Just a few old photos ^^

Summer in Gion Higashi-

For this picture, Mamehan was actually dozing off a little when I set up the porch and the watermellons and ask Reitan and Sayohan to join me... ^-^

Julia han, Manko han and I at the fish monger's..

Meeting before a class back at Mitsuhana

Class at Mitsuhana

At Kaishi Chou.

At Kurogawamachi

Iris Odori, you can see the geiko up on stage dressed as Irises popping up

June

Gion Matsuri!

Last night was the Gion Festival!
And so many people were there I was having trouble getting pictures! These are the only two I have secured so far...

Skyana and Suki

Before the festival, there were some internal Okiya squabbles about what to wear. I had just barely gotten my yukata on when we had to run out the door and climb up onto our float!

There were a lot of cool floats in the parade! Sadly,I didn't get to see all of them, what a shame!!

Though at the beginning, it was a little hard, Skyana and I made friends. Atleast I have someone I can always talk to at the okiya now!! Skyana is also a Minarai. We have been hanging out a lot lately, I guess... And getting into lots of trouble.

Plotting on our way to dance class

Recently, there was a very straightforward patron we had a bit of trouble with.

OH! And there was also another festival held by Little Yoshiwara! My friend Kisa and I attended, and though she is not a part of the Kagai world, I made sure to get her dressed up ^^ So here, we model two Minarai's Hikizuri that I have made!

Kisa and Suki

Usually, on Thursdays Arashiyama holds Ozashiki. But the other day, rather than having it in a zashiki, we were all out on the verdanda. Fireworks were shot off over the water. ^^

Oh there was also the iris odori! It was gorgeous too! ♥

Currently, I am also working on my shop; Geigi. Please come visit? ♥ All of my current products can be viewed at GeigiSl.deivantart.com

Omatase

Mitsuhana was my home for a long time, and I grew a lot there.

With the help of my okaahan and many lovely sisters, ofcourse! ^^
Despite my leaving, I want to keep good ties with Mitsuhana still and completely respect that Okiya.

I took a break from Okiya life for about a month before starting again at Arashiyama as a Minarai.
At this point, my old Gion Themed blog has been changed to a more Miyagawa-cho theme.
My life in Hosoi is fun and educational, much like it was at Mitsuhana. My name is Suki once again, (Pronounced Sooki) and my Oneehan is also my Okaahan! Geiko Ayaka has taken me under her wing. At  Arashiyama, I am surrounded by different sisters and am meeting many new friends. I was also able to start a shop called Geigi!
I plan to sell one of a kind Hikizuri but currently only have a bunch of Yukatas. ^^;

Representing Arashiyama for Zashiki-gi

Even inside of the Okiya, I can hear the waves of the ocean crashing at the wall. The air smells more of sea salt and fish than tatami and tea, except inside of the Ochaya. Every morning, if I look around at the rocks on the beach, sometimes I can find some washed up seaweed that I can dry and eat with my rice! And plovers, those horrible birds seem to be everywhere I look. Would you believe one of them stole my Tobako and ate it!? To be fair, I only want to drink the smoke of the kiseru because it is fashionable, though... I don't know if I like the flavor.
Every few days, Usually Thursday, we go to the zashiki and lots of guests come.
Though I am but a Minarai, I am allowed to serve tea and sake. The locals are friendly and come by often to say hi, even the Shogun and the Samurai! It makes me a little nervous because Samurai have a much higher birth than I. But they are more friendly than one would think!

Things will become very exciting quickly. Please keep me in mind and visit me sometime soon! Ookini tanomo ♥ Suki

Harusaki - はる咲

My older sister, Chisaki Neehan helped me decide to change my name. 

There are many reasons we decided this, 

but I decided on Harusaki to keep the Saki part of my Oneehan no Geimei.

A lot of girls keep the first part, in which case it would be Chi, 

due to the fact that I go by Chi in real life, I decided to use the second Kanji.

Only a few days after I made the name change official, I learned that there is an onsen in Hosoi that has the same name! 

And I am unsure how I feel about this.

