flower / people / portrait / face / japanese / beauty : maiko, kyoto japan / canon 7d 日本・京都 舞妓 梅らくさん
The maiko (apprentice geisha) Umeraku. Together with other maiko and geiko (geisha) of the Kamishichiken district, she was hosting an open air tea ceremony at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
As Umeraku is a first year maiko, only her lower lip is painted red.
The colourful flower hairpins that decorate the hair of maiko (apprentice geisha) are known as hana kanzashi. These flower ornaments change monthly to express the season. Umeraku wears a kanzashi of plum blossom flowers for February.
Kyoto was the capital of Japan from 794 until 1868. It is now the seventh largest city in Japan. In Kyoto geisha are known as geiko and trainee geisha are known as maiko.
© All Rights Reserved by Michael Chandler
Enquiries: limescl [at] yahoo.co.jp
The Photos 