Differences between a Geiko (Geisha) and a Maiko (with subtitles) 【HD】

In this video Geiko Miehina and Maiko Fukunae, both from the Miyagawa ward of Kyoto, explain to us the differences between a Geiko (Geisha) and a Maiko (apprentice), at the Kyoto Fan Event Maiko Spring 2012, at KYOTO DESIGN HOUSE.
Hair, make up, Kimono and accessories are the topics covered on their explanation.
Knowing these details can also help you to tell the difference between tourists dressed in Geisha costume and the real Geiko/Maiko walking on the streets of Kyoto.
For more info and events going on in Kyoto, take a look at our website:
www.discoverky...
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Also don't forget to take a look at KYOTO DESIGN HOUSE:
/ kyoto.dh
/ kyotodesignhouse
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[@KyotoFan]

Being a Maiko is not related with virginity or any other sexual implications.

[@nafisahmohamed4371]

Is that why they have hairpins that look like small daggers? Being geiko, maiko and oiran were, are hazardous work and to walk in the streets dressed in occupational giveaways?

[@Oshidorinohina]

​@@nafisahmohamed4371 if they were dull, they'd fall right out. Mineko desrcribed as using one of her kanzashi to stab a man in the hand but I don't recall if she said that's the reason they're pointed vs it's pointed so it can come in handy. because kanzashi like these have been around for some time, they just change in make and form through the centuries.

[@nafisahmohamed4371]

@Marie Hi there. Please refer to "Poopy Peepod" 's response to my post. I was alluding to possible sexual violence committed by clients against them.

[@arinrumi]

Do Maiko went to high school? Since I heard they start training around the age of 15 or so.

[@judyluan4275]

@@arinrumi they do not

[@LeeDee5]

I like that the younger and the newer the person is into this the more extravagant they look. The older and higher on the ranks the more modest and subdued they look but they also look very graceful and mature so I think it matches well. In the west it's more of a "the more you advance through a rank the more stuff you'll be able to have and show off" but this is kind of the opposite. Very interesting!

[@Alagboriel]

+The Dee but if you look at really elegant women in the ocident, the older they are, the simpler they look. Instead of looking at rich wives of Beverly Hills, think more of Carmen Dellorefice or Françoise Hardy (Im a huge fan of both.).

[@sl7883]

I hate it lmao don't show off all the badges to things you haven't earned yet. It's kind of like pretty swan to ugly duckling and it drives me insane

[@lukamegurine7611]

Yeah that was something I found different as compared to what I'm used to in the west. I kind of assumed it was to show maturity and ranking but I would've thought it would be the opposite. But I totally agree- I love the maiko's dressing. It's very intricate but very beautiful.

[@Yidenia]

I think of it more like the maiko hasn't mastered the skills of the art yet, so she has to have all these things to doll her up. As she gets more experienced, she requires fewer bling because what she does would be more key to her attractiveness than how she looks. That being said, I'm not sure why there's a difference with a wig though; maybe the wig is a privilege so that the geiko can do whatever she wants with her own hair?

[@hoodietheproxy8575]

@@Yidenia I partially agree with u but since maiko are supposed to look younger than geiko I think that's why the hair is done in that style

[@onyxuzomah4961]

The interpreter was irritatingly awful. She missed so many details and wasn't translating accurately enough.

[@psilocyber_8812]

Translating live is an extremely difficult task to do. In fact, translators are strongly advised against working for more than 30 minutes straight.

[@sarahflaiz6511]

@@personplaceorthing Translating is quite hard, some words have different meanings or don't have an exact English translation. It is obvious the translator was not given time to prepare because at 0:54 she was surprised by what they said, if she had been given the material ahead of time it wouldn't have been a surprise. Even when fluent in both languages it is hard to translate any language 😊 I have a bad habit of paraphrasing, which is very common because sometimes things directly translated word by word will not make sense in English.

[@crewmatewillthrowthesehand7600]

could be experience too. A maiko is not as well rounded as a geiko so she uses decorations more to stand out. While geikos are well versed in the trade and use their talent to stand out. Just my guess

[@iaincowell9747]

@@psilocyber_8812 Especially English to Japanese is difficult to translate

[@indicacarrots]

ah yes, an english speaker getting mad about a non english speaker who spoke japanese all her life and not being able to speak english fluently

[@oluwatobipaul1093]

Glad I used the subtitles! The subtitles had a lot more information that the interpreter missed.

