 Last additions - Tokyo Geisha 東京の芸者 |
My latest YouTube video of the Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri tayu procession held in April 2019.Apr 23, 2021
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Mar 18, 2016
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Mar 18, 2016
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Afterward, some people could have their photo taken with the geisha.Mar 18, 2016
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The winners of the party game got this unique bottle of sake bearing the name stickers of all the geisha who performed that day.Mar 18, 2016
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Mar 18, 2016
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Mar 18, 2016
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A string is attached to the middle of a stick and sake cup. You have to roll the stick until the sake cup reaches the stick.Mar 18, 2016
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Rock, paper, scissorsMar 18, 2016
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A few lucky foreigners (no Japanese allowed) from the audience participated in a geisha party game starting with jan ken po.Mar 18, 2016
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Geisha party game participants can win thishand towel printed with the names of Asakusa geisha.Mar 18, 2016
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Mar 18, 2016
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Putting on makeup.Mar 18, 2016
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Praying for a geisha job.Mar 18, 2016
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A day in the life of a struggling geisha...Mar 18, 2016
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Hokan-gei (幇間芸) or Female male geisha (?)There used to be a few hundred male geisha in Japan. They were jesters providing comical entertainment. Now there are only seven of them, all in Asakusa. And she is the only female one. Call her a "female male geisha" (??).Mar 18, 2016
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Sawagi (さわぎ)Song traditionally performed at the end of the geisha party (ozashiki). It expresses the joy of the geisha party and the sorrow of parting at the end. Song originated in Yoshiwara and spread to many geisha districts in Japan. Mar 18, 2016
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Mar 18, 2016
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Asakusa Meibutsu (浅草名物)Song about Asakusa's many famous attractions like Matsuchiyama Shoten temple, Hanakawado, Hanayashiki Amusement Park, Sanja Matsuri, Sensoji temple, and Asakusa geisha.Mar 18, 2016
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Yuko nee-san of AsakusaMar 18, 2016
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Tokyo's oldest geisha Yuko was an Asakusa geisha since age 16 and an unofficial Living Treasure of Asakusa. I was lucky to see her because she does not appear at every show. Mar 18, 2016
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Asakusa Goyomi Autumn Version (浅草ごよみ 秋)Song about quaint autumn scenes in Asakusa's geisha district behind Sensoji temple. Matsuchiyama Shoten temple under the moonlight, small boat on a moat, etc. Also references Kisakata in Akita Prefecture made famous by Basho's Oku no Hosomichi.Mar 18, 2016
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Namiki Komagata (並木駒形)Song about the gaudy, lively scenes along the route from Asakusa to Yoshiwara, home of the oiran courtesan. Asakusa Namiki roadside trees, Komagata, Hanakawado, Sanya-bori moat, and Dote Hatcho riverbank.Mar 18, 2016
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Mar 18, 2016
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Momiji no Hashi (紅葉の橋). Song describing the season's transition from late autumn to early winter. Set next to a bridge with maple leaves.Mar 18, 2016
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Musician and singer (jikata 地方) were Yuko (ゆう子), Tokyo's oldest geisha at age 92, and shamisen player Yoshiryo (よし涼).Mar 18, 2016
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Asakusa geisha dancers (tachikata 立方) were Suzuryu (すず柳), Chifumi (千文), and Chino (千乃).Mar 18, 2016
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See my Youtube video showing the entire dancer performance.Mar 18, 2016
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The geisha performers were introduced. Photos (without flash) and videos are permitted.Mar 18, 2016
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Ozashiki refers to a geisha party. So these dances are performed at geisha parties.Mar 18, 2016
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Asakusa geisha give free performances for tourists at the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center's 6th floor hall on Saturdays during the warmer months, especially April and Nov.Two shows on each Saturday at 1 pm and 2:30 pm. Free tickets are distributed on the day of the performance in the lobby of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center from 10 am. The hall has only 75 seats and standing room for 30. See official website for the schedule: http://e-asakusa.jp/en/culture-experience/5890Mar 18, 2016
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Shigemi Fuji, chairman of the Asakusa Tourist Federation greeted the full-house audience. 浅草観光連盟会長 冨士滋美Mar 18, 2016
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My video of Fukagawa Tekomai performing at Kiba Park in Oct.Jan 08, 2011
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My YouTube video of the oiran show in 2010.Jun 06, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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The day's entertainment was capped by taiko drummers.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Oiran stopped and posed for me. How nice of her...Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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She wears normal footwear and not the high clogs. Too bad...Apr 30, 2010
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Back of oiran.Apr 30, 2010
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Ladies in waiting.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Kamuro attendants and oiran courtesan at the Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri Oiran Dochu Procession in Asakusa, Tokyo.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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She posed for me too.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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A beautiful day for an oiran matsuri.Apr 30, 2010
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Kamuro and oiranApr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Tekomai geishaApr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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On the way back, both oiran did not wear the high geta clogs as they did when they arrived. Too tiring...Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Oiran and her court pose for pictures.Apr 30, 2010
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The person in black is the kurogo attendant.Apr 30, 2010
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OiranApr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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They pose for pictures.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Then they got up and left the stage.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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She gives an approving (seductive?) glance at him.Apr 30, 2010
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She gives the pipe to her customer.Apr 30, 2010
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Lots of eye candy in this show.Apr 30, 2010
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She lights the pipe.Apr 30, 2010
