Blue Lotus Okiya

Special event: New Years celebration & housewarming party

2011-12-30T12:06:00.000-08:00

After a cycle of twelve years, the dragon zodiac sign has returned in 2012. In Japan the dragon is a mighty symbol, as it is not only representing power and wisdom, but fortune and prosperity as well (read here and here for learning more).

On top of welcoming this special year, we would like to celebrate with you the opening of our new home! New years house-cleaning is done and everything is furnished cosily. Be the first to see it! Enjoy tea, sake and a special New Years dish, listen to the winterly story about the kasajizo (protective Buddhist stone statues) and have a nice conversation with us.

When: January 2nd, 2012, 11am SLT
Where: click for a SLURL

To celebrate this special day, all Maiko and Geiko of our Okiya will wear formal attire. Please feel encouraged to dress up as well!

Ichisumi
Junior Head Geiko

Triple debut at the SS Galaxy

2011-09-26T01:51:00.000-07:00

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

Moving on without a home

2011-06-26T03:11:00.000-07:00

Dear patrons and friends of the Blue Lotus Okiya,

we want to thank you for everything you have done for us and the Okiya so far. Due to unfortunate circumstances influenced by the RL of the senior Okiya members we have currently lost our home, and will therefore not longer be able to perform on our own land in our own teahouse.
However our Okiya will carry on to exist, even though in slightly modified shape, and though we will no longer be one of the biggest Okiya in SL we will continue to strive to train some of the best Geisha of SL and to entertain as such. Thus we will keep on holding Ozashiki in the Japanese gardens aboard the SS Galaxy twice a month until we find additional places to perform at.

You all have supported us all for a very long time, in stable times as well as in times of change, with actions and nice words. Over all these years, you have been dear patrons, friends and companions of our Okiya and all its members, and not only for us but also for many of you the lands of the Blue Lotus Okiya have served as home and place of retreat. That's why we hope that, despite of all these changes, you will retain as our patrons and continue to support us in the future.

Taking her hands from her lap and moving them from aside to her front, lining up her fingers, Ichisumi bows deeply with respect and gratefulness. "Douzo yoroshuu otano moushimasu! It is such a big favour to ask you, but please bear with us."

A new home for the Blue Lotus

2010-12-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

A lot of things have happened since our last post in this blog, even though we have unfortunately not written about it. For this months-lasting absence in our blog we apologize to all our patrons.

Over the last months the Blue Lotus Okiya has developed and grown bigger, which has not only reflected in the modification of our dorms and the landscape in Zarathud, but in the restructuring of our internal organization as well. These various changes have prompted us to move our home to a new place which we have found in an Edo-styled sim (Edo is the first period of modern Japan, also called Tokugawa period, 1600-1868). Please find the SL URL here.
The moving of our home also means a new start for us in a way, because not only will Blue Lotus be the new home of our Okiya but of the Kanzeon clan as well. So, fittingly to the Edo period, you will probably encounter Samurai now and then.

We apologize for all inconveniences caused by the construction of our new place. Still, we would be very happy to may welcome you again to future events. Meanwhile, you can still visit Zarathud till December, 31st. On this day our old sim is going to be closed. Please find a time to say goodbye to it!

May the never withering flowers and trees of our old sim continue to grow and bloom in this new place!
Please continue to support us, douzo yoroshii otano moushimasu!

Ichisumi
Sr. Maiko of the Blue Lotus Okiya

A month full of events: reviewing Miyako Odori

2010-04-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

Today, with our final dance and a ryurei tea ceremony, a month full of events and celebrations has come to an end. Not only we had a diversity of things we did, like cherry viewing, celebratory dances, a play and a time to share poetry, but also various places to perform at - be it under the splendor of the cherry trees in our Okiya gardens or the Noh stage at our teahouse, on the SS Galaxy cruise ship or in the home sim of the Kanzeon clan. And to each single event a lot people came to witness this special time with us and make this month full of successful, enjoyable and rememberable days, making us look forward to next year already. Thank you, dear patrons, for all your time, presence and support!

As we had so many differents events, a summary of each one would make this post too long. But please enjoy the attached pics and let the past month pass by your eyes once more!
All pictures but the last three are from our flickr photo pool. Please follow this link to see more.

