maiko.gallery's photostream

10 Conditions to be Maiko


All girls must have being interested in the life of maiko. Their black wareshinobu hairstyle and long and gorgeous obi sash are so attractive. No doubt that there are many maiko experience studio in Kyoto and they are popular. However, it is not so easy to be a real maiko in reality. There are several conditions. If you meet all of them, then you are able to be a maiko!
Conditions

1. Maiko is an apprentice of professional female entertainer
It is not an ordinary job. Maiko is an apprentice who wish to be full hedge entertainer.

2. The age must be between 15 and 17
It is too late to start the training period when you finish high school (18 years old). The best timing is 15 years old.

3. The height should be shorter than 160 cm
A maiko should not be too tall. When you wear okobo (high wooden shoes), it will add another 10 cm on your height.

4. The weight must be over 43 kg
Because the maiko costume is really heavy, you have to be over 43 kg.

5. Parent's consent
Because you are under 20, you need the permission from your parents to be a maiko.

6. Fondness to traditional Japanese entertainment
You don't have to have an experience, but it is important that you have a sense of sound.

7. Fondness to Japanese life style
Everything is Japanese style: kimono, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, ozashiki (Japanese room) manner and you have to use high wooden pillow when you go to bed. Therefore you must love Japanese style living.

8. Overwhelming patience
While you are in shikomi period (pre-training before maiko), everything must be learned: manners, washing, cleaning, shopping, other trivial things in the life and what is the most important is to learn how to speak Kyoto dialect.

9. No monthly tuition fee required
You don't have to pay for anything. Everything including living expense, lesson fee, etc. are responsible for okiya.

10. Training period
Including shikomi (pre-training before maiko) and disciple period, you have to expect to spend 4-5 years as a maiko.

These are 10 necessary conditions to be a maiko, and of course this is not everything. Another important point is if you can make a good relationship with your elder maiko and geiko. The okasan (the manager) will strictly watch you while you are in training.