Bon Odori

I have been so busy studying and building that I haven't blogged for a while so here goes.
I am learning to keep my mouth shut, listen and pay attention and if you don't believe me look at the photo below. There I am look, standing in the background, listening and paying attention. Not a word escaped my lips. Okaasan's,Geiko's Maiko's and little old me being a dutiful Shikomi.


They we discussing the upcoming Bon Odori celebrations and working out the details of who will be doing what and when. It sounds like there are going to be plenty of events over the next couple of months with something for everyone so I'm really looking forward to it.










The main festivities will be held between August 10th - 12th so put the dates in your Diary and keep an eye out for this poster appearing around the grid.

I have also been a little busy building a new Okiya complex for a friend which took me through the night earlier this week as I was so engrossed in the build. I didn't realise what the time was until my eyes started to close and my head did the nodding thing. Anyway, that's all finished and now they just have to furnish it and move in.



The best bit by far this week was dance class.
Oh yeaaaaahh, the Shikomi of Hanafusa are learning to dance.

Move it girl. Shake that fan

Hatsu and myself accompanied by a rather laid back looking Okaasan Kikuyu on the shamisen, running through different choreography 

I was confused as to what all the different moves meant at first but came to the conclusion that any movement, any hand placement, stamp of the foot, tilt of the head etc, can mean anything you like as long as the audience have the story that goes with the dance. This is just as well because I'm now writing a story and doing choreography in an attempt to understand dance 101.

Finally, my long lost Oneesan has appeared in the Okiya, minus tabi.
I have been dying to meet her and after a short chat (by my standards at least) she seems very nice so now we become five. Okaasan, Kikutsuru, Hatsu, Fumiko and me. I will update the family page when I manage to get a photo of Kikutsuru fully dressed. We can't have a Maiko wandering around barefoot now can we?