Differences between Maiko, Geisha and Geiko

What is Geisha (Geiko)
Geisha are professional artists who are registered in official geisha associations and excel in traditional Japanese arts and crafts such as shamisen playing, dancing, and tea ceremony. Geiko is the word that refers to geisha in the Kyoto dialect. Broma-Smenda (2014) defines it as “Geisha (geigi or geiko) is a traditional Japanese female entertainer, whose skills include various arts like dancing, singing, and playing music. Geishas as male companions at banquets were specialized only in traditional Japanese arts in contrast to courtesans (yujô).

What is Maiko
Maiko are the apprentice geisha who are still training to perfect their cultural and entertainment skills. Maiko’s outfits are more eye-catching to divert attention from the lack of knowledge and experience. Geisha’s fashion is usually more mature and subtle. Maiko must live in the “mother”s house and depend on the little allowance she receives from the geisha house. Geisha, on the other hand, are more independent and live in a separate house of their own in the geisha neighborhoods. You can easily distinguish between geisha and maiko based on the image above.

Conversation Skills
Since maiko is still training, she would speak less and usually nods or smiles during a conversation. Geiko, on the other hand, is an expert on how to initiate and maintain a conversation in any circumstance. Geisha would know what kind of conversations make patrons feel calm, relaxed, or happy.

Cultural Skills
Maiko would attend the dance school every day and practice shamisen playing until she is perfect. Geiko is a professional who can dance, play shamisen, and perform tea ceremonies. The reason that the training takes so long is, geisha dance to different themes and songs almost every month as seasons and festivals pass by. In Kyoto, each geisha district specializes in different musical instruments and different Tea Ceremony styles.

Age
Maiko is between the ages of 15 and 20 while the geiko is older than 20. In the past, little girls used to be sold to okiya at the age of 7 but since this is now illegal in Japan many girls enter the okiya after they complete the mandatory national education requirement which is middle school. Even though the typical maiko training is 3~5 years, sometimes the maiko stage can last 7-8 years. So there is actually maiko in Kyoto who are older than 20. Readers should note that maiko only exist in Kyoto, there is no such thing as the maiko-stage in the other geisha districts.

The traces of young girls’ becoming a maiko can still be seen from the outfit of maiko today. For instance, maiko usually wear a sash that shows a huge crest of the okiya they belong to. The reason that mark is very big is, in the past, these little girls used to get lost and people could have brought them back to the houses they belonged to by recognizing the crest.

White Powder on the Face
First of all, contrary to the common belief, neither geiko nor maiko wear white makeup all the time; however, when they do, there are differences. Geiko would have a completely white face while maiko has a little space between the hairline and white powdered skin. The reason geiko and maiko put on the white makeup is to be seen clearly when the room is dark as in the past there was no electricity.

Wig
Maiko don’t wear a wig. They have to have their own hair styled which costs time and money. Maiko often sleep on a piece of wood (takamakura) at night to keep their hairstyle for a few days. Geiko wear a wig as the styling usually damages the hair over time and aging makes the hair a bit oily which makes it difficult to maintain.

Hairpins
Maiko wears silver dangling metal hairpins called bira. Geiko usually don’t wear hairpins or just use very simple ones.

Kimono
As can be seen in the image above, maiko wear a colorful, usually flower-decorated, kimono with long sleeves while geiko wear a simple kimono with short sleeves. The nagajuban of maiko and geiko are also different as well. To emphasize the young age and purity of maiko usually the chest of maiko is usually suppressed. Both maiko and geiko wear expensive silk kimonos that are always tailor-made and not sold in stores.

One of the main differences between maiko and geiko is the color of the collar they wear. Maiko wear a red collar and geiko wear a white-collar. That is why, when a maiko becomes a professional geiko, they use the term “turning the collar.”

Obi
Maiko wear a long silk obi that is 5~7 meters long. Geiko wear a simple short sash. Maiko’s outfit can be as heavy as 15 kilos in the winter with the long obi, the complicated nagajuban and the haori jacket.

Sandals
Maiko wear tall sandals called okobo and geiko wear short sandals called zori. Maiko’s sandals usually have a bell in place that makes a sound when they move. Although the sounds of these little bells may make them look childish, among the locals this is called the sound of Kyoto streets.

Check out Yoko Beverly Hill’s Once in Lifetime Event: LIVE EVENT WITH AN AUTHENTIC REAL GEISHA FROM KYOTO
GEISHA EVENT