Mariko Tsunekawa and her friend Kikuko Taguchi are dressed in Japanese ceremonial garb in Nagoya, Japan. MODEL RELEASED


A maiko usually wears a colorfully-designed long-sleeved kimono (Japanese traditional garment) with a wider obi (sash) that is set to look like a bow as it drapes down to their back. A maiko’s collar is also a distinct feature because it is thick and embroidered, hangs very loosely and are mainly in the color red (other colors can only be gold or white). It will slowly have white embroidered patterns as they advance in their training but it will always remain to be dominantly red. Geisha, who are more mature, wear more subdued but refined kimonos with shorter sleeves that are usually in one color with a simple pattern at the bottom. Their obi is shorter too and it looks like a square bow knot at the back. Lastly, their collars are completely white and are not as loose. (Both maiko and geisha though wear kimonos according to the season).


Size: 3692px × 2405px
Location: Japan
Photo credit: © Ken Hawkins / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: Yes

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