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For years, I have been fascinated by Japanese ink paintings
and kimono. Knowing that it is possible to get dressed
in gorgeous kimono, be photographed in a studio and disguised
as a beautiful Maiko walking briskly along narrow stone-paved
street in old Japan, I set off on my trip to Osaka
and Kyoto.
Kyoto was Japan's capital and residence of emperors for over
thousand years with countless historic temples and shrines.
Upon arrival in the Kyoto Station, my friend Vicky
and I were stunned by the modish of the station building,
which was a huge contrast to Kyoto's image as the centre of
traditional Japan. We caught a bus headed toward the renowned
Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) as we had planned
to visit this Japan's oldest temple before our Maiko makeover.
After taking few great shots from the famous wooden terrace,
making a short prayer in the shrine and sampling some spring
water what is said to have healing powers, we left the temple
to search for the studio that we had already selected before
our trip to Japan.
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Vicky and Mavis in their Maiko outfits
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Searching a studio in the maze-like Kiyomizu Ninenzaka
area was not easy! With the help of a rickshaw man, we
were finally there, Studio Yumekoubou (Dream Workshop).
We rapidly chose a picture package from the menu and were
then led to a plain room waiting for our makeover. The room
was not very big but full of mirrors and racks hanging with
lots of colourful kimonos. Two makeup artists came over and
asked us to take off all clothing (except for the slip) and
put on a little white cotton slip and a pair of socks with
only one socket for the big toe. Struggling some time in choosing
which kimono to put on, the beautification process began.
The makeup artist first painted my face to the back of my
lower neck with plain white makeup until I looked like a ghost
in Japanese tale, then she shaped my eyebrows with eye pencil,
gave me red eyeliner and crimson colour on my pale lips and
finally a retouch on the facial makeup. In just 20 minutes
I was transformed from an ordinary visitor to a girl with
a bright white Maiko face. It was magical.
Then it came to the most difficult part of the makeover -
to wear the kimono. Kimono is not wearer-friendly. There are
kimono schools in Japan teaching women on how to wear kimonos
and helping people wearing kimonos is a profession in Japan.
Like wrapping a valuable gift, I was fastened in few layers
of clothing. Overlapping from one side to another side, from
the front to the back and then back to the front, with ultimately
a 12-inch wide sash called "obi" wrapping around
my waist to hold the kimono closed and in place, the kimono
was nicely dressed on my body. Instead of arranging my hair,
I was given a wig with flower ornaments to expedite the process.
My transformation was done! To my surprise, it was not too
hard to breathe being trussed up with so many clothing, but
it was a little bit difficult to walk with the 3-inch-thick
sabot and the unique socks.
Having dressed up, we were then escorted to the photo studio
for our photo shootings. We were given some props like a fan,
a colourful ball and a parasol and posed in the ways as the
photographer taught us. We had shootings one by one and had
few pictures taken together. After all, we toddled back to
the makeup room, took off our kimono with the help of the
artists, spent half hour removed the cosmetics and felt a
little bit relieved.
It was a surreal experience! Kimono is not only an expression
of beauty and sensitivity but also an admiration to traditional
values. For sure I will visit Kyoto again, to further explore
this magnificent city and have my boyfriend dressed up like
a samurai!!
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Travel Writers: Maiko Makeover By Mavis
Li
