Hi knowing your eye for perticular iki piece i had in my mind lately this Hanafusa's obi masterpiece and I thought it deserved a share
Best Regards and I hope its to your taste
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nobuflickr/24615262216/
Hello Anon
Thank you so much for sending this in!
Yes, it's a wonderful piece! Fine golden pine branches on a textured silver backdrop were a perfect choice to celebrate Kikuyae's Misedashi back in January 2016. Pine is a beloved symbol of longevity and endurance, as such it has been present in imagery in Japan for basically ever.
After a relatively short Maiko stage, Kikuyae-san turned her collar on November 7th 2019. I revisited some videos of her greeting rounds in Miyagawacho and most comments focused on Toshiemi who graduated on the same day. I guess such is the fate of any professional woman: To be ranked and compared by strangers. Kikuyae retired in April 2023, having braved the pandemic that hit the karyukai just as hard as many other industries, where personal contact seemed vital before.
One can say 7 years isn't thaaat long a career for a Geimaiko. Then again Kikuyae took on her role as Oneesan during her tenure pretty quickly, just 1 year in. Both Kikusora and Kikushizu debuted under her mentorship and through this role, she prolonged her life as a member of the Karyukai beyond her actual career. Some Geiko take on many Imouto, some opt out of this role for their own private reasons. We know that these women not only invest time and reputation into their mentees but also real money, they even share their own customer pool. After the Oneesan retires, the bond they have shared survives and bleeds into life outside of the Hanamachi. The Maiko is a new bud in the family tree, growing out of the branch of the Oneesan. Maybe here we find a conclusion to the pine tree motif.
Thank you again Anon! Thank you for your patience!