Lining up before the opening dance on April 9th

Okaasan's opening speech on April 9th

Sharing poems about the cherry blossom in SS Galaxy, April 10th

Hanami, cherry viewing, on April 15th

Celebratory dance in Asuka, April 17th (above & below)

The winter scene of the stage for the play "blossom flower", performed on April 21st (no other pictures available yet, but please follow this link for a video)

Closing ceremony on April 30th: the final dance, performed to a story of shikomi Siell

The ryurei tea ceremony with Umeha preparing the tea, Ichisumi explaining all steps and minarai Kiki and Icefyre (left) serving the tea to the guests, April 30th. Picture taken by Izzy Yuhara

April: month of Miyako Odori

2010-04-08T02:19:00.000-07:00

When you travel through Japan this month, you will encounter a country covered with blooming trees: red, white and pink blossoms of peach and cherry unfold their splendour, and here and there still lingering plum blossoms can be found. It is the month of hanami, cherry blossom viewing, when thousand of people gather for a picnic around blooming cherry trees, it is the month of chatsumi, the start of picking tea, and for tea people it marks the start of the summer season when they part from the sunken hearth (ro) built in into the tea room to the portable hearth (furo). But this time I don't want to set the focus on tea, as April features another exceptional event: the third anniversary of our Okiya on April 9th! And it also marks the start of our Miyako Odori.

Miyako Odori is a whole month lasting dance festival performed by the Maiko and Geiko of Gion Kobu that goes back to the 19th century. In 1869 the capital of Japan was moved to a former fisher village called Edo, now known as Tokyo, and caused the decline of Kyoto (back then still known as Miyako) that had been the capital for more than thousand years. That changed in 1872, when Kyoto used the there put world exhibition to promote prosperity with an a whole month lasting "dance festival of the old capital" - Miyako Odori. It is now one of the main events in Kyoto.

We are very happy to invite you to celebrate the following events with us!

Miyako Odori Opening Ceremonies and Blue Lotus Anniversary
Friday, April 9th, 12pm SLT
Blue Lotus Cherry Paths

~*~*~ Sakura Poem
~*~*~ Saturday, April 10th, 2pm SLT
~*~*~ SS Galaxy

Blossom Viewing
Thursday, April 15th, 1pm SLT
Blue Lotus Cherry Paths

~*~*~ Festival of Blossoms
~*~*~ Monday, April 12th, 5pm SLT
~*~*~ Blue Lotus Okiya

Celebratory Dance
Saturday, April 17th, 12pm SLT
Asuka

~*~*~ Play "Blossom Flower"
~*~*~ Wednesday, April 21st, 12:30pm SLT
~*~*~ Blue Lotus Noh stage

Blossom Dance
Thursday, April 22nd, 7pm SLT
SS Galaxy

~*~*~ Blossom Viewing
~*~*~ Thursday, April 29th, 1pm SLT
~*~*~ Blue Lotus Cherry Paths

Closing Ceremonies
Friday, April 30th, 7pm SLT
Blue Lotus Cherry Paths

"The First Rabbits" in Babbage Square

2010-02-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

On this Saturday, Feb 20th at 2pm, the Blue Lotus Okiya will revive the rabbits. Once more we show the traditional story about their origin, but this time in a different location - in the New Champagne Rooms in Babbage Square.

If you weren't able to attend the last performance in December or wish to see our play again, don't miss this chance! You are cordially invited!

Please use the SL Url below for finding the way to the venue or ask us for a teleport. Douzo yoroshii otano moshimasu!

* ~ * ~ *

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Babbage%20Square/214/219/106/?title=The%20New%20Champagne%20Rooms

February - harbinger of spring

2010-02-01T11:19:00.000-08:00

Tani kaze ni
tokuru koori no
hima goto ni
uchi izuru nami ya
haru no hatsu hana

The wind from the valley
melts the ice,
revealing the waves
that might be called
the first flowers of spring.

(Fujiwara no Kintô)

February is the month between two seasons - winter, as there's still ice and snow outside, and spring, when the first plum blossoms begin to bloom. Therefore, a traditional name for it is hatsuhana-zuki, first flower, but it is also called yukige-zuki, snow melting, because according to the lunar calendar it is the time when the snow starts to melt. The lunar calendar also has it that the real New Year begins in February - Setsubun on February 3rd marks the last day of winter, the day following it (Feb 4th, risshun) marks the first day of spring, and the night between is traditionally regarded the beginning of the New Year.

On Setsubun, as the last day of winter, is the day to drive out the bad spirits of the past year. This is done with oni-yarai, a custom originating in China and first celebrated in Japan in 706: first the devils are addressed with prayers, then they will be expelled with peach bows and reed arrows. This is still done at some shrines and temples, but often it's simplified into a folk custom with people dispering the devils by scattering beans and shouting "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" - "devils, get out! good fortune, come in!".

