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Oiran Dochu Procession, Tokyo Jidai Matsuri
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Plum Blossom Queen at Kairakuen Station
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Plum Blossom Queen
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Rear view
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Tekomai geisha costume is partially masculine with trousers instead of skirts. Their right shoulder is "exposed" showing a flower design. They carry a red paper lantern imprinted with their names and use their right hand to drag a wand.
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref. 大奥夢道中
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Tekomai geisha
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref.
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1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)
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2. Sumidagawa (Sumida River)
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3. Edo no Nigiwai (Liveliness of Edo)
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Court ladies called myobu. 命婦
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref.
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Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, Mito
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Court lady called myobu. 命婦
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Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, Mito
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Ariwara no Narihira (825-880) comes to east Japan
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Yamato Awa Odori
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Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女
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"Nanohanaya"
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Unlike normal kimono, she wears the obi sashi in the front instead of the back. This is so that she can show off her beautiful obi which would otherwise be covered by the uchikake outer garment.
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Nohime 農姫
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Okinawan Kimono
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Finale: "Hana Utage" (Flower Banquet) 花うたげ
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Tomioka Hachiman tekomai geisha
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Finale: "Hana Utage" (Flower Banquet) 花うたげ
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Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-up
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady
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Inner palace women
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Inner palace women
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Another Shinsaibashi Top Lady
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Oiran Dochu procession, Tokyo
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女
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Oiran Dochu Procession. This is definitely the highlight of the festival, and my favorite part of the festival. 花の吉原おいらん道中
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.
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Kamogawa Odori Geisha Dance, Kyoto
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Oiran Dochu Procession
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Oiran Dochu Procession
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Oiran Dochu Procession in front of Kaminarimon Gate, Asakusa.
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Oiran Dochu Procession
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Oiran Dochu Procession. This picture was taken in the 1990s when they had two oiran in the festival. Now they have only one. 花の吉原おいらん道中
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Aoi Festival, Kyoto
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New Year's, Gifu Station
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Coming-of-Age Day, Himeji
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Kimono women going to a convenience store, Ako, Hyogo
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Cigarette break on Coming-of-Age Day. Yes, they can now smoke legally.
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Oiran Dochu Procession
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Aoi Festival, Kyoto
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Edo Geisha, She was the only one with a smile.
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Edo Geisha
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This was the only one who had a smile. The others were quite serious and solemn.
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Mistress Okichi, the infamous mistress of Townsend Harris, America's first ambassador to Japan when he was in Shimoda. Another mistress was provided to Harris' interpreter.
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Hagoita Honey poses in Asakusa
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Hagoita Honey
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Hagoita Honey
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Hagoita Honey
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Koenji Awa Odori
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Oiran
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Spreading her wings. She did almost the same thing as the first oiran, except for the latter part of the show.
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Oiran
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The person in black is the kurogo attendant.
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They showed beautiful kimono by models dressed to reflect the past.
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The kimono had flowery designs, but not sure if they were orchids.
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They also gave a geisha-like dance performance.
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Nagata Megumi, Biwako Otsu Tourist Ambassador for 2010, was also in the procession. 永田めぐみ
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The two Biwako Otsu Tourist Ambassadors for 2010, Inoue Madoka and Nagata Megumi. Selected from among 21 applicants in April 2010. For one year, their job is to promote tourism in Otsu. びわ湖大津観光大使:井上まどか、永田めぐみ
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Held on the last Sunday in March, the festival started at 11:30 am with the Saio princess carried on a palanquin arriving at a small park called Yume no Ogawa next to Ono Elementary School.
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The Saio princess wears a juni-hitoe (12-layer) robe reserved only for Imperial family members. For this festival, the Saio princess is portrayed by 20-year-old Chiaki Koyama (神山千明) from Shigaraki, Koka.
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Saio princess in juni-hitoe kimono.
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