It’s already the year end. I mean, how quick!

This year, Kaomise (顔見世, the annual year end play at Minamiza theater) is back to Minamiza (南座) after the three long years of renovation work. The Maneki (まねき, a billboard over the eaves of the Minamiza theater on which all star actors’ names are presented) is telling us the arrival of the year end.

Every year in this season, I recall the practice of my dancing for “Odai no Mai (お題の舞)”, which is a choreography in accordance with the theme of Utakai Hajime (歌会初め, the poetry reading held at the beginning of the New Year) next spring. The theme is decided at the year end using only one Kanji (漢字) character.

At the Opening ceremony on January 7, awards are given to top ten Maiko (舞妓) based on Ohana (お花, sales amount of Maiko) of the previous year, and the ten Maiko perform the Odai no Mai at the Utakai Hajime.

Hence, the lessons for Odai no Mai is given only to the potential candidates. I remember how I admired those selected ones when I was new. I firmly decided to be included in the top ten, and after I was included, I determined even more, not to drop from the top ten. The Odai no Mai practice was such a severe and important task for me.

The theme for 2019 has been announced as “Hikari (光, the Light)”. I can picture, pretty little Maiko are doing their practice very hard.

Thank you so much.
Talk to you later.

Beniko

#Kabuki #KIMONO