Coming along with setsubun is the obake festival; the world becomes topsy-turvy because people dress up; and so do Geisha and Maiko as well! They dress as actors/actresses, TV celebrities, heroes of old myths, etc and go to their engagements. And also their guests dress up and entertain them in turn.

There are some more old traditions for Setsubun, like yaikagashi, the hanging of a holly sprig over your door, together with a sardine head (if you can't stand the smell, you can just hang up the sprig of course =), but it has already got out of fashion - more popular, on the contrary, is the custom of the takarabune-makura, the treasure boat pillow: in Japanese folklore, there are seven treasures (takarazukushi) and seven deities of good luck (shichifukujin), coming over the sea on a treasure boat (takarabune). On the night of Setsubun people put a picture of this boat under their pillow and if they have a lucky dream that night, it is believed that they will be lucky for the whole year.

The Blue Lotus Okiya will celebrate the New Year with setsubun on February 3rd at 10am with bean throwing and later the day with obake, and you are cordially invited to celebrate it with us!

Hatsugama 2010

2010-01-29T08:31:00.000-08:00

Every January as a herald of the New Year the Blue Lotus Okiya celebrates Hatsugama.

This year as always it was a collection of the okiya family and some close and honored patrons, assembled together for the early morning event. For some hours the sim was closed to all but those on the special guest list. Giving the invited patrons full use of the okiya grounds after the event to relax.

Hatsugama, the first tea of the year, was hosted by our Okaasan, Mikido Yoshikawa. Maiko Umeha and Ichisumi assisted her in presenting the ceremony. The event was simple enough to follow for novice tea aficionados but still held all the charm and traditional aspects of Hatsugama.

Guests were greeted in the entrance of the entertainment retreat and guided through a walking tour on the spirituality of the Japanese Tea ceremony on their way to the tea house.Everyone sported kimono lending to the serenity of the gathering. The Blue Lotus women were all attired in complementary kimono formed a welcoming line near the entrance of the tea house.

Once inside the tea house was tasteful and serene, the perfect showcase for the traditional kaiseki meal followed by the first tea ceremony. The meal it self was a work of art each traditional dish painstakingly recreated. The guests bantered quietly and everyone had a relaxed good time. Sharing this moment with friends, family and close patrons made this Hatsugama one of those snapshot moments you cherish of your time in Second Life.

For more pictures of hatsugama please look at our photo album.

Akemashite Omedetou-san Dosu!

2010-01-02T00:41:00.000-08:00

In other words, happy new year to all our patrons!

The ladies at Blue Lotus have wrapped up our to-dos for last year, and we are feeling refreshed and ready to face the year 2010 with big plans and, as always, the aim to continue bringing the beauty of the flower and willow world to Second Life. We look forward to sharing the year with all of you!

Already we'll be ringing in the year with some auspicious events during the month of January. First, the geisha will be going back to work on the 2nd to host the first ozashiki of the year on board the SS Galaxy. We hope to start off the month with a lovely performance there and as always, a relaxing bowl of tea. The ozashiki will begin at 4pm, we hope you will join us!

Another of the events we'll be hosting during the New Year period is Shigyoushiki, the hanamachi's annual awards ceremony honoring the maiko and geiko who have made significant contributions during the last year. This will be our first time hosting Shigyoushiki at Blue Lotus. The date and time is still to be decided, so keep checking the calendar to find out when!

Yet another of our events planned for the month (and the one I am personally looking forward to the most) is Hatsugama. Literally translating to 'first kettle,' this is a reverent event marking the first full tea ceremony of the year. As the chado instructor at Blue Lotus, okaasan Mikido Yoshikawa will perform the honorable task of serving tea for her students. We are very fortunate to have a teacher with such great knowledge of the way of tea, and it will be an event to remember.

More events will be announced throughout the month, so keep up to date with the calendar and we'll look forward to welcoming you all again to Blue Lotus in 2010! Blessings to you for the year ahead!

Regards,
Maiko Umeha 梅葉

Blue Lotus winter play: The first rabbits

2009-12-25T05:13:00.000-08:00

As the month December slowly approaches its end, the Blue Lotus Okiya cordially invites you to a story about heaven and earth, snow and fluffy animals with long ears loved by children: rabbits.

When they first came down to our earth, no one expected them to turn into what we know them to be today. And though they are hopping still, never to return to the place they originated from: the sky.

Don't forget to put on your warm clothes when you come to discover their journey with us...