At least it has a cute nickname, and I am letting my friends call me Haruru ~♪

I hope to set up a store soon, where I will try to sell one of a kind kimono.

Also, an important update!

My Misedashi is currently set to May 25th. I hope that everyone who has watched me this long will attend!

Otanomo shimasu, Please keep me in your favor- 

No matter how Childish I may be. ♥

Hisashiburi

It has been awhile, but I am back in classes.
Hopefully I will be ready to help at an ozashiki soon.
♥ I missed everyone.

Front to back:

Mamehana

Reika

Reiko, Akahana

Fuyusaki, Aisha, Mishiori

Shosetsu

In Japanese seasons, November contains 3 of the 24.

  20. Soko ("frosting") Oct. 23 - Nov.7 when it starts frosting.
  21. Ritto ("start of winter") Around Nov. 8 - Nov. 22 When the winter season starts.
  22. Shosetsu ("small snow") Around Nov. 23 - Dec. 7 when a light snowfall can be seen.

I can tell that Shosetsu has begun already because it has already began snowing!

Snowing outside of the Okiya~

Even though I was only wearing a casual kimono, I did put on my Dochugi! I grabbed a Jyanome umbrella too, just to keep the snow out of my hair! It is so painful to have to return to the hairdressers.  I will do everything I can to avoid it!!

Fuyusaki

After the Mizuekai odori passed, I had a lot of practice to do. It was no longer just serving tea, sewing obis and beating drums... The practice got hectic and every morning I would wake up early so that my soon-to-be-older sister, Chisaki-neehan could help me practice.

My Chisaki-neehan and I, preparing for dance practice.

My best friend, Kiyomi-tan passed her minarai test the first try, after a very nerve wrecking evening of waiting, I was overcome with joy when I found out she passed and became a minarai, her new name being Hanaka. But it wasn't more than a few days later that I would take the very same test. 

I was fairly confident, I admit. The two girls who had taken the test before me and both succeeded were very nervous but both did quite well. However, hours before the test came I was still practicing my dances and my songs. Present at my test was my dear Okaahan, and my beloved sisters, Mamehana-neehan and Hanaka-tan [Who from this point on, will be called Naka-tan.] My soon to be older sister, Chisaki-neehan had an overloaded night of ozashiki to help out with and was unable to make it, but I am glad she didn't see all the mistakes I made! In the end, I didn't pass with a 100% or anything, and I made many mistakes. I wasn't nervous until the test began!! Not only did I have to perform and show how I have grown, I had to answer many questions. 

After I bowed and was dismissed, I waited for quite awhile, keeping my feet warm under the thick blanket of the kotatsu in the Shikomi quarters. When Naka-tan returned, she promised me that I didn't do as bad as I thought....

And, what would you know!!

Naka-tan and I had to get lots of photos around the hanamachi ^^

We even stopped in Pontocho!

The rock that says "No matter what, I love Gion..."

Lately, I have been taking many classes but also spectating quite a lot. That is what Minarai do! We spectate! And we learn from what we see.  Though I have earned a little seniority within the Okiya, I must remember to continue my hard work. 

Tomorrow, I must return to the hair dressers. Sleeping on the Hakomakura is very uncomfortable... I always fall off and mess up my hairstyle. I am not looking forward to getting my scalp tugged raw, but...

You know, Pain is beauty, right?

It's funny how even when I am not dressed up with my kanzashi and make up on, I feel much more mature.

Being able to wear the taiko obi rather than the chocho musubi... 

So much more sophisticated! But less cute! ;-;

As a Minarai, I also received my Geimyo ^^

My name is no longer Sooki, It is now Fuyusaki.

Fuyusaki means winter blossom, like the camellia that blooms in the snow.

This name was chosen because I hopefully will really blossom and bloom during this coming winter~

I got to paint my own Hanameishi! As a Meishi is a business card in Japanese, 

Like all Geiko things, a Geiko's business card is flowery~

This is why we call it a hanameishi! Or that is my best guess.

I have yet to make my debut in the Ochaya... 

Let's hope I have good luck my first night @_@