[@MzClementine]

Oluwatobi Paul thanks 😉

[@urban_rose4096]

Thanks for the tip

[@IDontKnow-pf6en]

same! she was a horrible translator, she really needs to brush up on her skills. im just learning Japanese, and even i caught things she didnt.

[@otohime8516]

@@IDontKnow-pf6en And trying to be funny tho like??? Just translate what she said!

[@zareen76]

This Maiko is sooooo sweet and cute!!!

[@moushimoushi8963]

zareen76 Fukunae is now a senior Maiko an will hopefully become Geiko fairly soon. She's a lot more confident now and less shy~

[@mariahraiseeador1031]

Aren't they supposed to be shy and subdued?

[@emilvisk]

.. well ... tastes vary ....

[@kitteekittee4010]

Shes adorable!

[@danofthehour4822]

@@mariahraiseeador1031 ...it's a performance job, there's no personality requirements for it. It would be weird if a dancer or actor was scouted based on "being subdued"

[@Kdhdhrvt]

It's so disrespectful to laugh and interrupt someone especially if he was foreign and not knowing what are you laughing about , I hope that translator have some respect for that lady , shame on her .

[@KyotoFan]

I think you are misunderstanding the whole atmosphere of the event and the way the interpreter did her job. I was there and I can tell you that the interpreter was not disrespectful at all, the Maiko and Geiko that performed for us were very glad to have the opportunity to share their amazing culture with the attendees in a very relaxed atmosphere.

[@anna90Cc]

Yassmin, totally agree with you :/

[@Kdhdhrvt]

anna90Cc thank you :)

[@TheSinjingideon]

yasmin alsaffar true however different countries ,males females , language , cultures have different ways of handling awkward situations =people at times dont realize this, im trying not to point a finger at any country or its peoples

[@yms4355]

Kyoto Fan yasmin alsaffar I heard the interpreter(?) cracked her voice, and she just corrected it with laugh. It is the right way to do! :D And thank you, Kyoto Fan that you made that clear! ^-^ Very beautiful performance! I loved the presentation! :D \(OuO)/

[@jessking7737]

The English speaker is doing a poor job of translating how important and beautiful the art form is...

[@Crosshill]

everybody aint need to grovel in grave reverence before their important and beautiful party companion traditions, we got eyeballs and subtitles we can appreciate it for ourselves if we wanna, she was tryna make it engaging yo

[@pdot7058]

Many terms they use dont exist in the english language. It isnt her doing a poor job, She is trying to get her point across in a simple way. There is no translation in other language for certain japanese items.

[@victoriaalbastra6325]

Is your Japanese better?

[@indicacarrots]

ah yes, an english speaker getting mad at a person who’s spoke japanese all their life and not being able to speak english fluently

[@samshah1533]

can you do any better I highy doubt that I picked japanese snice I was in class japanese not easy to master it took me many times I never give up no matter how diffcult it was that because I have passion of learning it.

[@asumichi2351]

The japanese culture is very beautiful...very respectful people ^_^

[@hayek218]

You must be an expert.

[@ardalla535]

Judy ... What's your point? Geiko is beautiful no matter what else is going on. Every country is like that. The Winter Palace is beautiful, but Joe Stalin is not.

[@ForsakenKitsuneAlice]

Cuteness isn't the lipstick on the bottom represent those that haven't work longer then at least a year or so ? But man that translator :/ I felt like thy didn't translate well enough

[@moushimoushi8963]

Red only on the bottom lip does represent a maiko is only in her first year of training (In most hanamachi, I believe Pontocho is one of the exceptions where both lips are painted from the very beginning.) Part of this is to make it clear that she's just starting out so she's considered a young child in the hanamachi and to give her a more child like appearance. This can be especially helpful with determining seniority of Maiko for certain months where shidare (Dangling pieces of folded silk you can see Maiko Fukunae-san is wearing) are not used in the kanzashi

