#mamesome

[missmyloko]

A Christmas Departure

I probably should have posted this before I uploaded the feature, but I guess this way it won’t get lost as easily. I also should have posted this last night but my brain was reaaaally tired by the time I went to bed and I seemed to have forgotten about it ^^; Anyway, Christmas marks the departure of another member of the karyukai. This time it’s: Mamesome (豆そめ) of Ninben (亻) in Gion Kobu I had hoped that she would stay around longer than her biological sister Sakiko, who left last year, but it seems as though she’s satisfied with having been an active geimaiko in Gion Kobu for just over 10 years. She is still young, so she has plenty of time to apply the skills that she learned into whatever she chooses to do next. We wish her the best of luck and hope that she continues brings her warm smile with her into her future endeavors ^^

[dummy-kanji]

Rising sun eye por 小川 Ogawasan Por Flickr: 小川 Ogawasan Portfolio *Copyright © Ogawasan 小川/Bach.sacha.Photography. All Rights Reserved. Gion-Kobu Maiko : Mamesome 祇園甲部舞妓　豆そめさん

[geimei]

Aüril 2017: Geiko Mamesome (Ninben Okiya) of Gion kobu hosting a tea ceremony at the Miyako Odori.

Source: Elendil Dryade Nénharma on Instagram

[geisha-kai]

Hi Geisa-kai! 

Have you seen this photo from Flickr? Mamesome’s makeup and hair is so unusual! What do you think it could mea, if anything?

Hello! Her hairstyle and makeup is normal for Gion Kobu’s geiko during the Miyako Odori season (so, basically during whole month of April). If a geiko dances in the So Odori part of the performance, she styles her hair in chu shimada hairstyle (seen here on Mamesome). But maiko do the same thing! The hairstyle is not changed for the whole day, and when maiko and geiko head to evening parties in tea houses, they use this makeup trick to distinguish them. So, guests are able to differ geiko from maiko by their kimono and obi, but also by the makeup style (and most of the geiko look very young without usual wigs, so this custom is useful!). Geiko wipe off their makeup from the faces but leave their necks painted. Maiko leave the whole makeup on their faces.

[kamishichiken]

March maiko kanzashi

In March, the first signs of spring are appearing in Japan, and geiko and maiko are busy preparing for the odori season. Maikos’ kanzashi are a veritable garden of blooms, hinting at the warmer weather and the upcoming cherry blossom season. 

Maiko kanzashi motifs for march include narcissus, peony, peach blossom, and rapeseed (canola) blossoms with silver, pink, or blue butterflies. Certain varieties of rapeseed are cultivated for their oil-producing seeds, and their blossoms are actually edible*. 

Senior maiko can choose to wear any of those kanzashi motifs, though narcissus, peach blossom, and rapeseed blossoms are the most popular. Junior maiko tend to wear exclusively rapeseed blossoms with butterflies, though some older junior maiko may wear narcissus. Peony is the rarest motif of the four and can be worn by junior and senior maiko. 

*if you decide to forage for edible rapeseed, please research beforehand, as not all varieties are edible.

Photo sources: 1.2.3.4.5

[geimei]

January 2017: Geiko Mamesome and Maiko Mametama (Ninben Okiya) of Gion Kobu during Shigyoshiki.

Source: Katsu H. on Instagram

[geimei]

September 2016: Maiko Mamekinu (Tama Okiya), Maiko Mameharu and Geiko Mamesome (Ninben Okiya) with the producer of the tv-programme “Forbidden Kyoto”.

Female customers are common within the hanamachi and their numbers have been steadily increasing over the last two decades.

More and more women now have the financial resources to patronize Geisha and a lot of them are artistically accomplished themselves and share an interest in kimono.

Source: sherry_y_official on Instagram

[geisha-kai]

Hassaku 2014: geiko Mamesome of Gion Kobu by Soraphoto - blog