About Momoyama / Michael Chandler  

October 7th, 2009. The maiko Umeraku makes her debut in the Kamishichiken hanamachi.

Hanamachi (literally "flower towns") are the districts of Kyoto where geiko (the Kyoto dialect word for geisha) and maiko (apprentice geisha) live and work.

Below is a list of the five hanamachi and the maiko who work there. Clicking on a name will take you to a picture of the maiko.

All the pictures were taken by me.


Gion Higashi (6 maiko)

The name of the yakata (geisha house) followed by the names of the maiko.

An asterisk after a maiko's name indicates she debuted in 2008. Two asterisks means she debuted in 2009.

岡とめ Okatome name board, crest: Miharu, Kotomi

叶家 Kanoya name board, crest: Kanoka, Kanoyumi*, Kanoyuri**

栄政 Sakaemasa name board, crest: Ryouka**


Kamishichiken (7 maiko)

The name of the yakata (geisha house) followed by the names of the maiko.

An asterisk after a maiko's name indicates she debuted in 2008. Two asterisks means she debuted in 2009.

中里 Nakazato Naokazu

大文字 Daimonji Katsuru

市 Ichi Ichiteru, Ichimomo*

梅乃 Umeno Umehisa*, Umeyae**, Umeraku**


Pontocho (10 maiko)

Ichiemi, Ichifuku (right), Ichiraku, Tomoyuki, Mitsuna, Momiju, Ayano, Shinaju (right), Ichino, Chizu


Miyagawa-cho (29 maiko)

The name of the yakata (geisha house) is first, then a picture of the yakata's crest (which can be seen at the bottom of a maiko's obi) and the yakata's name board which is usually above or at the side of the front door.

しげ森 Shigemori crest, name board: Kofuku, Fukuho, Fukuhiro

よし冨美 Yoshifumi crest, name board: Fumitama, Fumisono, Fumihana

川久 Kawahisa crest, name board: Satomi, Satono

美富久 Mifuku crest, name board: Chikayoshi, Miyofuku

花ふさ Hanafusa crest, name board: Kikune, Kikuyu

駒屋 Komaya crest, (no name board): Toshichika, Toshiyui, Toshiteru

河よ志 Kawayoshi crest, name board: Fukue

石初 Ishihatsu crest, name board: Fukusuzu, Fukukimi, Fukuyu

堀八重 Horiyae crest, (no name board): Fukuai

たけもと Takemoto crest, (no name board): Fukuya, Fukuhina

大玉 Daidama name board: Kimichie

利きみ Toshikimi crest, name board: Kimishizu

本城 Honjo crest, (no name board): Kimiaya, Kimiyu, Kimiha

高よし Takayoshi crest, name board: Tanewaka

Unknown yakata crest, Chikayuki


Gion Kobu (32 maiko)

The name of the yakata (geisha house) is first, then a picture of the yakata's crest (which can be seen at the bottom of a maiko's obi) and the yakata's name board which is usually above or at the side of the front door.

An asterisk after a maiko's name indicates she debuted in 2008. Two asterisks means she debuted in 2009.

新井 Arai crest, name board: Mamesaku**, Mamefusa*(left), Mametomi (centre)

中支志 Nakagishi crest, name board: Koyoshi* Ichiwaka

柴田 Shibata crest, name board: Mamemaru**, Mameyuri

美の八重 Mi no Yae crest, name board: Marie**, Makino*, Mahiro

イ Ninben crest, name board: Mamesome* (right), Mamehana, Mamechiho

廣島屋 Hiroshimaya crest, name board: Kosen

貝田 Kaida crest, name board: Takahina*, Takamari, Takasuzu

つる居 Tsurui crest, name board: Kyouka*, Sayaka

小田本 Odamoto crest, name board: Katsuya**, Katsumi , Ayakazu , Katsuyuki

多麻 Tama crest, name board: Mameharu*, Manaha*, Tsuruha, Mameteru, Yasuha

西村 Nishimura crest, name board: Chisako**, Keiko*, Sakiko

福島 Fukushima crest, name board: Ayano*