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A maiko (舞妓, IPA: / ˈ m aɪ k oʊ / MY-koh, Japanese:) is an apprentice geisha in Kyoto. [1] Their jobs consist of performing songs, dances, and playing the shamisen or other traditional Japanese instruments for visitors during banquets and parties, known as ozashiki .
Both maiko and geisha wear the collar on their kimono relatively far back, accentuating (for maiko) the red collar of the underkimono (juban), and displaying (for both maiko and geisha) the two or three stripes of bare skin (eri-ashi and sanbon-ashi respectively) left just underneath the hairline when wearing oshiroi.
Mizuage has been long connected with the loss of virginity of a maiko, [3] because some maiko did undergo ceremonies to lose their virginity. [4] Mizuage for a maiko would also include monetary sponsorship by the mizuage patron, intended to support and promote the maiko 's debut to geisha status.
A dance in the Miyako Odori may involve 32 maiko and geisha and 20 musicians in identical costumes, often performing in unison. [2] Unlike the Kamogawa Odori, which presents a new programme yearly, the performance of the Miyako Odori is much the same year after year. [3]: 77–78
The geisha and maiko of Gion both perform annual public dances, as do all five geisha districts in Kyoto. The oldest of these date to the Kyoto exhibition of 1872. The more popular of these is the Miyako Odori , literally "Dances of the Old Capital" (sometimes instead referred to as the "Cherry Blossom Dances"), staged by the geisha of Gion ...
The geisha of this district are known for being subtle and demure, few in number but each highly accomplished dancers and musicians. [2] There are approximately 25 maiko (apprentice geisha) and geisha in Kamishichiken, along with 11 teahouses. [citation needed] The district crest is a ring of skewered dango (sweet dumplings). [3]
Iwasaki became a maiko (apprentice geisha) at the age of 15, and was chosen as the house's atotori, or heir. Iwasaki also received the name "Mineko", as prescribed by a Japanese fortune-teller. By age 16, she had earned a reputation as Japan's most popular maiko and graduated to geisha status on her 21st birthday.
A summer tradition around the time of the Gion Festival among the hanamachi of Kyoto is to distribute personalized uchiwa (団扇, flat fans) to favored patrons and stores that both maiko and geisha frequent. These feature a crest of the geisha house on the front, and the geisha's name on the back (house name, then personal name).