[@ForsakenKitsuneAlice]

Moushi Moushi oh i see thank you ! :)

[@muglymae7408]

so looking flashy represents youth/childhood while looking reserved represents maturity/adulthood. both outfits are gorgeous

[@sarahsmigel4921]

Fukunae looks so adorable when she smiles :3

[@41MSTAR]

日本人でも知らない事だらけで勉強になりました。 それにしてもこの芸妓さん凄く綺麗で可愛らしく艶めかしい方ですね。

[@KyotoFan]

In Kyoto, there is no record of any foreigner becoming a Maiko, and for what I heard from the people of one of Kyoto's Geisha districts is that they accept only Japanese Girls. But, I heard about a foreign lady in Tokyo who became a Geiko directly, without being a Maiko. If they want they can be Geiko (Geisha) all their lives. Yes, they get paid. They can marry, but usually they quit once they do. And yes, they can quit if they want to.

[@urban_rose4096]

That's very informative. I'm a foreigner and was comtempeleting. Thank you

[@Andrea-qx9vg]

Thank you for sharing your culture

[@johngomez8055]

That is culture, art and beauty created wonderfully.

[@meemaw2200]

@@urban_rose4096 Its a cultural thing, it would get labeled as cultural appropriation if non japanese people wore it. You also cant use this as a costume again cause of appropriation, but in japan you can get a geiko/maiko makeover during festivals

[@shatteredsoul4842]

Very beautiful, I love Japanese culture.

[@KyotoFan]

Thank you!! :)

[@euphoric8420]

7 years later and I feel the same 😄

[@kotenpandaful]

わぁ　帯の下の部分が　各置屋さんのマークが入っている事は知りませんでした。 勉強になりました！有難うございます。 髪飾りは確かその月か一月後の季節をさきどりして身につけるんですよね？ １月なら梅・松・鶴 2月梅 3月菜の花・蝶・水仙・牡丹 4月しだれ桜 5月あやめ・藤の花 6月紫陽花 7月祇園団扇・金魚 8月すすき 9月桔梗 10月菊 11月紅葉かえで 12月餅花に縁起物(大判小判・羽子板・招き猫・鯛etｃ・・) もっと種類もあるのでしょうけど～・・・；季節を頭に飾るって発想が素敵です。 ただ着飾っているだけでなく 帯や化粧、髪飾り一つみても　所属や年頃、年季まで分かる人にはすぐ分かるように出来ているんですね。

[@Oshidorinohina]

at 4:14 the way Miehina does that little movement with her feet! She's so lovely

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

That is good movement.

[@Kohai81]

I really love the education and sharing of the culture. But this translator seemed distracted. Just... poor translations and missed some very key points. Made a lot of random noises and interrupted the Geiko constantly. While not intentional, and everyone was having a good time, it was very cringe to watch it... I had to rewind a couple times just to listen what the Geiko had to say. Unfortunate.

[@indicacarrots]

well idk.. it’s almost as if the woman spoke japanese all her life and her english isn’t that good..

[@Soilsha]

Maiko Fukunae is just perfection... But I fear a lack of profesionality from the translator. I am not saying that she did her job wrong but I feel there was an overall lack of respect in the room. Perhaps it is just me, I would take every word just too serious and would appreciate their effort to explain their culture with love and surprise.

[@Crosshill]

i'd be all in there like 'ya mate these peeps join your party and play lil diddles on their japanese banjos and dance to it by moving around real slow with their fans out cause they can hardly move in these beautiful traditional garbs, here you see the kiddo maiko whos is all blinged up cause if ya aint useful yet you might as well look pretty, long sleeves, fecklong towel waist with a logo and yeah thats her real hair, she sleeps on a wooden katana stand like pillow and gets it done once a week, the real reward for turning 20 and geiko geisha grown up is getting to use a wig and a pillow and to step outta those cutesy clumsy platform heels and join in the drinking games when a group of middleaged salary men wants to party' and honestly i think thats a succinct and evocative way to put it

[@aldwshroud720]

I must say that I was surprised to see Miehina-san as a geiko, I 've just watched her interview when she was a Maiko-san. Her name partly means 'Hina', a young tiny chick. She is now Geiko-san and even teaches young Maiko-san, but she once was also a tiny bird(Maiko), so it feels really cool. How hard it was to become real Geiko-san! She made it! As a stranger, it looks like she is born as just mature geiko, so we do not know her effort, but it is not. I strongly admire her efforts of the past years starting from Maiko to Geiko-san. We have to think about every Geiko-san was once a Maiko, so there must be hardships and endurance in the past. The Honour of Geiko was not made up in one day. Thanks for the video !

