2012年10月15日 16:31
Graceful as a willow, flowing with the wind.
I was thrilled when the teachers told me that a special event was going to take place at Tondaya. On October 3rd, I witnessed a maiko and geiko performance. This was the first time I'd seen something like this in person, and I was absolutely fascinated. I could imagine that every single gesture had been rehearsed hundreds of times, in order to arrive at this level of precision and perfect timing, but that couldn't be seen in the performance itself. The grace and fluidity of each movement seemed out of this world, mesmerizing all of those present.
Naturally, I was also astonished by the beauty of geiko-san and maiko-san themselves, by their exquisite kimono and elaborate hairstyles, by the delicate and refined ring of their voices. Again, I thought of the amount of effort that every single one of their appearances in public must take, not to mention the many years one must train in order to perfect the art of conversation, of dancing, of the tea ceremony and so many others, and felt an overwhelming admiration for these ladies that are dedicating their lives to carrying further the traditions of Japanese culture.
After the performance was over, I was overjoyed that Umeha geiko-san, and Katsune maiko-san did me the honour of talking to me and even taking a picture with me. From a smaller distance, I was even more captivated by their beauty and elegance, and by the gracious sympathy with which they treated me.
I'm still somehow expecting to wake up one day and realise this has all been just a dream.