Kanzashi of The Month: January - 2020′s Design
On The Ninth Day of Fun I present... a new look at a new kanzashi! Since Kazurasei uploaded images of the actual 2020 design and not just a replacement like last year we can take a good look at what this year has in store! As always, all kanzashi are courtesy of Kazurasei.
Image courtesy of Kazurasei. Ume (梅) - Plum Blossoms Matsuba (松葉) - Pine Needles Ezogiku (蝦夷菊) - Chinese Asters To be honest, Kazurasei knocked the symbolism out of the park this time around! Last year we were treated to large clumps of pine, which are symbols of growth and masculinity, that hinted at the coming change in emperors. This year we see the remnants of the pine left behind in the form of pine needles to remind us of this change. In their stead we see the pine replaced with large plum blossoms, a symbol of hope and rebirth. Like last year the main symbols are set on a base of colored cords to make them “pop” a bit more over the other motifs. To keep things classy the pine needles all feature a rhinestone as an accent and the asters all have rose gold colored pearls for centers!
Image courtesy of Tomoko of Maiko Theatre. The symbols also make sense when looking at the current Asian zodiac too! This year is the Year of The Rat, which is the first animal in the zodiac and is a return to the start of the cycle. More specifically, 2020 is the year of the metal rat, which is is considered a strong, masculine symbol that pairs well with the clever rodent ^^
Image courtesy of Kazurasei. This all pairs well with the dove maezashi traditionally worn for the first two weeks of the month. Usually the dove is always accompanied by a plum blossom, but last year they also featured pine to match with the main maiko kanzashi. This year they simply feature plum blossoms, but accented with flower buds to match the main kanzashi too! The kushi in the background is perfect for the season as it not only compliments the red in the of the plum but brings to mind green pine. Maiko would wear that kushi with their casual outfits during the day or possibly by senior maiko in districts where the monthly kanzashi is only worn for the first two weeks, such as Pontocho ^^
