'Maiko' fever strikes Kyoto

KYOTO--Surfing the Internet and watching TV can be banal or life-changing, depending on who's doing it. For an increasing number of teenage girls, these were activities that encouraged them to become maiko, or apprentice geisha.

The number of maiko has bounced back to 100, the highest in more than four decades, thanks to the growing interest in Kyoto's traditional geisha culture.

Applicants have come from around the country after watching real-life maiko on TV and other media or during events to promote tourism to the ancient capital.

Many teenagers have also made inquiries after visiting the website of the Kyoto Traditional Musical Art Foundation (Ookini Zaidan), which aims to pass on the music and dance distinct to Kyoto to younger generations.

Keiko, a 16-year-old from Osaka, became the 100th maiko in Kyoto when she went through her misedashi ceremony on March 23.

During the ceremony, she was taken around ochaya exclusive teahouses and formally introduced as a full-fledged maiko.

"I am really happy," she said. "I dreamed of becoming a maiko ever since I saw one on television."

Keiko graduated from junior high school last year and was accepted into an okiya geisha house.

As a live-in apprentice, Keiko studied dance and learned the language and manners of the kagai entertainment district.

Ayano, a 17-year-old from Tokyo who celebrated her misedashi ceremony on March 6, sought information about becoming a maiko on the Internet after seeing one on TV.

The Ookini Zaidan provides a job description outlining the life of a maiko on its website.

The maiko live and work in one of five kagai, or hanamachi, entertainment districts of Kyoto.

The oldest records available show there were 76 maiko in Kyoto in 1965. By 1975, there were only 28. The figure stabilized after 1985, hovering between 50 and 80.

Until around 1955, it is estimated that there were more than 100 maiko in Kyoto, said Osamu Ito, an Ookini Zaidan official.

The Ookini Zaidan believes that increased media exposure is the main reason for the recent surge in aspiring maiko.

The Ookini Zaidan's website lists 10 requirements for those seeking a career as a maiko.

Applicants must have graduated from junior high school and be under 18 years old. They also must have parental consent.

In addition, the list emphasizes the importance of "overwhelming patience" and gumption.(IHT/Asahi: April 18,2008)