[@moushimoushi8963]

Well, not all Geiko go through maiko stage. Many women decide to join the profession later on in life and skip the Maiko stage to debut straight out as Geiko, take Geiko Umeha-san for example. The benefit of having a Maiko stage (especially a long one) is the exposure they and the reputation they build. Maiko can build celebrity status while training giving them more stable footing as they become Geiko, where as Geiko who skip the maiko stage don't get that exposure or reputation so they start off with fewer patrons in their geiko career than a Maiko would. Another translation for the Kanji "Hina" can also be used to describe Grace, as the Hina Dolls used in Girl's day are meant to represent the grace that girls hold, making them aspire to be, and this is the closest translation to English, princesses on their special day. Meihina-san's name, with this in mind, would translate to mean "Beauty Blessed With Grace" Which would be far more fitting for a Maiko and even Geiko rather than calling them "Tiny Chicks". The language of Japanses can be a bit difficult as you can have one word mean one thing, but also have a completely different translation depending on the Kanji used. In the Kagai, Geisha and Maiko are expected to exude grace, so having gracefullness embedded into your professional name is going to give just that extra bit of extravagance. Also to my knowledge, Meihina-san is expected to inherit her okiya which is super exciting!

[@obitoo6625]

​​@@moushimoushi8963 it's been a long time, if you're still here, did Miehina inherited her okiya? Or did she retired?

[@KyotoFan]

About the subtitles, I translated about the 99% of what she said. The thing is that Miehina san uses a special dialect, with long phrases and special words, so it seems like she is saying a lot but, when you translate it, it becomes a short sentence. I also didn't translated one joke she maid about the Jewelry because it was out of context and people watching the video wouldn't understand it. About the Maiko, I have seen them walking alone around the Gion area.

[@IDontKnow-pf6en]

you did a way better job than the spoken translator. my Japanese is barely in its infancy, and even i caught things she didnt.

[@ruthoconnor3144]

Incredibly beautiful and dignified. Their garments are are art to behold and their meaning, of course, enchanting. I was disturbed by the laughter although I couldn't understand the audio. I felt the laughter was suggestively disrespectful and a bit rude. I saw the presentation as a very serious presentation and little room for humor especially at the cost of the guests. I, as an American, feel our need to be entertained while being educated is a demerit to our society. Laughter has a real place in our lives as does sobriety. 1926lady

[@KyotoFan]

About the people laughing you can hear in the audio, we have to say that it was not disrespectful or rude at all. The aim of this event was to show the Geiko and Maiko to the people of the world on a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. People was laughing because they were happy and the Geiko and Maiko were glad to see everyone having a good time. Perhaps, because of the audio settings, you hear the laugh a little too noisy, but it was perfectly fine at the moment.

[@ruthoconnor3144]

Okay. You were there and I wasn't and I respect your clarification. I must say,tho', I was mesmerized by the presentation and took it as seriously as I imagine I would if I had the privilege of being in the presence of the Mahatma. Nevertheless thank you for the video. 1926lady

[@DeadlyChinchilla]

***** I can't imagine a Geiko or Maiko being annoyed that people are enjoying themselves. That's part of what they're trained for, right? To be lovely and sociable. They aren't supposed to be solemn or dull!

[@saralenagriffith6509]

Why do people get so offended when someone smiles or laughs?? They automatically think its disrespectful, how are people supposed to be friendly frowning all the time?? I would be offended if i was getting frowned on.