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She receives a smoking pipe from her kamuro.Apr 30, 2010
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Leaning right, then...Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Leaning left.Apr 30, 2010
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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.Apr 30, 2010
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End of the first oiran show.Apr 30, 2010
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The second oiran then appeared on stage.Apr 30, 2010
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Then leans sideways mimicking the slope of Mt. Fuji.Apr 30, 2010
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The show was almost the same as before. She leans back like this.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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OiranApr 30, 2010
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Tekomai geisha posing for photos.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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The tekomai geisha first appeared and posed for photos.Apr 30, 2010
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Kamuro attendants.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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This time I focused on the Oiran Show and didn't chase the procession heading to this stage. The opening act were these musicians playing festival music.Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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Apr 30, 2010
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The oiran herself. This year, the oiran and other women were portrayed by women who applied for this job voluntarily. I don't think they performed professionally in any oiran shows.Apr 30, 2010
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The first oiran group arrives in front of the stage.Apr 30, 2010
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Kamuro. They might be high school age.Apr 30, 2010
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I saw this festival again on April 10, 2010 and these are the pictures. The highlight was not one, but two oiran entourages who appeared. 第8回浅草観音うら 一葉桜まつりApr 30, 2010
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Asakusa hangyoku (apprentice geisha in Tokyo) named Ichigo posing in April 2001. 半玉Oct 31, 2008
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At the end, we clapped in celebration. The show was 2.5 hours long, including a 10-min. and 20-min. intermission.Oct 31, 2008
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Asakusa hangyoku (apprentice geisha in Tokyo). 半玉 こず江Oct 31, 2008
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Asakusa geisha bowing to the audience in three directions. Bravo!Oct 31, 2008
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22nd Asakusa Odori, April 2001.Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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Asakusa hangyoku (apprentice geisha in Tokyo). 半玉 千福Oct 31, 2008
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Asakusa Odori organizer speaks to thank the audience. He said that people looked forward to seeing the next Asakusa Odori next year, but he said, "There won't be one next year."Oct 31, 2008
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I also saw the 22nd Asakusa Odori held in April 2001 at the Asakusa Kokaido. The lobby had two hangoyku greeting the audience.Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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Since this was the final show (Oct. 29, 2008 at 3 pm), they all appeared on the stage with the organizers and said a few words.Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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Toward the end, they threw hand towels to the audience. Also see my YouTube video here.Oct 31, 2008
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The third part of the Finale. 五万石Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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Then they all sat and started to bow. It was really an outstanding performance.Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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Dancing on the hanamichiOct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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Fourth part of the Finale. 笠森おせんOct 31, 2008
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Last part of the Finale called Asakusa Meibutsu-Sawagi when they all came out dancing on the stage and hanamichi. 浅草名物 さわぎOct 31, 2008
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The Finale's first part was called Namiki Komagata-Koi no Asakusa 並木駒形 恋の浅草Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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LobbyOct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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On the hanamichiOct 31, 2008
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I took the intermission time to photograph an Asakusa geisha.Oct 31, 2008
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Then there was a 20-min. intermission which featured a comedic trio.Oct 31, 2008
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The fourth and final number was the Finale called 江戸の心浅茅の賑い which consisted of six parts. They performed their zashiki dances.Oct 31, 2008
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The three red lions were nice, but they didn't swing their hair round and round like in kabuki.Oct 31, 2008
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Drinking sakeOct 31, 2008
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Three red-haired lions.Oct 31, 2008
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The play is set during the cherry blossom season.Oct 31, 2008
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She left the stage this way.Oct 31, 2008
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A more mature woman appears for this part set in autumn.Oct 31, 2008
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The third part of 三枚続花の姿絵 was called Hana no Shojo 花の猩々 which means Flowery Heavy Drinker. This play comes from a Noh play.Oct 31, 2008
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Sank into the stage to disappear.Oct 31, 2008
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The second part of 三枚続花の姿絵 was called Hagi no Hanazuma 萩の花妻 which means Bush Clover Flower Lady.Oct 31, 2008
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With a dark background, the geisha seemed to glow in the dark.Oct 31, 2008
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These six geisha dressed as young maidens make their first-time appearance in the Asakusa Odori.Oct 31, 2008
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The third number was called 三枚続花の姿絵 and consisted of three parts. The first part was called 星月夜 which means "Night of Stars and Moon."Oct 31, 2008
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The second number was called Matsuri (Festival). It featured these three young village girls and two geisha dancers. 藤間流 まつりOct 31, 2008
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Waving these white streamers created a dazzling visual effect. It must have been either the wind or river.Oct 31, 2008
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Oct 31, 2008
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For the second number, there was a little stage for the musicians and singers on the right of the stage.Oct 31, 2008
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There were only four dancers, but they went through several costume changes onstage.Oct 31, 2008
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