“I’m very happy to be on stage,” said a 17-year-old maiko from East Gion, expressing the sentiments of everyone present.

The Sankei Shimbun, JAPAN Forward

The “Early Autumn of Gokagai” (five flower districts), in which young geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha) from the five entertainment districts of Kyoto perform dance and song, was held at a city’s concert hall on September 3.

As its sponsor, the Kyoto Traditional Art Foundation, pointed out, this was an effort to give the young artists a chance for more experience since their performances had been canceled one after another due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Young geisha and maiko of Kyoto’s Gokagai performing dances = September 3, Kyoto. | photo courtesy of © JAPAN Forward

A total of about 50 young geisha and maiko from each of the five entertainment districts performed traditional dance and song. They danced beautifully in colorful kimonos to songs and the music of the shamisen, a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument.

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By - grape Japan editorial staff.