#mameka

[maigeiko]

December Kanzashi. 1 - Aizuwakamatsu: Mochibana (餅花 - new year decoration), hamaya (破魔矢 - arrow to dispell demons), osuushi no me (雄牛の目 - Bull's eye), maneki (招き - Kabuki name boards), koban (小判 - gold coin), saikoro (骰子 - dice), tanzaku (短冊 - strips of paper with wishes written on them) 2 - Gifu: Mochibana, hamaya, osuushi no me, tanzaku 3+4 - Akita: Tsubaki (椿 - camellia) red and white 5 - Nara: Mochibana, hagoita (羽子板 - decorative battledores), arrow+bull's eye, gold coin, dice, tanzaku 6 - Nagoya: Mochibana, hamaya, osuushi no me, koban, saikoro, hagoita, hane (羽 - feathers) 7 - Yuzawa: Matsu (松 - pine), maneki 8 - Tokyo-Asakusa: Mochibana, hamaya, osuushi no me, koban, hagoita 9 - Tokyo-Kagurazaka: Zuru (鶴 - crane), hagoita 10 - Tokyo-Kagurazaka: Mochibana, maneki, koban, hamaya, osuushi no me, saikoro 11 - Tokyo-Mukojima: Mochibana, maneki, yukiwa (雪輪 - snowflakes), maneki neko (招き猫 - lucky cat), matsu, saikoro 12 - Tokyo-Mukojima: Mochibana, hagoita, koban, saikoro, tai (鯛 - sea bream), tanzaku 13 - Tokyo-Asakusa: Ume (梅 - plum blossoms) 14 - Tokyo Asakusa: Kaze guruma (風車 - pin wheels) 15 - Tokyo-Kagurazaka: Hagoita, hane, nanten (南天 - nandina) Picture sources: 1 (instagram story, no longer available) - 2 - 3+4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 (?) - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15

[maigeiko]

Akita, 16. May 2023 - two new Maiko debuted! Their names are Mameka (まめ佳) and Iroha (いろ羽). There are now four Geiko and three Maiko in Akita. On the picture, in the back row, from left to right, you can see Someryû, Shino, Wakayû, Kanofuji and Otoha. 

[maigeiko]

Congratulations to Mameka (まめ夏) from Akasaka on the occasion of becoming a Geisha! Mameka was a Hangyoku for three years and had her Erikae on 4. November 2021. Photo and info by Kikumaru

[maigeiko]

Hairstyle comparison: 1 - Mameka from Akasaka, 2 - Chiharu from Asakusa, 3 -Tamaki from Kagurazaka, 4 - Kanohisa from Gion Higashi.

While Mameka, Chiharu and Tamaki technically wear the same hairstyle, the Kagurazaka Momoware looks much more like Kyoto’s Wareshinobu - compared with the other two. It seems, that the Shibori is on top of the mage (bun) in examples 1 and 2, whereas it’s tucked into the Mage in examples 3 and 4. The Mage itself is much flatter in 1+2 and the bin (sides) are smaller. Overall, however, you can see that the “real hair” Momoware doesn’t look a lot like the wig version. I can understand that wearing a wig instead having your own hair styled has its perks, but in my eyes the real hair looks much more comfortable (less weight! more mobility! no large tabo in your neck!).  (Edit: Eiko explained that the kamiyui who does the hair of the Kagurazaka Hangyoku was trained in Kyoto, so their hairstyle is actually Kyoto-style Wareshinobu! 東京の半玉は通常は「桃割れ」を結いますが、現在、神楽坂の半玉の髪を結ってくれているのは京都で修行された方なので、京都の舞妓さんと同じ髪型をしています。 https://www.instagram.com/hidekohorii/p/DB0WCfkRhnn/?img_index=4)

[maigeiko]

From Kamishichiken to Akasaka: I liked the Kamishichiken Maiko Ichitomo a lot, was excited when she became a Geiko and disappointed when she retired in early 2018. Now, I have another reason to be excited because it looks like she debuted as a Geisha in Akasaka last year! Her new name is Kotarô 小た郎. The first picture is from January 2020 (with the Okami of Hamadaya, a restaurant in Akasaka and a Geiko which I suppose is Satsuki). The water-and-treasure ship Hikizuri looks familiar :) The secone one is from Setsubun, February 2020 with Hangyoku Mameka.  Welcome back to the Karyûkai, Kotarô! It’s nice to “meet” you again!

