Weekend Update 26/2

It’s the last weekend in February, so everything’s now ramping up towards the spring odori season! Karyukai News -Gion Kobu, Miyagawa Cho, and Kamishichiken all did their photo shoots for their respective spring odori this week. -Mamesaya (豆沙弥) of Shibata (柴田) in Gion Kobu will be having her misedashi on Wednesday (March 1st). It’s also been learned that Mameya (まめ弥), and not Yoshimame, will be her onesan! This is Mameya’s first imoto too. -Baikasai (梅花祭) took place at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine on Saturday with the maiko and geiko of Kamishichiken serving tea to guests. Blog News -I transcribed the Kyo Odori and Miyako Odori deban in full.  -I wrote about The Gei of Geisha in two parts. -The Random Fact of The Week looked at the materials in the accessories that maiko and geiko wear. -Mylo’s Pick of The Week looked at Ichiyū (市結) of Katsumi (勝見) in Pontocho. -I admit that I forgot to post the newest book review (oops). -I’ll be hosting a live stream on Tuesday (February 28th) at 22:00 GMT (5PM EST, 2PM PST). You’ll get a chance to pick my brain for an hour about various topics, so click here to be taken to the stream ^^ -Your questions this week have been fantastic! Thank you for sending them in! Also, please don’t be afraid to send in questions if you don’t think that your English is very good! You’re all so much better than you think you are at your language skills, so don’t let that stop you from learning ^^

Today is Baikasai (梅花祭), the annual Plum Blossom Festival at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. Every year on February 25th the maiko and geiko of Kamishichiken hold a large outdoor tea ceremony that serves approximately 3,000 guests (you must purchase a ticket beforehand as seating is limited). I could highlight all of the people being served tea, but nothing can compare to senior maiko Katsuna (勝奈) of Daimonji (大文字) helping out junior maiko Umekana (梅叶菜) of Umeno (梅乃) with a small adjustment of her shidare. The moment lasted just a second (as can be seen on other videos), but it shows the unique solidarity between all maiko and geiko to help each other out and to not leave anyone behind.  Umekana has been a maiko for 5 months now and Katsuna has an impressive 51 months (4 years and 3 months) and four previous Baikasai under her koshihimo. This may be Katsuna’s last Baikasai as a maiko as she will likely have her erikae at the end of the year if she chooses to stay.