Flickr: John Paul Foster's Photostream

Takahina with Fuji Kanzashi

One of the questions I asked Takahina when I interviewed her recently was what her favorite kanzashi...

Uploaded on Dec 12, 2011

4 comments

Mamehana: Orange and Gold

This is one of my favorite portraits of Mamehana when she was still a maiko. Although it was taken...

Uploaded on Dec 8, 2011

11 comments

Yukako and Summer Fan

A dance portrait of the geiko Yukako. Since this portrait was taken at the end of June, Yukako is...

Uploaded on Dec 1, 2011

10 comments

Takahina

Takahina is a maiko from Gion Kobu I've been photographing for about two years. I'm going...

Uploaded on Nov 24, 2011

8 comments

Kimina in Purple

A November portrait of the geiko Kimina from Miyagawa-cho.

Uploaded on Nov 21, 2011

16 comments

Teruhina

Teruhina was a geisha in Gion Kobu who retired about five years ago, and this photo of her was taken...

Uploaded on Nov 13, 2011

14 comments

Makiko and Momiji

November is maple viewing season in Kyoto, so a maiko's kanzashi (hair ornaments) this month have a maple leaf theme (momiji in Japanese).

Uploaded on Nov 9, 2011

1 note / 7 comments

Makiko: Portrait in Purple and Gold

This portrait of Makiko, a geisha from Gion Kobu in Kyoto, was taken just after she finished...

Uploaded on Oct 27, 2011

8 comments

Mizuekai Demon Mask

A close up of the comic mask worn by the geisha of Miyagawa-cho in one of the dances of Mizuekai in...

Uploaded on Oct 20, 2011

3 comments

Hisamari at Setsubun

The maiko Hisamari of Ponto-cho leaving Yasaka Shrine after her Setsubun performance back in February...

Uploaded on Oct 20, 2011

7 comments

Etude in Brown and Gold

This photo was taken on my second visit to Miyagawa-cho on a rainy day in June 2003. Although it...

Uploaded on Oct 12, 2011

10 comments

Mamesuzu

This photo of Mamesuzu taken in 2003 still stands out for me today for two reasons: it was the first...

Uploaded on Jul 19, 2011

21 comments

Another Side of Takahina

I was surprised to see a comment here on Flickr that Takahina, a maiko from Gion Kobu, never looks...

Uploaded on Jul 13, 2011

27 comments

Satomi's Smile

A portrait of Satomi, the first geiko I met in Gion Kobu back in 2003. Although she has been a geiko...

Uploaded on Jul 8, 2009

1 note / 9 comments

Makiko with Fan

Makiko poses with a fan, and you can just make out the crest of the Inoue School in the center of the...

Uploaded on Jun 24, 2009

7 comments

"Kurokami"

The geiko Yukako performing the dance "Kurokami" a few days after she had her erikae. At...

Uploaded on Jun 17, 2009

6 comments

Kimina

Kimina, a geiko of Miyagawa-cho, looks out through the noren (curtain) of a restaurant across the...

Uploaded on Jun 11, 2009

12 comments

Kimina as Benzaiten

Kimina dancing in the fourth scene of the 2007 Kyo Odori, "Buddhist Goddess Benzaiten Appears at...