Unlike her similarity dressed companion who avoided having her picture taken, this pretty young woman was more than happy to play to the cameras that surrounded her on a busy street corner.

Check back tomorrow to see some decidedly non-traditional Japanese fashions also spotted in Shibya.

This and other great images of Japan can be found in The Nihon Sun Japan Photo Gallery.

Maiko training starts young, between the ages of fifteen and seventeen, and many prospective Geisha don’t complete high school so parental consent is required to enter training.

Are you too tall to be a Geisha? If you stand over 160cm (5 feet 3 inches) you are considered too tall.  Maiko wear okobo (wooden platform shoes) that add 10cm (4 inches) to their height.

You can’t be too skinny to be accepted into Maiko training (shikomi) – The kimono and hair accessories worn by a Maiko can weigh up to 10kg (22 pounds) so those participating in Geisha training must weigh at least 43 kg (95 pounds).

Speaking of hair – you must like wigs or learn how to sleep on a high wooden pillow keep your complicated hairstyle in perfect shape.  A Maiko’s hair is usually only one once a week and is a time consuming process.

You must have a strong desire to live and learn in a highly traditional and structured Japanese lifestyle. In the Geisha world where everything from the language, mannerisms and personal grooming are different from the rest of Japan.  You will learn the fine art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, how to arrange flowers in the Japanese Style (Ikebana), how to perform ancient Japanese dances and play traditional Japanese musical instruments (shamisen and shakuhachi) with grace and style.

You must love make-up and think the nape of your neck is sexy – during the first three years of Maiko training, traditional heavy white make up highlighted with bright red lips is worm almost constantly.  Putting on the make up is time consuming and difficult to do on your own.

After learning all of the requirements to become a Geisha I have a newfound respect for them and hope you will too!  Geisha and Maiko are not just beautiful Japanese women in ornate kimonos – they are very talented and poised individuals whose company remains sought after in the higher echelons of Japanese society.

Experience the Geisha Lifestyle

• See Maiko and Geisha perform at Gion Corner in Kyoto.
• Book a Maiko Party in Kyoto
• Dress in a Kimono and visit a shrine in Saitama (just outside Tokyo)
• Experience the Japanese Tea Ceremony and Ikebana in Tokyo
• Visit a Kimono Flea Market in Osaka
• Explore The Nihon Sun A Closer Look Series to learn more about how to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle in various regions of Japan.  You’ll find links to hands on experiences, museums and much more.

Image Credit:  Wikimedia, Geisha-kyoto-2004-11-21

Just last Saturday, I made my first visit to Shinjuku Gyoen and found the spring flowers of Japan starting to bloom.  The grass hadn’t even turned green but  photographers surrounded the few cherry blossom trees that had overcome the cool spring weather to show their delicate pink  blooms.

This lovely young Japanese woman was having her picture taken in front of the Old Imperial Rest House (Shinjuku Gyoen map) in the park and was dressed in a kimono decorated with waves of sakura (cherry blossoms) along the base and sleeves.  She completed her traditional attire with a gold obi and added a modern touch with flowers in her soft flowing curls.

Despite the weather, a few people were relaxing and enjoying bento (boxed lunches) in the park.  The couple below chose a perfect spot to ponder the cherry blossoms don’t you think?

I enjoyed my stroll through the Shinjuku Gyoen and found it to be an oasis of calm in a very busy part of Tokyo.  The cherry blossoms and the young woman in the kimono were a bonus…

In his own words:

“I had already been shooting at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Yoyogi for about two hours and I was getting many of the same kinds of shots.  So for this shot I was really trying to find a shot different from all the others I had taken earlier that day.  There was also the matter of being able to get in position for any kind of shot because there were many other photographers there jockeying for position, even bumping into you!  I was able to get in front of most of the photographers, and get low (one one knee) and frame the shot as seen.  I thought the kimonos and especially the bags the girls were holding with them were eye catching, and that anonymity would make them stand out more. “

Dressing in a Kimono is a complicated affair and these young women pull it off well.

Jason’s previous addition The Nihon Sun Photo Gallery was a beautiful shot of  Mt. Fuji and you can see more great images from Seiji no Hi by Jason Collin on his website .

These and other great images of Japan can be found in The Nihon Sun Japan Photo Gallery.

Properly dressing yourself in a Kimono can be a bit of a challenge and for more formal occasions the assistance of a friend or professional dresser will come in handy.   In the west, we tend to embrace or avoid talking about or showing off our curves altogether and the latter is true in Japan.  In fact a well-dressed woman in a Kimono will appear to have no waist and it is considered alluring to show only a small “v” of skin at the neckline and a hint of skin at the nape of the neck.  It is considered risqué, or low class, to show too much of the neck and back when wearing a kimono – in ancient times this was a common practice of prostitutes.

As many as fourteen different items are required to properly wear a Kimono!  Ichiroya claims that 70% of Japanese women would have a hard time dressing themselves in a formal Kimono even if the required items were laid out for them:

Hadajuban—Undershirt
Susoyoke–Half slip
Nagajuban(Juban)–Full-length under kimono
Han eri–Half collar
Eri shin–Half-collar lining
Datejime–Under sash
Koshi himo–Sash
Obi – decorative belt
Obi ita–Obi stay
Obi makura–Obi-pad
Obiage–Bustle sash
Obijime–Obi cord
Tabi–Split-toed socks
Zori–Sandals

The next time you see a woman in a Kimono, take a moment to consider the time and effort involved in dressing as well and the special care to pick fabrics and patterns appropriate to the season and occasion.  Dressing in a kimono is an art form that many have studied for year and few have perfected.

Try it yourself when you visit Japan, or wherever you live but be sure to pass the left over the right when you don your kimono.  The opposite is the way that the dead are dressed for their funerals and it is considered bad luck to do otherwise while you are still alive.  But how to remember?  A tip is in the video below on how to put on a Yukata.

Kimono/Yukata Basics – Getting ready for the Obi

Kimono/Yukata Basics – Tying the Obi

During next summer’s matsuri (festival) season I’m going to try this myself – and I’ll be sure to remember “left-over rice” so that I am not mistaken for an obake (ghost)!

Image Credit:  Flickr, Gion – Maiko neck