Monday, Dec 28th

12pm SLT
Noh stage, Zarathud

December: four seasons come to an end

2009-12-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

When the first snow covers the last green and sends all plants and flowers into hibernation, in the sky a pale tinted winter moon rises, indicating a coldness deep inside, when it's getting more and more foggy outside and in the homes fires crackle... then goku-getsu has come ("end of the year-month"), also known as shi-hatsu-zuki ("four seasons come to an end-month") and haru-machi-zuki ("waiting for spring-month"), or, as we call it, December.

With the twelfth and last month in the year a busy time begins in Japan: koto-hajime, the start of things to be done at the end of the year. Everybody prepares for New Year, sends out greeting cards and small rice cakes to cherished people, settles last differences and disputes, purifies and decorates the home for New Year. In the Kyoto-Osaka area, Geiko, Maiko and other people of the showbusiness solemnize Hatsuyori on the 13th: carrying along kagami mochi, rice cakes, as gifts they go around to the different teahouses and their masters' houses to bring their New Year's congratulations. Tea people set pine branches and/or daidai oranges into the alcoves, cover the stepping stones, the water basin and the doorsill in the garden with straw lids to protect them of the white crystals and set the mood for yuki no cha, the tea ceremony celebrating the first fallen snow. As the end of the year approaches, they change the kama, kettles, several times. And while they do this for the last time for Joyo-gama, the tea ceremony on New Year's Eve (joya), okotousan is celebrated in Kyoto - literally meaning "such a busy moment, there's so much to do." After visiting the teahouses of the different quarters to express their gratitude and to receive small gifts, all Geiko and Maiko go to the Yasaka shrine to light up a wick of rice straw with the holy Okera flame and take this wick home to ignite the oven, as this brings luck for the coming year.

And so do we at the Blue Lotus celebrate the end of the year! Though there might be no public celebrated Koto-hajime, there are other exciting things coming up: in the following weeks our sim will slowly turn into a landscape of snow sculptures and on Sunday, 27th, at noon we will show you the origin of the first rabbits in our winter play.
Okotousan: such a busy moment, there's so much to do. So let's cherish this special month together. The Blue Lotus warmly invites you!

Momijigari, the Maple Hunt

2009-11-18T11:30:00.000-08:00

As the autumn chill sets in and the trees start turning their most glorious colors this month, Blue Lotus invites you to celebrate Momijigari with us on the 21st of November!

"Momijigari" literally translates to "maple hunting," and this is precisely what the practice is about: during the peak turning season, Japanese families take a day to hunt around their area for the most brilliant red maples, and picnic underneath them in reverence of nature's beauty.

In the spirit of this, we'll be bringing all the shades of autumn's beauty to the sim and inviting you on a hunt for these beautiful maples! The event will begin at our brand new entertainment complex on the corner of the sim. There will be prizes given to the best hunters, and afterwards we invite you to join us in our brand new entertainment complex for refreshments and a movie.

We hope to see you there! Ookini!

Saturday, November 21st
11am - 1pm SLT
Begins at the brand new entertainment complex of Blue Lotus

November: month of maple

2009-11-03T05:44:00.000-08:00

We are very sorry for our two months long absence in our blog. Though our calendar has always been up-to-date, our posting activity was not.

urayamashi
utsukushuu natte
chiru momiji

How enviable,
turning beautiful then falling
maple leaves

(Shiko)

November is the month of maple: of kaede, turning maple leaves, and momiji, red maple leaves, and is accordingly celebrated with momijigari, the chase and view of autumn trees, in midmonth. The maple in autumn is the equivalent of the cherry blossom in spring and it represents a delicate short-lived beauty which is followed by the first snowflakes of winter.

Another festival in November is shichi-go-san (literally "seven-five-three") which is celebrated on November 15th. It's a festival for children of these ages as they mark important events in a child’s life: when they are three three boys and girls are allowed to let their hair grow for the first time, at the age of five a young boy celebrates wearing his first hakama (a pleated skirt originally worn by men only) and at the age of seven a young girl wearing her first obi. The children visit a shrine with their parents who express their gratitude for their hitherto luck and to ask for their children's future health and safety.

The Blue Lotus celebrates this beautiful autumn month with momijigari on November 21st to which you are warmly invited!

