Dear patrons, friends and companions of the Blue Lotus Okiya,
after several years of training the time has come for me and my sr. Maiko sister Umeha (Hana Hendrassen) to complete our training. For two weeks we have been wearing sakkou, the last hairstyle in Maiko stage, and have blackened our teeth (see photo below). Both is an old tradition originating in the Edo era (1603-1868) and used to be a characteristic of married women. Nowadays it marks the last weeks in Geiko training.
For Umechie, Umeha's younger sister, the day of our erikae (Geiko debut) will be the day of her misedashi, her Maiko debut. Umechie was for internal and other reasons Minarai (Maiko aspirant) in expectation for her debut for more than one year and assumed the responsibility of a jr. Maiko this whole time over. With the retirement of our beloved okaasan Mikido Yoshikawa in January this year she deservedly gained the sr. Maiko rank without ever having officially had her misedashi. This we want to make up now.
On the day she will debut and Umeha and I will become Geiko, both of them will also officially take the sansankudo ceremony. This tying ceremony is an important part of Maiko training and creates a lifelong bond between a young Maiko and a more experienced, older sister who becomes a role model and takes on the responsible task to guide and lead her younger sister in her training. This is also reflected in the name of the young Maiko who takes on a part of the name of her official older sister (oneesan) - like Umechie the "ume" of Umeha. This name expresses her personality and will guide her her Geisha-life long.
The day the three of us are going to debut will be October 1st. From 2-4pm SLT we would like to celebrate this wonderful occasion with you at the Japanese restaurant on the SS Galaxy cruise ship. There will be traditional Japanese dance, music, sake and tea as well as
an opportunity to learn more about these traditions and the Blue Lotus Okiya.Please come and bring high spirits with you. Otano moushimasu (I ask for your support)!
Ichisumi (Leonie Aeon)
Sr. Maiko
