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LadyOfSorrows26 — Three Maiko
Published: 2010-07-17 11:52:05 +0000 UTC; Views: 263; Favourites: 7; Downloads: 0
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Last upload for tonight. Lucky enough to see three maiko walking down the street together.Unfortunately I didn't get many shots of them, as this strange little man with an old film camera was running around attempting to take a few photos.
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Comments: 8
They are all from the same okiya, the Yoshifumi. Fumihana is in the light blue (with the Katsuyama hairstyle of a senior maiko during Gion Matsuri), Fumitama in black (with the Wareshinobu hairstyle of a junior maiko), and Fumisono in the dark blue (with the Katsuyama hairstyle again). I like how all of their colors look together, it's all really well coordinated.
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The fact that you can tell them all apart from the back is amazing, hahaha.
And thanks for all the info on names and things, it's super helpful <3
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I'm glad I could help. I've been enjoying all of your photos, Miyagawacho is my favorite district and you've taken photos of some of my favorite geiko.
Identifying from the back isn't too hard as long as I have the right information. You can see on the bottom of their obi that they have a crest. That's the crest of their okiya, and from that I could tell that they all came from the same okiya, the Yoshifumi. The Yoshifumi only has three maiko right now, and I knew their seniority levels. Because I could see their hair, I could tell who was who. I already knew what Fumihana was wearing from other photos of her, so identifying the others was easy. It also helps that I saw Fumitama wearing that black/yellow ensemble in another photo 
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It's definately become my favourite district as well. Gion and Pontocho just get way too crowded. I couldn't enjoy walking down there as much.
And I thought that crest had something to do with it, but I'd never be able to tell them apart from that and hairstyles. Maybe one day...
Unfortunately I only have a few more photos. My time in Kyoto was way too short. I'll have to come back. (When it's not so hot.)
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Gion Kobu is way too crowded, especially during big events like the Miyako Odori or Gion Matsuri. It's a little more relaxed during regular days, but it's just bad overall. Pontocho wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so small and wasn't a convenient passageway between the busy Shijo Dori and busy Sanjo Dori. It just gets way too much foot traffic for such a small space, and it ruins the otherwise charming atmosphere. Of the other geisha districts, Gion Higashi is way too hard to find and full of modern buildings used as bars, hostess clubs, and apartments that take away the charm. Kamishichiken is so out of the way and eerily dark, quiet, and empty, it's not a lot of fun to visit. Miyagawacho is just the best, it's in the center of everything which just the right level of activity to be still be interesting and charming.
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I don't think I ever found Gion Higashi, and definitely not Kamishichiken. Our apartment was so close to Miyagawacho anyways, so it was perfect for us. Just a five minute walk. Such a great little area.
We walked through Pontocho twice. Very, VERY crowded. I only saw one maiko, and my photos turned out very blurry (it was getting dark out.) And only one geiko in Gion Kobu.
Miyagawacho really is the best.
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Gion Higashi is just like that, it doesn't look like a traditional geisha district and it just blurrs into Gion Kobu. It doesn't have much of a presence on its own. The maiko and geiko there are another story, though
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Then maybe I did wander into Gion Higashi and never knew, haha. We did get a little lost. (It's too easy to do in Kyoto.)
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