint "antennas"?):

Nowadays egret are protected and feathers still in use are from ancient stocks.

Egret species are often virtually impossible to tell apart in Japanese patterns. On this blog, I simply tag any of those birds under "sagi" :)

[ayashiame]

I have been working a lot on my mai. I still have a lot to do. . . August went by so fast. . . Hm, I believe last time I was here, I mentioned a new little sister joining our home? Well, she will be making her debut soon as a minarai! We are so excited. I wonder what her name will be. . . She's a very smart girl. I think people will instantly fall in love with her personality and charm. I can't wait to dance on stage with her. Outside of that, September isn't too busy of a month. We have otsukimi celebrations planned, as well as a tea ceremony, which I'm looking forward to because we don't have many of those planned in the year. Okaasan recently celebrated her 15th year on the grid as a geisha!

Maneki Neko okiya is in the midst of erikae planning. Isako-san neesan will be having her erikae on September 11th. She had her danpatsu-shiki on August 29th. No turning back, now!

There is a new hairdresser in our town, so I suspect my hair may look slightly different, soon. I don't know if anyone will be able to tell or not. But when I look in the mirror, I think I do look a little bit different.

Well, I'll talk to you again! `\o

[todayintokyo]

Jizō figures at Hase-dera (長谷寺), Kamakura

[tanuki-kimono]

Sleek b&w outfit, pairing a meditative kimono depicting yuki-mochi take (snow-covered bamboo), and a nearly abstract obi showing what could be a raging stream or waterfall

[tanuki-kimono]

Adorable note by Sayuri Sasai, showing a Tanabata (star festival) celebration in old Edo.

They stress that Tanabata, and its tradition of writing wishes on tanzaku (paper strips) before tying those up on bamboo, spread among Edo commoners thanks to the terakoya (temple elementary school system) which increased literacy.

The boy is anxiously wishing for his handwriting to get better, and below him you can see how the classical rectangular tanzaku could also be shaped like notebook, abacus or writing brush, or watermelon or gourd - something popular among young students ^^

The street peddlers below offers Tanabata related goods such as bamboo stalks and the tanzaku papers. Besides them, a popular summer dish of somen (cold noodles) is eaten for good luck (the longer the noodle, the longer the life).

[ayashiame]

I visited the salon to have my hair done up for the week. I haven't paid attention to how long my hair has become! If a maiko-san's hair is not long, it can't be styled into the maiko style. - I was watching an anime where a disgruntled and mysterious samurai was going around towns and chopping off girls' hair. How scary... (⊃д⊂) - There has been a visitor to our okiya lately. She has come often to visit with Oneesan. I am wondering if she will be a new shikomi. She is very cute! (ؑ‷ᵕؑ̇‷)◞✧

[thekimonogallery]

Iris in honor of Boys’ Festival [Japan]. Photography by 京織雪 @kyo_oriyuki

[tanuki-kimono]

Unusual patterns for this refined outfit, featuring kagura suzu (instrument used in kagura dance) with swirling ribbons deep blue kimono, paired with a fantastic embroidered obi depicting a hiôgi (cypress fan) and a kanmuri (imperial formal hat)

[japaneseaesthetics]

Heron over a mallow tree, by Matsumura Goshun, ca. 1800, Japan