Category: Maiko & Geiko
Kagai-3 Kuromontsuki Kimono
黒紋付着物 Kuromontsuki Kimono Kuromontsuki Kimono Room Lit. “Black Crested Garment”, the most formal...
Read More
Kagai-2 Elegance in the Rain
Elegance in the rain 雨の中の優雅さ Elegance in the rain A young maiko (geisha apprentice)...
Read More
Kagai-1 Introduction
Entrance – Introduction The Story behind this exhibition Patrick Hochner began taking...
Read More
Maiko Koyori eBook
In Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, there remains a secret world that has changed very little since the Edo period – the “Hanamachi” (花街) or “flowers town”. This is where you’ll find old “okiya” (geisha houses) and “ochaya” (tea houses) where the geisha still live and work in the old traditional Japanese way.
This is where I met Koyori san…
Read More
Geiko Toshiemi – Photos Exhibition
Toward the end of February 2021, I heard that the popular geiko Toshiemi san was about to retire. This was surprising news about one of the most popular Geiko of the Miyagawa-Cho Kagai. I promptly asked around and received confirmation of her decision to leave.
I was then lucky to be able to arrange for the last photoshoot with her. This took place on the 2nd of March, the day she actually retired.
Geiko Toshiemi was wearing a beautiful pink kimono…
Read More
Misedashi in Gion Kobu
Today was a big day for a young girl. Yes, after completing her pre-apprenticeship or training for several months (sometimes up to a year), Maiko Haruchizu (Tama Okiya) has finally been introduced to the people of her Hanamachi (geisha district). This is what is called a “Misedashi” or formal introduction/debut.
Read More
Maiko Kimisaki – Photos Exhibition
January 15th, 2020. I am currently not in Japan and I have just heard about Maiko Kimisaki retirement! I had the pleasure and privilege of four different photoshoots with maiko Kimisaki. I’m presenting here what I think are the best images I was able to capture of her.
Read More
New Year’s Greeting around Kamishichiken
Taking place on January 4th, the Shin Aisatsu (新挨拶) or New Year’s Greeting of the Kamishichiken Hanamachi (Geisha District) is the first “event” of the year around Kyoto’s Kagai (another word for the so-called “flower town” or geisha world of Kyoto).
Read More
January 2020 – Maiko & Momiji
The following photos were made during three public photoshoots organized in Kyoto during the Fall (2018 and 2019). The theme is always “Maiko & Momiji”. The photos were taken at the Chishakuin Temple, the National Museum and the Shôsei-en Garden, with groups of five geimaiko.
Read More
