My Thoughts on Maiko and What I Want Visitors to Kyoto to Know

Before I begin, it may be helpful to know that a maiko is an apprentice geiko (the Kyoto term for geisha).
Through years of training in traditional arts, etiquette, and hospitality, maiko work toward becoming fully qualified geiko.

Having been born and raised in Kyoto, I remember admiring maiko when I was a child.
Dressed in their beautiful and colorful kimono, they seemed elegant and glamorous.

Perhaps it is similar to how many Western children dream of becoming princesses and wearing beautiful gowns.

But even as a child, there was one thing I could hardly imagine: leaving home and living away from my family at the age of fifteen.

Today, many teenagers spend their free time on smartphones, watching YouTube videos or scrolling through social media. For a maiko, however, there is little time for such things.

Before becoming accomplished artists, they must dedicate themselves to years of training.
Their days begin early, helping with preparations, attending lessons, and practicing traditional arts.
They devote themselves to learning dance, etiquette, conversation, and many other skills.

In some ways, their lives may be even more demanding than those of students who leave home to attend boarding schools.

Yet despite these challenges, there are still young girls who choose this path. With the support of their families, some even move to Kyoto from distant parts of Japan to pursue their dream of becoming a maiko.

Such determination should never be underestimated.

There may have been nights when they missed their families and friends. There may have been moments when they questioned their decision or felt lonely.
But by overcoming these hardships, they continue on the path to becoming maiko and eventually geiko.

That is why I have great respect for them.

The maiko of Gion are not simply beautiful figures to photograph. They are dedicated professionals who have committed themselves to preserving one of Kyoto’s most treasured cultural traditions.

They are also precious to the teahouses and communities that have invested years in their training and development.

If you are fortunate enough to see a maiko in Gion, I hope you will simply admire her from a respectful distance.

Please take a moment to appreciate the dedication, discipline, and sacrifice behind the beauty you see.

A maiko is not a tourist attraction.

She is a young professional carrying forward a centuries old tradition.