Kuromontsuki Kimono

If you walked around one of Kyoto’s Hanamachi (flower town or Geisha District), early January, you may have seen Maiko and Geiko beautifully dressed in their formal black “Kuromontsuki” kimono, and wearing a real rice stalk “kanzashi” or ornamental hairpin. Around, you also probably saw hordes of photographers, ready to capture a photo of this event.

 
 
There are actually two different events going on in town.  First, on the fourth and the fifth of January,  the Geiko and the Maiko of each Okiya go together around their neighborhood, presenting their New Year’s Greetings to not only the Ochaya, tea houses, and other restaurants and bars where they work, but also to local shops and other local people. They go around, beautifully dressed, in groups, exchanging New Year’s Greetings, saying “Omedetosandosu” (A happy new year).

Then, on January seventh, the formal ceremony called Shigyo-Shiki, or official ceremony for the start of the year, during which the best house and the most popular maiko/geiko receive awards, takes place in each Geisha District. 

It started at 11AM in Pontocho so I was in position along the little narrow street by 10AM.  On their way to the Kaburenjo (the theater) where the ceremony takes place, the beautifully dressed woman will have to pass this way. Many did, but not all. 😉

 After this, the same ceremony started at noon in Gion Higashi, then Gion Kobu at 2PM, and Miyagawa-Cho at 3PM.  Needless to say, I tried to go from one place to the next, hoping each time to get a chance to catch a photo of a few Maiko and Geiko walking around. I did quickly give up in the Gion Kobu District due to the incredibly large number of photographers. Then again, I tried my luck around Miyagawa-Cho at the end.   

During these New Year’s “business opening ceremonies” or Shigyo-Shiki, the Geiko and their apprentices, the Maiko, get together and pledge to practice and work hard this year to improve their performances.  They are still wearing black kimono and rice stalk-shaped “kanzashi” or ornamental hairpins. Trying to catch a photo of them walking to or from the Kaburenjo (the theater where this ceremony takes place) is one of the big photo events of the beginning of the year for a large number of local photographers. 

Here are a few pictures I was able to capture. By clicking the icon in the lower right corner of the photo below, you can see a full screen slideshow!  Feel free to leave a comment!