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 Toyochiyo
Pontocho Hanamachi, Kyoto
Toyochiyo was born in Kyoto before the second world war and knew at a very young age that she wanted to become a maiko.
At the age of six she became a pupil of the Hanayagi School and started taking traditional dancing lessons. Toyochiyo, although still quite young, appeared in numerous stage appearances with her first one being at a festival for her kindergarten. She made her debut as Fuji-Musume in a recital of the Hanayagi School and in later recitals she danced the leading parts in "Dojoji" and "Toshima".
After the second world war ended and geisha were allowed to practice their profession again, Toyochiyo, at the age of 13 years old, started up once again her training in traditional dancing. The following four years would see her perform as Insane Omiya among many other roles.
When Toyochiyo reached the age of seventeen, she was finally able to achieve her childhood dream of becoming a fully fledge maiko. Along with her dancing lessons and many other things a young maiko must learn, she also started taking lessons on the tsutsumi and taiko.
After one year and eleven months as a maiko, Toyochiyo finally turned her "collar" (eri-kae) and became a full fledge geisha.
Toyochiyo's story was referenced from "Geisha of Pontocho" by PD Perkins. Her photograph is from the 1954 Miyako Odori program.
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