[@kotenpandaful]

観客の方が笑ったりジョークを言ったりすることに不寛容なコメントもあるけど 笑っている事なんて全く気にならない 学校の授業じゃあるまいし日本文化を肌で感じて楽しんでもらえるのが一番ですよ

[@KyotoFan]

Yes, as Miehina San explains, the symbol at the bottom of the obi represents the Okiya where she works. Okiya is the place where the Maiko live, train and work. As they sometimes receive guests here, some people call this place Ocha-ya. But as you say, it is important to make the distinction between the two terms of Okiya and Ochaya.

[@carlosyovanibro7824]

i once saw the documentary they made to miehina when she was a maiko

[@Puggo_Huggo]

muting the video every time the Maiko turned to let the interpreter talk was the best decision I made watching this video.

[@kukoko4344]

まるで絵の中に居る人のようだ。

[@aleevadh]

Oh c'mon the translator was so disrespectful

[@unui_0_0]

この左の舞妓さん、ふく苗さんという方ではなかったですか？

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Yes Also she is in this video. KZbin video: Beautiful Kyoto: Being a Maiko (featuring Fukunae-san)

[@unui_0_0]

ClutchPedalReturnSprg ですよね！！！ すごく美しいですね！

[@PARAxLETHALxSYSTEM]

I always feel guilty for loving the Japanese culture and trying to learn about it. It's so beautiful and intricate but I feel like I'm trespassing. Like it's something I should just admire and observe instead of experiencing and understanding. :(

[@anachis1663]

Ni Ni Par why? Everyone loves it when people come to their country and appreciate their culture and embrace it. No reason to feel guilty about it wtf

[@julian.amma97]

I am very late to this party here, but feel free to explore our culture and to experience it as much as you wish. Over all we are very open to people who are curious and respectfully exploring our culture and history. :) (My name is Misato, by the way.)

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

Never feel bad. It's great that you want to learn about other cultures. That's a good thing. I went to Japan a while back and it was one of the most amazing things I ever did. I even wore a kimono. Enjoy. And as soon as you can afford to go to Japan, go. Watch this, I had fun: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fniVlpKpj9ugiqM

[@goop_6537]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to get more familiar with a culture, many foreigners have done it, why should it be seen as a bad thing?

[@caileighgouthro1365]

I think if the Japanese people say they are ok with you respectfully exploring and enjoying the culture then it’s ok to admire it. Not sure why you feel guilty about it but don’t worry about it

[@slyninja4444]

I also noticed that the geiko did not have any decorations in her wig. Also I didnt see the lines on the back of her neck. Also I heard that maikos have taller shoes than geikos

[@moushimoushi8963]

+Dakota Conn Geiko do wear different hair ornaments however their hair ornaments are more subtle. They usually wear a small metal one up front (It's hard to see but she's wearing one) and a comb in the back. There is also wire that is used and sticking up in the back. As for the neck, she does have the lines but the hair of her wig covers it. As for shoes, Maiko typically wear Okobo which are the tall shoes while Geiko wear Getta which are shorter but still made of wood. There are times when both Maiko and Geiko will wear zori which are much more comfortable than either of the other two options ^^

[@AnnaHeey]

+Dakota Conn Maiko also wear a red fabric in the back of the hair. Which even though they never say it, looks like a vagina.

[@moushimoushi8963]

Always watchin' o_o Does a piece cut out of a pie also look like a vagina to you? Ofuku hairstyle doesn't look like a vagina at all and neither does warishinobu which is the hairstyle that always has red in it, Ofuku hairstyle is allowed to have many colors including blue, pink, green and even white so I don't get where the vagina comparison comes from since it looks nothing like one.

[@slyninja4444]

According to Memoirs of a geisha, their hairstyle is called the "split peach"

[@moushimoushi8963]

Dakota Conn Memoirs of a Geisha is a work of fiction that's spread more bad than any actual representation of the Geisha culture. Really, just take it as a fantasy because none of it is accurate.

[@KyotoFan]

Yeah, I think that she didn't understand it was a joke. It happens to me all the time when I tell a western style joke to my Japanese friends, they just don't realize I am telling a joke.

[@nichellemartin1295]

how the translator said the geshia dont have no bling

[@shoobnoobcoob]

ikr

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

KZbin video: Picard Facepalm

[@BaraJFDA]

The English translator was incredibly *disrespectful* Get the valley girl off the mic. Such an insult.

