Kareigawa Station on the Hisatsu Line is the oldest operating train station in Kagoshima Prefecture. 🚃 Located in the mountains of Kirishima City, this wooden station started operation in 1903 and sells bento boxes for train otaku and local riders every Saturday and Sunday. Afterwards, we took at dip at @kanmuridake_onsen in Ichikikushikino and it was spectacular. Kanmuri means "crown" and dake means "mountain" or "ridge" and the naming of the place becomes apparent via the stark mountains overlooking the outside rotenburo baths. 🧖🏻♂️ #鹿児島 #嘉例川駅 #電車 #最古 #霧島 #九州 #観光 #温泉 #温泉旅行 #いちき串木野市 #冠岳温泉 #kagoshima #kagofan #dondonkagoshima #kareigawa #station #train #trains #trainstation #oldest #kirishima #kyushu #japan #japantravel #japantrip #japanese #hotspring #kanmura #onsen #ichikikushikinocity (at 嘉例川駅) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpg6pM1yhnr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Back in March, a reader of this blog asked for a blog entry in the vein of previous "the look of..." features, but for Kamisuwa Onsen 上諏訪温泉.
Sadly, there isn't much visual material available and the basic look of the 3 or less remaining Geisha boils down to: Yohatsu, Homongi, light-coloured Obiage, Otaiko Musubi, or the formal look: Tsubushi Shimada, Kurotomesode, red Obiage, Otaiko Musubi. So here, I present some collected random infos you might find interesting.
Kamisuwa Geisha, Setsubun 2014
Dances
Kappore かっぽれ
Takeda bushi 武田節
Kiso bushi 木曽節
Kohan bushi 湖畔節
Ina bushi 伊奈節
Shôchikubai 松竹梅 (performed in the new year season)
Tsurukame 鶴亀 (performed at wedding receptions and birthdays)
O-Suwa Takashi お諏訪節
Sukêto bushi スケート節 (Ice skating on lake Suwa)
Kirigamine kouta 霧ヶ峰小唄 (ice skating)
Onhashira kouta 御柱小唄
Suwa ondo 諏訪音頭 (about the beauty of Suwa throughout the seasons)
Okaya kouta 岡谷小唄 (about the Okaya silk industry)
Numbers
1930's ("early Showa period"): 200 Geisha in Kamisuwa
1958: 80
1960's: 300
2006: 3
History
The first Hanamachi on lake Suwa developed in Nawatemachi 縄手町/畷町 in 1903 (renamed to Otemachi 大手町 in 1909). In the following years, a few Ryotei were established. In 1920, the area of Otemachi 1 and 2 chôme was designated as area for Geisha, so Okiya and Ryotei of the neighbouring Izumichô area 和泉町 were moved there. In the early Showa period (1920's/30's), Okiya that were formerly located in Hamamachi also moved to Otemachi.
Kamisuwa had two kenban: Ote kenban 大手見番 and Koyanagi kenban 湖柳見番.
In Shimosuwa 下諏訪, it seems kenban had no specific names.
In Okaya 岡谷, there used to be another Koyanagi kenban 小柳見番 in the Honmachi area.
In Chino 茅野, there were Miyagawa kenban 宮川見番 (current Miyagawacho area), and Eimei kenban 永明見番 (current Nakacho area).
Before the around 1969/70, Geisha of these respective cities did not work in other cities. But with the decline of Geisha numbers, the Hanamachi in Okaya, Shimosuwa and Chino were no longer able to meet the demands of their customers, so it was allowed for Geisha from Kamisuwa to pad those numbers.
Chiyomaru 千代丸 in "Showa Meigiren", 1988
Daily life
Geisha usually practiced their respective arts (such as Narimono, Nagauta, Kouta, dance) until 15:00, afterwards they went to the beauty parlour to get their hair done, put on makeup and change into work clothes. Ozashiki usually lasted for two hours.
Style
In the year 1935, Geisha still wore their natural hair instead of wigs, and their hairstyle changed, depending on rank and age. Hangyoku wore Momoware 桃割れ and Oshidori おしどり. Geisha under 26 years wore Yuiwata 結い綿 or Taka shimada 高島田, no info on Geisha between 26 and 30, Geisha aged 31 and above wore Geiko yui 芸こ結い, tsubushi (shimada?) つぶし, icho gaeshi 銀杏返, and yokai maki 夜会まき.
Around 1955, most Geisha wore short hair or western updos on a daily base and used Nihongami wigs for work.
Becoming Geiko
Three mediators who acted as go-between of Okiya and families/volunteers worked in Kamisuwa. According to Manchiyo, who worked from 1930 to 44 in Otemachi, the daughters of poor farmers and travelling entertainers were sold to the Okiya for 15 yen. When the parents met with the Okiya, the length of the girl's service was decided.
After becoming employed by the Okiya, the girls were doing "odd jobs", while taking lessons in Hanayagi-ryu dance, Shamisen and other arts. It's like Shikomi in Kyoto, although no specific term is named.
When a Hangyoku was ready to become a Geisha, she had to prove her skills in dance or shamisen to a council of dance/shamisen teacher, Okiya owner, senior Geisha, head of the Geisha association and a member of the Kenban. The Okiya spent around 30 yen for an Erikae, while the Geisha had to take a loan of 150-200 yen. If her parents were to borrow money during her time before becoming independent, it was added to her loan. If parents continued to ask for money and the Geisha's debt became too large, they often became prostitutes in order to pay off their debts.
Around 2 years after becoming Geisha, they became "Goshugi tori" ご祝儀取り - they receive some of the money from the Gyokudai, but tips were entirely for them to keep. The next level was called "share" 分け, when 40% of all earnings were her own. When becoming independent from their Okiya, they paid fees for food and being registered at the place. Most Geisha also had a patron after becoming independent, which also lead to most of them retiring before the age of 30.
@gardengeisha yes, this is about Kamisuwa Onsen located in Suwa-gun in Nagano prefecture!