Have you been thinking about visiting our events or joining us, but don't quite understand what we do?
Are you looking for fun outlet for your interest in the geisha world? We wrote a short FAQ to help you understand how our group works!
The Miyajimacho hanamachi RP group is a fictional hanamachi located in present day Kyoto, using the virtual world of IMVU as our roleplaying base.
What is IMVU?, and other IMVU related questions
IMVU is a virtual world (similar to SecondLife and Roblox). You can create an avatar and chat with people around the world in virtual chat rooms, as well as shop for avatar items, clothes, accessories and more.
IMVU account is free to make, and initially you can earn promo credits if you want to try it out without spending real money on credits. In order to participate in the roleplay fully, you will be purchasing items such as kimono, obi, kanzashi etc for your avatar, so being able to purchase credits every once in a while is useful.
How do you roleplay?, and other Miyajimacho related questions
Miyajimacho hanamachi RP is a literate roleplay, which means the majority of our roleplay focus is on writing and reading textual entries written by other roleplayers.
We meet up in an IMVU room, dress our avatars according to the time and occasion of the setting, and write a story together. Such a roleplay can be about anything: from our characters participating in Marukawa Odori, to dealing with every day life in the okiya, to making the rounds around the hanamachi for Hassaku. Be creative!
Our real-time roleplays usually happen on Fridays and weekends, during evening hours (CET timezone). An important thing to note is you (as stated on your account) need to be 18 or older, due to recently placed restrictions on adult-minor interactions. This restriction is placed by IMVU itself, in order to protect minors using the app. Miyajimacho RP does not engage in NSFW/18+ roleplays or behaviour under any circumstances.
How to join?, and other specific questions
First you'll need to create an account on IMVU, after which you can reach out to our administrators, AThousandTales or Katsurei.
New members are tasked with making up their own character - an aspiring shikomi applicant. Your character will join one of the okiya as a shikomi, and in due time, will become a maiko.
After creating your character, their learning progress begins: you (and your character) will be taught everything you need to know - from basic etiquette, types of kimono onto how to roleplay dancing, playing shamisen and many other things. Previous interest and knowledge in karyukai matters is useful but not required. Time required for each person to go through the process of learning as a shikomi differs, with the minimum period being 3 months of real life time.
In our RP, 6 months in real life equals 1 year in the RP, which allows you as the roleplayer to make the best use of your time and efforts in roleplaying. While RP is our hobby, it's not a full time job: majority of the group members are adults with adult obligations, so being online 24/7 is not applicable or required of you, but general activity is expected - if you are going to be away or busy for a period of time, let your okaasan roleplayer know!
New members are allowed to join either of the two currently active okiya (Hanai and Sumiya), where you'll meet the other roleplayers - people roleplaying as other shikomi, maiko and geiko, who will become your character's friends and oneesan - mentors.
An important note: our group has been active for over 10 years now, and the main focus is always learning and staying respectful of the real life hanamachi. We roleplay, we don't pose as real geiko or maiko or engage in things that would be unrealistic in the real world, and our learning process is based on legitimate resources (books, documentaries, articles...), which allows us to keep learning and improving.
This is just a short glimpse based on the most common questions, feel free to ask more!
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