[@tsubakilee1728]

It's like the maiko who is younger wears more decorations on her to show off the young and cute vibes while the geiko has that more mature look in terms of colours as well.Ver interesting

[@imfeelinggood110]

Maiko so cute

[@prarthanaperera1997]

Oh my god that's Miehina san. She featured in a documentary when she was still a maiko. I'm so glad to see her as a geiko 🥰

[@laurapatriciaovallesperez6866]

Do you remember the name of the documentary?

[@aikoku1127]

Differences between a Geiko (Geisha) and a Maiko (with subtitles) 【HD】

[@KyotoFan]

いいえ、こちらこそ、ご覧になっていただいてありがとうございます。

[@kusumgurung5109]

The translator didn’t mention the name ‘pochirri’, but mentioned any jweller would want that?

[@маринаафонасьева]

Спасибо🙏 теперь я понимаю точно, чем отличаются майко от гейко :)

[@kathryncarter6143]

The two women take there work quite seriously. I don't think the audience listened carefully enough. The 2 women don't seem to enjoy their bursts of laughter

[@willows_play]

wow geisha's are so beautiful!! i like the maiko kimono design better though but i can understand why they so decorative with the kimono

[@milkypeaches8050]

Loved the video

[@hanhajoon]

I didn't know you can be both cute and elegant at the same time

[@leelaturanga5461]

I'm not impressed by the Australian lady's traslation. And the crest at the bottom of the maiko's obi is not the mark of the tea house where she works (they can work in several teahouses). It is the mark of her okiya, her home and the place where she is trained.

[@jellyart89]

I prefer Maiko costume and hair

[@jupitereuropa-e3w]

I hope there comes a time when foreigeners won't disgrace themself and disrespect japanese in Japan.

[@LiloUkulele]

The translator needs a little help...the Kamon is from the okiya. The Okiya is where the Maiko lives.

[@JordanVanRyn]

Japanese culture is always so beautiful to me and I love how respectful it is. Thanks for the historical infromation.

[@kattza644]

Thid video is 11 years old now! I wonder how Geiko Miehina and Maiko Fukunae are doing

[@emelina6699]

that maiko so beautiful and cute

[@Swampfox612]

Perhaps you can answer this: Why is the Maiko so elaborately dressed as opposed to the Geiko? I thought a Maiko was a trainee and the Geiko at a more advanced stage. Am I wrong? Please help me to understand this better. Thank you!

[@KyotoFan]

Geiko Miehina explained the reason for this. According to their tradition, the Maiko have a young and in some way immature appearance. This is why they wear more ornaments, brighter colors on their kimonos and their whole look is meant to be "cute and young". In the other hand, when they become a Geiko, they "grow up" and their look becomes more refined, calm and mature. Most of people would think that as they become Geiko their look would be even more colorful or extravagant than the Maiko, but in their culture is the opposite; they show their status through a more mature look.

[@moushimoushi8963]

Kyoto Fan There's also the fact that Geiko can rely more on their skills because they've already basically mastered them (Of course they still need classes to practice and learn to make them better), where as Maiko are still learning and haven't had as much of an opportunity to practice. The maiko regalia becomes much more subtle as she goes further and further along into her training, with the more simplified kanzashi, the hiki becoming more like that of a Geiko (Especially in the last couple years), and their under collar becoming more and more white ^^

[@summerviolet100]

I love everything about Japan I hope I can learn their language

[@KyotoFan]

Miehina San is a very professional and experienced Geiko, with years of practice and understanding of how a Geiko has to behave. In our opinion, she is a wonderful artists and a very good example of how the Geiko are. About the way she talks, she uses the traditional Geiko dialect perfectly but as she is talking to us she tries to make it easier to understand. Her kimono is fine as well, done by a Kitsuke master, not unkempt at all. Her voice... that's just her natural voice.

[@nhakychen450]

The Maiko is so cute!

[@りり-w8k]

She names "Fukunae". She is sooo beautiful.

[@SirParcifal]

They look like living dolls :) they are beautiful

[@KyotoFan]

They do look really beautiful!! True elegance. :)

[@Nesterou]

Some people learn a language but not the manners that go with it.

