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The Maiko: the final phase
The third step, the final phase before being
called an honest to goodness geisha, is the Maiko rank. In
this level, they are now considered by their upper class as
successors
but not just yet. They have to go through another five years
of guidance.
On the first day of a maiko, she is treated to
a welcoming celebration by her okiya. The okiya purchases
for the maiko her wardrobe
which is of more expensive material and more elaborate in design
than the miniari stage and in preparation to becoming a full
pledged geisha.
The maiko now wears a special hairstyle called
the wareshinobu. The collar of her kimono is now red, which
is said to symbolize
childhood. Her obi now almost reaches the ground, dangling
and swaying with the rhythm of her hips as she walks past.
The maiko
is now the one given assistants to dress. They are taught
the proper performance of a tea ceremony, the sadoh, and
other rituals they have to perform when their turn comes. They
are
introduced
to their onesan who act as their big sisters, their guide
to polish what they have learned, someone whom they must
amass
more knowledge from.
Onesans were originally geishas who
came from the same atotori as the maiko. They are vital to
a young geisha’s career,
for their reputation during their geishahood is something
that would determine the future of their wards. The more
good contacts
the onesan has the faster the young geisha’s career
would prosper. Unfortunately, if the onesan has a notorious
standing
with clients, it will also negatively affect that of
her protégé.
Being separated from a family
induces the maiko and the onesan to establish binding
ties based on loyalty and
respect. There
is a ceremony that closely resembles a wedding that
is performed between a maiko and her onesan, it is called
the Sansunkudo.
The whole ceremony consists of the
sharing of ritual sake. The onesan drinks a cup of sake in
three sips,
after which
their
maiko does the same. They do this three times, with
a larger cup in each turn. Tradition also dictates
that
a maiko will
adopt a new name based on her onesan’s.
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