February 2019: Jikata Geiko Ichisumi (Ichi Okiya) of Kamishichiken playing the shamisen and singing at an ozashiki at the Umeno Ochaya.
Ichisumi debuted in September of 2016 directly as a Jikata Geiko, when she was already in her fourties. Her Misedashi was so low-key that, for about a month, I didn’t even know that she was around!
Except for Gion Kobu, all kagai of Kyoto allow women too old to become Maiko to debut directly as tachikata Geiko (dancers); however, the age limit for that is around 30 years old. Jikata Geiko can debut at all ages, there are several more recent example of jikata debuting well into their sixties.
That is not to say that women debuting as Jikata Geiko are simply too old to become tachikata; almost all of them are already proficient in music before entering training and see being a Jikata Geiko as their ideal profession.
Source: Kyoto Insider on Instagram