[@shadowjago1012]

Love Japanese backgrounds

[@lajmh]

Forgive me for mentioning, but as a female I can't help but wonder what they do when it is "that time of the month" and they (particularly maikos) may have mood swings, bloating, cramps, maybe hormonal imbalances and food cravings... I mean how do they deal with it and what advice do they get from the geikos and the elder women?

[@tatsuya8597]

舞妓さんは10代のその時々の若い美しさを表現しています 20代に近づくにつれて大人の装いに変わります

[@IDontKnow-pf6en]

the spoken translator of this is awful, sorry.

[@KyotoFan]

Well, being a Maiko is about becoming an artist on the traditional ways of Japan such as music, singing, dancing, entertaining guests in a dinner.

[@emilycanfield2634]

The Geisha giving the presentation is so graceful! They're both so beautiful!

[@Swampfox612]

Thanks Kyoto Fan and Moushi Moushi for your insight. Still hungry for more knowledge about Japan, her history, culture, customs and traditions. I just have a soft spot in my heart for Japan.

[@moushimoushi8963]

It's a beautiful culture~ Sadly, I only know some about the Geiko and Maiko culture, the Geisha and Hangyouku culture to me is still a bit of a mystery (Though it's close to Geiko and Maiko) I'm still learning, even after over a year of studying it ^^ Any questions you might have, I'm sure Kyoto Fan and myself would be more than happy to answer for you~

[@Swampfox612]

Moushi Moushi I'll be sure to do that. I'm actually trying to put together a month- long cross-cultural nursing event for my students that would involve going to Japan and learning about their health systems, community health programs, and health promotion practices. It's been in my heart to do this for years, but it's necessarily a slow and meticulous process, and great care must be taken.

[@moushimoushi8963]

William Henderson Wow that sounds really interesting! If I were you, I would go during one of the major events that the different hanamachi put on through the year, it gives you more of an opportunity to see the girls and they're also a lot of fun ^^ Some package deals I've also found include a banquet with a Maiko or a few Maiko ^^

[@KyotoFan]

You are welcome!

[@KyotoFan]

Thank you so much!

[@CaitlinKoi]

The maiko and geiko are so beautiful, it's wonderful learning the unique differences. But WOW that translator was unprofessional.

[@kathryncarter6143]

When they don't move, it looks just like a painting.

[@renedugarte3898]

Very interesting well done 👍

[@KyotoFan]

That's precisely what Geiko Miehina told us about the different looks of the Geiko and Maiko.

[@mabdul-smith4203]

このビデオを本当におもろかったよー日本のげいことまいこがぜったいうつくしくて、上手な人だよねー。アメリカからありがとうございますー。（＾；＾）

[@albertlopez6620]

Ellas viven en otro mundo !!

[@KyotoFan]

The answer is quite easy: they want the Maiko to look younger, cuter and to draw more attention. This represents a young and somehow "inmature" look. For the Geiko, they want them to look more refined, more "mature" with a more steady, calm look.

[@Lauren030498]

I believe the translator made a mistake when speaking about the symbol at the bottom of the obi. That's meant to say what okiya they're from. The okiya is like their house. A tea house is where they go to entertain.

[@nasti7523]

Maiko Fukunae retired on October 2016, Geiko Miehina is still working

[@Laueee95]

Geishas are so beautiful and they are amazing artists. Absolutely adore them.

[@KyotoFan]

Thank you!!!!

[@KyotoFan]

No matter how little you know about the geisha world, it's great you can enjoy the beauty of the geisha and maiko world. Thank you for viewing the video and your comment. :)

[@sydneykloba7827]

Fukunae is actually my favorite maiko! I hope she stays around long enough to become a Geisha. If I'm correct she's from Miyagawacho, a lot of girls from there seem to retire before their erikae, I hope she's not one of them, she's so talented!

[@Oshidorinohina]

SneakyNinjaSistas They are in a way all famous, but there are some who follow each maiko and geiko closely and know their names. In any presentation of a maiko or geisha they hand you a business card that has their name printed on it

[@Oshidorinohina]

SneakyNinjaSistas Also the Geisha's name is Miehina and the maiko is Fukunae- I don't think they are from the same house since usualyl their names are similar like "Komomo" "Kogiku" the same prefix and different suffix- but I could be totally wrong!