2009-07-10T04:28:00.000-07:00

Gion Matsuri, a celebration originally to ward of the ravages off the plague in the 9th century, has now become Japan's premiere festival. At the Blue Lotus we will be celebrating with month long activities and fun- all are welcome to participate and visit. Here is a tentative list of events planned:

Gion Matsuri Opening Ceremonies
July 1st 2009 at 1 pm SLT
A group performance featuring various ranks of Blue Lotus Geisha centered around Gion Kouta

Float building /parade planning for Hanagasa Junko ( Flower parasol parade)
July 10th 5am-7am SLT
July 11th 10am-12noon SLT
July 12th 10am-2pm SLT
July 13th 10 am -2pm SLT
As we will be only having one parade in July we have combined floats with the classic parasol and floral hat into one festive procession. Any SL group interested in participating and representing their group are welcome. Please contact BL maiko Umeha (Hana Hendrassen) for details. Patrons and friends also welcome to participate or just enjoy watching.

Hanagasa Junko ( Flower parasol parade)
July 24th, 2009 at 11am SLT
Parade featuring the floats and costumes of Gion Matsuri parades ..including special presentations of ladies representing various SL Okiya

Hanagasa Odori
July 24th 2009 at 7pm SLT
at the SS Galaxy
Performance of the Hanagasa Odori (Flower parasol dance) to traditional Music by Blue Lotus Geisha.

Tanabata Legend
July 26th 2009 at 11 am SLT
Tanabata Legend play featuring voice narrative at the Blue Lotus Stage.

July - the month of Gion Matsuri

2009-07-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

July is the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the summer. It is the month of fireworks, the hottest days and the Tanabata festival. And the month of Gion Matsuri, one of the three largest festivals in Japan.

Gion Matsuri takes place in Kyoto, the ancient capital city of Japan. Throughout July, there are street fairs with music, games and Japanese festival food. The crowning event is Yamaboko Junko, the procession of 32 giant decorated floats through the streets of Kyoto on July 17th. In the preceding evenings of the previous three days these floats are illuminated by lanterns and in the evening of July 16th thousands of people dressed in Yukata take to the pedestrianized streets of downtown Kyoto to view them amid the constant festival music of flutes, drums and bells.

This celebration initially originated as part of a purification ceremony in response to a plague when a priest of the Yasaka shrine led a procession through Kyoto in an attempt to appease the Shinto gods. The plague ended soon, but this was repeated wherever an outbreak would occur. In the year 970 it was decreed an annual event and has since seldom been broken.

The Blue Lotus Okiya welcomed the new month with the Gion Matsuri opening performance on July 1st at 1pm SLT: in the beautiful scenery of the Cherry Path Gardens Umeha, Hatsuyo and the three Shikomi Bryony, mushroom and amarna danced to the melody and lyrics of Gion Kouta, a traditional and very popular folksong in Japan, played by me (Ichisumi) on the shamisen. We were dressed in the same Kimono of Flower&Willow and wore the same Gion Matsuri kanzashi of Hana Katsuraya. In spite of some SL problems all went well.

In the course of Gion Matsuri we will hold more performances and Ozashiki, please watch our blog calendar and teahouse group for keeping up-to-date.

June is here in all her finery!

2009-06-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

June heralds the start of the new season. Time to dust off your lacquered shoes, change your tama and unfold your yukata collection. Small hints of change that let us know summer is here and fireworks are in the near future.

As always this also is the time for our new shikomi to join us. You must be wondering why shikomi is given such an importance at the Blue Lotus when in real life they are helpers and new faces of geisha trainees. In our virtual hanamachi there are needs to adapt and create new traditions. To better convey the aesthetic in this medium.

Our first rank is Okiya Hopeful. A four to six week period that allows an applicant to get to know the Blue Lotus and people there to see if the geisha path here is for them. They are also sent on a pilgrimage to visit other okiya and geisha establishments. The goal of this is to get these applicants to see the varied options and interpretations of geisha in SL and choose one that works for them.

Then an applicant is invited into our geisha group once she has completed the hopeful stage. She becomes a shikomi. For us this is a celebration of a new seed planted in our world we make a little more fuss than normal.

I would like to present the shikomi of this season. Hopefully many of them make it to minarai. Best wishes ladies and happy journey.

You can meet these ladies at our weekly Lotus Blossoms events on Monday's at 10 am SLT and Tuesdays 7 pm SLT at our Ochaya. These are introductory events to help the ladies acclimate to being a SL performer and to meet our honored patrons and friends.

Bryony - Aya - Sushie - Stefy - Klaire - Lorea - Mushroom - Etsuko - Antonia - Sigona - Laianna - Bellefille - Kyla - Princess - Kari - Elora - Fujiko

Things to do at the Blue Lotus Okiya: Ozashiki Asobi

2009-05-10T23:12:00.001-07:00

Konnichiwa patrons and followers of the Blue Lotus Okiya!

