Recently, I went to see an Irish dance company called "Trinity." There were 17 dances performed in all, and the best ones were "Celtic Thunder" and "Step About." "Step About" featured all of the dancers stepping in unison to the music. They did these very finely tuned quick steps, and my heart was pounding just watching them. "Step About" was performed in Irish national costume, and the use of color was just lovely. I would certainly go see them again.

The tea room in Kamishichiken's Theatre has become beautiful. Originally, we used it for a little while as a Beer Garden. On November 2nd, it opened as a tea room. The maiko assist their older geiko sisters as waitresses. Everyone, when you come to the theatre, please go down into the tea room so you can see it. Right now a lot of people are using the tea room, and it makes me very happy.

I don't often get the chance to watch it, but I love kabuki. Actually I really like Nakamura Kenzaburo. But I've only seen it on television. At the Minami Theater the successor to Nakamura's name is making his debut, and I'll get to see it for the first time, which should be a lot of fun.

Every month on the 25th, there is Tenjin-san Flea Market. A lot of people sell used clothing and used furniture. Today I also visited the shrine. A lot of people were visiting. Kyoto flea markets are very famous, like the Kuhou Flea Market on the 21st and the Tenjin-san Flea Market on the 25th. People always say that if the weather during the Kuhou market is clear, then it will rain on the day of the Tenjin-san. And if it rains during the Kuhou, the weather for the Tenjin-san will be nice. I wonder if it's true...

Ichiteru-san's debut has quietly come to a close. On the 17th, 18th and 19th she wore a black kimono with family crest, wore the hair ornaments which she could not wear up until now, and spent three days in various tatami rooms. The paper behind her is a congratulatory poster. This type of poster is one of the many gifts she receives during her debut and also when she becomes a geisha.

October 11th marked the closing festivities of our performance.
Everyday many people came here, and it made me very happy. This year we have had three performances, but every day I am nervous. This time on the big stage, I think we should practice very hard for the Kitano dance.
October 17th marks the beginning of Ichiteru-san's debut. She'll wear a black family crest kimono, and the teahouses in Kamishichiken will come to greet her individually. It will be a lot of fun for me, also.

On the seventh, the performances of Celebration started. On the first day, second time, third time I can be quietly diligent, but I still have a ways to go before I am no longer nervous. For the remaining two days I can also do my best, because everyone has so much time, so please come to watch.

For this year's Taro Stalk Festival, the weather was foul. On the day when the portable shrine returns to Kitano, just before it turned down the road of Kamishichiken, the rain began to fall. The covering they used to protect the portable shrine from the rain made it difficult to see the beautiful decorations. On that day, we were wearing white face powder (the same as when we are in tatami rooms) in order to meet the shrine. The route of the shrine was different, and there is only one opportunity a year to see the Taro Stalk shrine and take a photo of it.

A maiko who reads my blog named Manami-chan, but who has been renamed "Ichiteru" since the 27th, has become my apprentice. Up until now she has taken our house name "Ichi" and has been training and acting as a maid, but once she becomes an apprentice she wears white face powder and a kimono, and visits various tea houses. An apprentice kimono has a loose obi that is half as long, and her kimono is a bit looser and longer. On the day of Ichiteru's debut, she and I will both have fun.

When putting on white face powder, it is different from ordinary makeup. For starters, a foundation of fragrant oil is applied by palm to the back, the neck and the face. Next, kneaded face powder is dissolved in water. One of the characteristics of the backs of maiko is the long visible white makeup at the nape of the neck. The paint is applied to the neck and face with a brush, and the powder is applied by puff. Once the powder has been spread heavily, I complete the look by adding red and brown shades to my eyebrows. I use red for the skin around the eyes. Pink is added to the cheeks. Lastly, I apply a crimson shade which has been dissolved in water, and I am finished.

Today we practiced ballads. After practice, all of us gathered to study dance. Next month we will begin practicing onstage. There is a different mood when we are practicing onstage, and I think that this month, everyone should try very hard to remember their training.

Today we practiced shamisen songs. In December, we will meet with the instructor. Starting this month, we began our rehearsals and understanding of the shamisen and songs. As for me, I'm performing a song, so I'm not going to look at my sheet music, so starting now, little by little, I will memorize the material.

Yesterday, the beer garden closed. On the last day it rained, which was very unfortunate. Today we will focus on our October performance, and I think we will practice extremely hard.

Today we began practicing for Kiyomoto. After practice concluded, the Chichin Puipui TV show stopped by. I'm very happy because I saw them before I went to the tatami room. It looks like the show will broadcast tomorrow, and I'll be glad if I get to watch it.

Everyone please come to see us!
Tickets are available at Family Mart, Circle K and Sankus.
Contact phone number: 0570-02-9999
Internet: pia.jp/t (You can buy them online)

You will pick up your tickets at the Kamishichiken Performance Hall.

Now we've started practicing for our performance which will begin on October 7th, "Celebration." Eight of the maiko usually perform something from the tatami room which has been arranged for the stage. Since we don't usually dance only things which we perform in the tatami room, I'm asking everyone to come. I'm expecting you, so please come to watch.

In Kyoto on the evening of the 16th, there is an event known as the Five Temples Bonfire. There is a 大 (dai) shaped fire, a 妙法 fire, another 大 on the left side, and then fires shaped like a boat and a Shinto gate. Those are the five. I'm going to see them from in between the 大 and the Shinto gate. Because of the typhoons we've had this year the winds have been very strong, so the fires should burn with a lot of force. This will make them very clear and easy to see, but it's a little frightening. There will be a lot of people standing to watch on the bridges along the Kamogawa river.

(Translator's note: The Five Temples Bonfire is an event nearing the end of summer held by the five largest Buddhist temples in the Kyoto area, which arrange specially-shaped bonfires on the sides of mountains. Four of the fires are in the shape of Japanese characters. There are two "dai"s, a "myou" and a "hou," which together make up the phrase "The Supreme Law of Buddha." The others are shaped like a torii, or Shinto gate, and a boat.)

Our hair ornaments for August feature Japanese pampas grass. They have a sparkly pattern, and because of the season, I was often asked while I was in the tatami room, "Are those things fireworks?"








So where are you going for Obon vacation? I have plans to visit the memorial site of my grandmother. On the 16th, I'm going to watch the Five Temples bonfire.

Hassaku oranges are for the first day of August. In the Edo period, this day marks the Tokugawa family's rise to power, so it is known as "The Day of the Samurai," since it's also the day when the lords would return to the castle. This event is still in existence in the hanamachi, and the geiko, maiko, instructors, teashop owners and older sisters go around to their home and so forth to greet everyone.

(Translator's note: The mention of "hassaku oranges," which seems like an non-sequitur, is explained in the blog, but I figured I'd just explain it here. "Sakuhi" means the first day of the month, and since August is the eighth month, "hachigatsu," the first day of August becomes "hassaku." Hassaku oranges are known for their thick skin and slightly bitter taste.)

I distribute these to my honorable customers, restaurants and teahouses. They are special, not like regular commercial fans. These are what I use when I am dancing in the tatami room. My name is written on one side, and my family crest is on the other.