Maiko
Alongside and in little or no conflict with all the electronic neon of modern Japan, deep layers of history, tradition and culture lie intact.
You see lots of people in traditional dress. However, I had about two seconds to grab this instant and single flash of a photo. It shows two maiko walking quickly to their next appointment and they don't hang around in any way for tourists who happen to cross their path.
For a foreigner, trying to distinguish between a geisha aka geiko in Kyoto Gion and a maiko (apprentice) is full of pitfalls. Apologies if any of the information is wrong. However, if I've understood at least some of the intricacies, there are several clues in their dress. In no particular order :
#1 Their hair looks to be their own, not a wig.
#2 The girls have numerous ornaments in their hair, including "November" kanzashi featuring autumnal leaf colours
#3 They are wearing long rectangular obi, the belts around the waist. A geisha's would be square.
#4 The girl on the right is possibly more senior as she appears to have at least thin red lines of lipstick on both lips. Also her kimono is edged with white around the neck, which I admit thought signified a geisha but then as I wrote above, trying to understand the minutiae of Japanese society is really quite difficult.
So just how far back do some of these traditions go? The kanzashi hair ornaments were first recorded about 14,000 years ago. The general concept of a "serving girl" is about 1500 years old, whilst the actual word "geisha" seems to be about 250 years old. Nowadays the girls are hired to attend parties and gatherings, at tea houses or traditional Japanese restaurants. The customer is usually a top-hierarchy businessman showing off to clients as this is all to do with high status and wealth.
Maiko
Alongside and in little or no conflict with all the electronic neon of modern Japan, deep layers of history, tradition and culture lie intact.
You see lots of people in traditional dress. However, I had about two seconds to grab this instant and single flash of a photo. It shows two maiko walking quickly to their next appointment and they don't hang around in any way for tourists who happen to cross their path.
For a foreigner, trying to distinguish between a geisha aka geiko in Kyoto Gion and a maiko (apprentice) is full of pitfalls. Apologies if any of the information is wrong. However, if I've understood at least some of the intricacies, there are several clues in their dress. In no particular order :
#1 Their hair looks to be their own, not a wig.
#2 The girls have numerous ornaments in their hair, including "November" kanzashi featuring autumnal leaf colours
#3 They are wearing long rectangular obi, the belts around the waist. A geisha's would be square.
#4 The girl on the right is possibly more senior as she appears to have at least thin red lines of lipstick on both lips. Also her kimono is edged with white around the neck, which I admit thought signified a geisha but then as I wrote above, trying to understand the minutiae of Japanese society is really quite difficult.
So just how far back do some of these traditions go? The kanzashi hair ornaments were first recorded about 14,000 years ago. The general concept of a "serving girl" is about 1500 years old, whilst the actual word "geisha" seems to be about 250 years old. Nowadays the girls are hired to attend parties and gatherings, at tea houses or traditional Japanese restaurants. The customer is usually a top-hierarchy businessman showing off to clients as this is all to do with high status and wealth.