Gion Geiko and Maiko Express Their Gratitude at Hassaku

 On 1 August, the traditional event of Hassaku was held in Gion Kobu, Kyoto, where gei-maiko express their gratitude to the people who take care of them on a daily basis.

At the Matsuyae on Hanamikoji in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, gei-maiko (geiko and maiko) visited dressed in autumnal kimonos decorated with bellflowers and other flowers and said "Congratulations. I look forward to seeing you again in the future."

It's customary for the Gion Kobu to make the rounds of greetings in formal black crested attire, but due to the large number of onlookers and the spread of the novel coronavirus, it was agreed that they should visit without formal kimonos.

Hassaku means the 1st day of August. The custom of farmers wishing for a good harvest and thanking those who have looked after them has been handed down in Kyoto's Kagai entertainment district, where gei-maiko make the rounds to greet masters of the arts and tea houses.