As you all know, there are plenty of ways to kick back and have an enjoyable time at Blue Lotus. You can take a stroll around the markets, enjoy the blossoms in the cherry path gardens, or spend a relaxing few hours just sitting under the trees and fishing. But while you are here there is one thing you shouldn't miss doing, arguably the reason why the sim is here in the first place: taking part in an ozashiki asobi with the geisha of Blue Lotus!

The words "ozashiki asobi" (御座敷遊び) roughly translate to "tatami room party," which explains the idea simply enough- guests and geisha assemble in an ochaya (teahouse), where the geisha entertain the guests with convivial conversation, music, dancing and often sake or tea. In RL, just getting into an ozashiki can be difficult and expensive. Guests can't just walk into an ochaya and book a maiko or geiko- they must already be a trusted customer of the ochaya, or invited by someone who is... then the fee itself for hiring the geisha can be the equivalent of thousands of dollars! However many consider it worth the effort to get a glimpse of the exclusive and mysterious world of the geisha, and to witness the skill of these ladies who have honed their artform to a level of detailed perfection.

Here at Blue Lotus we do things a bit differently. You don't have to be formally invited into our ochaya, or even to have been before, to experience the entertainment we offer- we often hold public ozashiki asobi where anyone is welcome to participate and have a good time. Additionally, you don't have to pay a fee to enjoy your time with us (although tips are always humbly appreciated). If you would like the guarantee of uninterrupted time with one of our maiko or geiko, we will give you our undivided attention for a time-based fee, which is marked by the burning of sticks of incense for each interval.

We always enjoy having a good ozashiki asobi, whether with longtime patrons or guests who are new to the entire experience, so please come by the ochaya at any time and we will be more than happy to welcome you into the experience of an ozashiki with the geisha of Blue Lotus. Ookini arigatou-san doshita, we look forward to seeing you in-world!

Maiko Umeha

Hatsuyo's Debut

2009-04-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

Friday 24th of April, 2009. A new Blue Lotus Okiya maiko emerged into the second life geisha world.

Hatsuyo, Solariad Babenco, debuted amongst much fanfare at the SS Galaxy Cruise Ship. Her first performance as a maiko featured a dark tale with deep meaning and reflected her complex nature. The performance was packed and extra seating was quickly resolved by our gracious hosts at the SS Galaxy. In attendance amongst many honored guests and patrons also were our fellow Kenban sisters there to wish her the best.

At the Blue Lotus Okiya a misedashi is often the reward after months of tutelage, hard work, and dedication. We celebrate it over the course of 7 days. Much like a real life debut the maiko visits other venues that we normally perform at and other okiya and introduce herself to everyone as her new professional self. We also celebrate with performances scattered over the next 7 days ranging from stage shows to quiet conversational opportunities with the debuting maiko.

Hatsuyo is one of our shining stars and a greatly honored addition to the Blue Lotus Okiya. Come by and get to know her.

Miyako Odori ~ Dance of the Capital

2009-04-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

Miyako Odori, or the Dance of the old Capital, is a month long series of dances and cultural events performed by the geiko and maiko of Gion Kobu annually throughout April. The month is a plethora of dances, plays, ceremonial services, and displays of art and ikebana most created by the geisha themselves. A cultural celebration of Japanese traditions and history.

The SL Miyako Odori 2009 hosted at the Blue Lotus Okiya features several okiya of the SL Geisha Kenban. We hope to uphold the spirit of these traditions and the Kyoto Hanamachi as well as create new traditions unique to the SL Geisha Community.

The opening ceremonies commenced on April 1st 9:00 am SLT with an encore at 7:00pm SLT. Both shows were well recieved and attended by members of the SL community. A group dance performance to the sakura song preceded the Tea ceremony Demonstration. Everyone was dressed as traditionally as SL possible with, Hair and kanzashi provided by Hana Katsuraya, Kimono by Geisha Dreams and Fans by Tenran. Our main Poster this year features Blue Lotus maiko Ichisumi and soon to debut maiko Umeha, Hana.

We would like to thank out performers:

geisha Ichiwaka of Mitsuba Okiya

Ichisumi, Megumi, Nariko, Hatsuyo, Umeha, Aika, Eva, Zeek, Angela, Mig and Vera of Blue Lotus Okiya

Chelsea, Callidora, and Koyuki of Pontocho Okiya