maiko

In the morning, {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} take lessons in the traditional arts. At night, they dance, sing, play the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, and serve visitors at exclusive {{transliteration|ja|ochaya}} (teahouses).

{{transliteration|ja|Maiko}} originated from women who served green tea and {{transliteration|ja|dango}} (Japanese dumpling made from rice flour) to visitors to the Kitano Tenman-gū or Yasaka Shrine in teahouses in Kyoto about 300 years ago.{{when?|date=April 2024}}

{{main|Nihongami#Maiko}}

During their career, {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} will wear different kinds of {{transliteration|ja|nihongami}} (traditional Japanese hairstyles) depending on rank, formality and occasion. These hairstyles are then decorated with seasonal and occasional {{transliteration|ja|kanzashi}} (traditional hair ornaments).

Most {{transliteration|ja|maiko}}, unlike geisha, use their own hair with the addition of extensions, though apprentices in different areas of Japan may also use wigs. {{transliteration|ja|Maiko}} using their own hair have their hair restyled every week, requiring them to sleep on a special pillow known as a {{transliteration|ja|takamakura}} – a raised wooden block with a pillow – in order to maintain it.

Most {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} wear a style of kimono known as a {{nihongo3|{{lit|trailing skirt}}|引きずり|hikizuri}}. {{transliteration|ja|Hikizuri}} are typically anywhere from {{convert|200|–|240|cm}} long, and often feature a lightly padded hem to create weight allowing the skirt to trail along the floor. When walking outside, {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} hold their {{transliteration|ja|hikizuri}} up either with their hands, or by tying it in place with a small cord so that it does not drag along the ground. The style of {{transliteration|ja|hikizuri}} worn by most {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} features long, {{transliteration|ja|furisode}}-style sleeves, and may feature tucks sewn horizontally into the sleeves and vertically along the shoulders; this is a holdover from before WWII, when {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} often began their training at a young age, and would remove the tucks as they grew.

For formal occasions, {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} wear a black {{transliteration|ja|kurotomesode}}-style {{transliteration|ja|hikizuri}} featuring 5 crests ({{transliteration|ja|kamon}}) to signify the {{transliteration|ja|okiya}} they belong to.

{{transliteration|ja|Maiko}} wearing {{transliteration|ja|hikizuri}} kimono typically wear it with an {{transliteration|ja|obi}} known as a {{nihongo3|{{lit|dangling {{transliteration|ja|obi}}}}|だらり帯|darari obi}}. The {{transliteration|ja|darari obi}} is {{convert|6|–|7|m}} long, is roughly {{convert|30|cm}} wide, and is worn exclusively by {{transliteration|ja|maiko}}. Due to its length and weight, a male dresser (known as an {{transliteration|ja|otokoshi}}) is needed to tie it; {{transliteration|ja|otokoshi}} can dress a {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} in as little as five minutes, and may dress a number of {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} each night. The crest of a {{transliteration|ja|maiko}}'s {{transliteration|ja|okiya}} is either dyed, embroidered or woven onto the end of the {{transliteration|ja|obi}}, below the {{transliteration|ja|kaikiri}} (end lines). For formal occasions, gold brocade {{transliteration|ja|darari obi}} are worn.

Some {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} outside of Kyoto, and in particular in Tokyo, wear {{transliteration|ja|furisode}} instead of {{transliteration|ja|hikizuri}}. These apprentices (sometimes known as {{transliteration|ja|hangyoku}}) may also wear a wig instead of having their own hair styled.

{{transliteration|ja|Maiko}} outside Kyoto may also wear a {{transliteration|ja|fukuro obi}} instead of a {{transliteration|ja|darari obi}}, which is easier to tie and wear, Apprentices in Tokyo typically tie their {{transliteration|ja|obi}} in the {{transliteration|ja|fukura suzume}} style.

• The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, Japanese live-action television series on Netflix starting 12 January 2023

File:Satsuki and Kyouka walking.jpg|Two Kyoto {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} walking

File:Katsunosuke minarai.jpg|{{transliteration|ja|Minarai}} wearing {{transliteration|ja|shidare kanzashi}}, composed by long chains of silk flowers

File:Fukuyu with willow kanzashi.jpg|{{transliteration|ja|Maiko}} with willow {{transliteration|ja|kanzashi}}

File:Maiko Fukuyuu dancing selection 2010.webm|(video) A {{transliteration|ja|maiko}} dancing

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Category:Types of geisha