[@Lyriqt]

Poopy Peepod When a young girl acquires an "older sister" (onesan), their maiko or geiko name is often derived from it. Example - Hatsumiyo and Hatsumomo. The onesan does not have to be from the same okiya (geiko house/family). So there will be a lot of girls in one okiya with names that are not similar. There are also some cases where the geiko/maiko's name is NOT a derivative of her onesan (Mineko Iwasaki for example, her name was chosen when she was very young, originally Masako. Her onesan was Yaeko Iwasaki who was not a very good geiko but family politics landed her with Mineko AFTER Mineko's name was chosen. The "ko" at the end of both of their names became coincidence.)

[@obitoo6625]

​@@Lyriqt I guess their new name is merely an artistic name, is it? Like in their normal lives they will use their born name, right?

[@thedenofcaseywolfe]

Ah, I see. Perhaps it's the Western thought process that makes me think, "Oh, she's dressed so elegantly, she must be a higher rank than that other woman who is dressed more simply." I certainly do think the Maiko are very cute though, now that you say that. I would think that all Geisha would want to look younger though. Again, I guess that must be my Western brain kicking in again, www

[@vickikendricks]

I'm looking forward to going back to Kyoto just to meet and talk with a Geisha. They're so beautiful and talented...... :0)

[@KyotoFan]

Glad you like them!

[@KyotoFan]

Thank you so much! I am very happy to know you like the channel and the videos we post! The Maiko henshin (dressing as a Maiko) is a very nice experience, hope you get the opportunity to do it in the future.

[@KyotoFan]

Glad you like it!

[@rhaegnarok]

Thats what I thought too. She's clearly not acting out or being rude in any way. She's polite, charming and moreover she's explaining to the audience as best she can. Its a large crowd compared to a typical teahouse gathering, and large gestures are needed. There's a translator present so obviously a good amount of the crowd are Western and don't understand all the finer points of the culture. She's doing fabulously, why so disappoint? O_o;

[@KyotoFan]

Yes, they are very beautiful and special people. Thank you for your hard work ;-)

[@KyotoFan]

Yes, they both look stunning!

[@bernardpopp541]

Japanese art is awesomely refreshing to the appreciative westerner...Vincent Van Gogh knew it well...!

[@KyotoFan]

To tell you the truth, I like both too :)

[@reiayanamilover664]

The interpreter missed so much and was really annoying-

[@longau6054]

Miehina-san's hands are so beautiful 😍

[@sigrid27]

The translator was corrected and corrected herself by saying it shows what tea house they are from. Very informative video- I loved it!

[@KyotoFan]

どういたしまして！舞妓さんも、芸妓さんもとても綺麗ですね。

[@lunamai5668]

I love this! This is so great to know this... thanks so much!

[@lovesessy]

An Okiya is not a tea house nor a district. It is there house basicly. Like in the book Memoirs of a Gaisha, Gion is a gaisha district in Kyoto. And Okiya would be a Gaisha house in a Hanamachi wich is a Gaisha communitie.

[@KyotoFan]

Yes, Okiya is the house in which the Maiko (Geiko apprentice) lives and works for. Ochaya is the tea house that holds parties and events for guests where the Geiko and Maiko entertain the guests. Nowadays many Okiya are Ochaya at the same time, so people tend to use both terms with the same meaning.

[@ぽち-z8j]

なんで変なところでお客さんと司会者が笑ってるのか分からない。なんか嫌な感じ。

[@JulieT-vw2tc]

what a great youtube channel! I lived in Okayama, Japan for 5 months and practiced my Japanese. I also visited Kyoto one weekend! I wanted to participate in a special program for tourists that dressed the guest up in geisha attire but didn't have time! I'm also reading and studying geisha now. thank you for this video!

[@KyotoFan]

Well, in our opinion she did very well. I have experience as interpreter myself and I know how hard it is to translate from Japanese, especially in a case like this in which they speak a very specific dialect.

[@summerrain8141]

Fukunae-san i miss you 😭.

[@chrysoula5226]

Anyone here after reading Memoirs of a Geisha?