I’ve uploaded another page from Geisha & Maiko of Kyoto: Beauty, Art, & Dance here. This page comes from Chapter 7, “Makiko.” Since Makiko is the youngest of the four geiko and maiko who appear in the book, her chapter focuses more on the early training of maiko, including the time just before a young girl becomes a maiko, when she is a shikomi.

Makiko discusses her memories of her first day at her okiya, what it is like to live with other maiko and shikomi, her rigorous schedule of dance and music classes, the hair ornaments and makeup of maiko, and several other topics. The chapter features 19 photographs of Makiko.

Several other photographs of Makiko appear in the Introduction to illustrate the differences in appearance between maiko and geiko. In addition, there is a very detailed interview with both Makiko and Yukako in Chapter 2, “Miyako Odori, Kyo Odori, and Other Geisha Dances.” Yukako and Makiko give the reader an insider’s view as to how they learn the dances for Miyako Odori in a very, very short period of time. This interview is one of my personal favorite parts of the book.