[maigeiko]

You saw a back picture of a Hangyoku but you’re not sure where to sort her in or if she even is a Furisode-san? Let me help with this little overview: Hairstyles in the Tokyo hanamachi ══════════════════════ First row 1. Asakusa: Momoware wig worn by Chihana in 2014. The pink Chinkoro and Shibori are unusual, normally these pieces are red. 2. Akasaka: Momoware worn by Mameka in 2019. 3. Hachioji: Ofuku worn by Teruha in 2019. 4. Kagurazaka: Wareshinobu worn by Ichina in 2019. Second row 1. Mukojima: alternate Momoware worn by Manten in 2009. In this case, the Shibori is red, but it can also be pink. 2. Mukojima: Momoware wig worn by Emika in 2018 3. Mukojima: Momoware worn by Tomoka in 2014 4. Shinagawa: Momoware wig worn by Maika in 2013 Third row 1. Mukojima: Yuiwata wig worn by Kingyo in 2019 Notes ══════════════════════ The hairstyle worn by Tokyo Hangyoku is usually called Momoware, yet sometimes also Wareshinobu. Recent IG posts by Kikumaru from Akasaka (20. Jun 20) and the Kagurazaka Kenban (23. Jun 20) made the exact wording clear. However, Eiko calls Waka’s hairstyle Wareshinobu in this post from May 2024. She also revealed in September 2024 that the Kamiyui who is doing the hairstyles of the Kagurazaka Hangyoku was trained in Kyoto, so they are wearing Kyoto-style Wareshinobu indeed! Hangyoku in Shinbashi normally wear wigs and style their own hair only for the Azuma Odori. I couldn’t find a proper back picture of either.  Photo sources ══════════════════════ 1: nureinu-city, 2: annagayoshi, 3: Teruha, 4: Kagurazaka kumiai,  1: Olaf, 2: Chikage, 3: Takaya, 4: Instagram 1: Kodemari

[geimaiko]

Mameka became a Geisha!

We have been following Mameka of Akasaka from her debut as a Hangyoku. Never in a million years would we have thought a global pandemic would cross her path when she started way back on October 28th 2018.

And we have seen others succeed and many fail in these hard times but somehow this lady braved through this crisis and finished the demanding apprenticeship in Tokyo to become a Geisha.

Congratulations to Mameka-san, who turned her collar on November 8th in a delicate pink ensemble. She did not wear ornate tortoise-shell kanzashi as is custom even for Shinbana in Tokyo during their debuts as Geiko, probably a hint to her prestigious and unique position after graduating from Hangyoku-hood, a status symbol indeed in a district where Hangyoku are rare to beginn with, erikae even more so.

May she face her challenges with the tenacity and poise she demonstrated so well in the last years, with this asset she is sure to become a sucessfull Geisha of Akasaka.

Source: Kikumaru of Akasaka on Instagram

[geimaiko]

Perfection in Akasaka

Mameka looked amazing in this outfit, so post it i shall!

A gorgeous plum and beige Furisode with lovely peonies, my favorite. 

Many of you will agree that in this particular shot, our unique and iconic girl Mameka does resemble Sayaka of Tsurui in Gion Kobu. But maybe the flair of another legendary Geiko might rub off on our beloved Hangyoku in Tokyo. 

When will we see Mameka turn her collar i hear your heart scream out:

Well, she debuted on Oktober 23rd 2018 so even though we have been following her career attentively she still might have some years to go. I have so much hope that she will become an incredibly successful Geisha of Akasaka like her great onesan Ikuko-san. Indeed Mameka has a very tight support system: Her okasan Fumika and her onesan Geisha Ichiharu and her imouto Geisha Kikumaru will look out for her to help her succeed to become a prosperous Geisha in her own right. Let’s wait and see this success story, if ever i had a good feeling about something than it would be Mameka’s path to a long and fruitful career. 

Source: Kikumaru_Akasaka on Instagram