I was thinking of sending Mamechika-san some pictures that I had taken as a token of my thanks, and to encourage her to work hard to become the Maiko she had dreamed of when she was a child. Some of the pictures I had seen of her grandmother were in Sepia and Black & White so I tried to create something that she too may think of adding to her family picture wall.
People often ask me how I am able to find and photograph the elusive Maiko in Kyoto and my answer is that most of the times it is simply luck. Perhaps one of the luckiest breaks came this past weekend when I was invited inside an Okiya and was able to photograph Maiko Sayaka-san and Maiko Kyouka-san before they left for the traditional Hassaku greeting. As I watched them pose for me, I could not help but be overwhelmed by the sense and scale of tradition that had originated from within that room. History had been made there and many generations of Maiko had stood in their beautiful kimonos and painted faces in the very same space. As I sort through the many pictures I had taken that day, I hope to relive that feeling and perhaps understand more about why I continue to be fascinated by the world of the Maiko.
Maiko Sayaka-san
Maiko Fumitama-san
Maiko Toshiyui-san
by Arif
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A new generation of Maiko have now taken centre stage in Kyoto’s Gion and Miyakawa-cho districts. These young stars appear confident and are more comfortable with the attention they get from the audience and hordes of tourists, and it is hard to imagine that they are only teenagers. Years of apprenticeship under the watchful eyes of the Okiya’s Oka-san allow these stars to blossom into their new roles with ease.
Maiko Tanefumi-san
Tanefumi-san is originally from Tokyo and used to dream of being a star in a musical. Her passion for becoming a Maiko started when she visited Kyoto with her family. Her interest and pursuit of ballet, jazz and tap dance give her a strong dance background, and her confidence in facing the camera and meeting new people is very impressive. I asked her where she would like to go for a holiday and she wanted to go to a place full of nature and was genuinely interested when I mentioned my trip of Easter Island. Her comment “when I grow up, I would like to travel” brought me back to the fact that she is only 16.
Maiko Yaemi-san of Miyagawa-cho
This was the first time for me to meet Yaemi-san and I was very impressed with her kindness and her gentle way of talking. Something about her is very comfortable and I look forward to meeting her again.
Maiko Mamechika-san
Mamechika-san continues a long family tradition of being Maiko. Her Grandmother was both Maiko and Geiko in Gion and Mamechika-san also exhibits strong confidence in her approach to dance and meeting new people. Her only hesitation of travel is passing through the security checkpoint and the noise all her accessories will make when they trigger the alarm. Underneath the mask, there is a strong sense of humour.
Maiko Momokazu-san
I could not talk much with Momokazu-san since she was very shy in the company of her Maiko sisters. One could sense though that she is also kind and caring and will blossom further.
A new Maiko wears a different make-up than the established ones. The difference is in the painting of only one (lower) lip, in the color of the collar, and the seasonal hair ornaments. As one gets more accustomed to these minor details, one understands the intricacies and the traditions that one has to not only learn, but also practice before one can get accepted in the world of the Maiko and the Geiko.
by Arif
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Summer rains in Japan are best forgotten/enjoyed looking at the beautiful Ajisai (Hydrangeas) which can be found in various temples and parks. The Hakusan Temple in Tokyo, as well as the Ajisai Dera (Meigetsuin) and Hase Dera in Kamakura are among the more well known places accessible to me. Photographing flowers is not one of my strengths and so I tried to take some Flower portraits. There are many types of Ajisai and each brings out a different mood for the viewer. I am attaching photographs of the ones I liked but something tells me that there will be many more over this summer. The flowers are especially beautiful in the rain and my plans for the summer now include photographing fireflies, fireworks and these beautiful flowers.
by Arif
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A Saturday evening in Yoyogi Park always brings out colorful characters who appear as if they have been suspended in time. Slick, greased hair, wearing tight fitting leather jackets and jeans, dark glasses and donning tattoos, these Rock and Rollers take the wide eyed onlookers to a different period in time. A portable boom box blasts some tunes while they twist the afternoon away taking turns so that different groups get to do their thing.
Although I was not in Japan in the 70′s, someone told me that Ueno Park used to be full of music groups performing on the weekend. What I love about Tokyo is that today as well, one can still get to see fragments of nostalgia as if it had never disappeared.
by Arif
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by Arif
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