Hanaikusa (花いくさ～京都祇園伝説の芸妓・岩崎峰子～)

Heisei 19 (2007) Agency for Cultural Affairs Art Festival participant

Kyoto

Gion

It was widely known as a place where maiko and geiko,

who had inherited Japan's traditional arts of dance and Noh songs, served customers.

But at the same time it was also a scene of women's battles in the form of the ozashiki,

parties where geiko serve their curtomers.

From Showa 40's to 50's (1965-1984),

there was a gracious and valiant woman who was at the top.

She was known as Mineko.

Showa 40 (1965), March

I entered this world of Gion in Showa 29 (1954),

when I was only 4.

Masako.

Masako. Showa 29 (1954), Spring Yamashina,Kyoto

My name back then was Masako. Mineko (Masako):Age 4

Come here.

The youngest of 11 siblings, I was extremely shy around strangers. Come here.

The youngest of 11 siblings, I was extremely shy around strangers.

How cute she is!

I

am serious.

I am thinking of having this girl become my successor.

You are...

a little flower bud.

That was my first meeting with the owner of Iwasaki, an okiya in Gion.

If you ever want to come home, you can come anytime.

If you don't like it there, I will come pick you up whenever you want.

All right!

Gion Street

She's here!

Oh!

I'm so glad you've come.

Men aren't allowed to enter.

Okiya, Iwasaki

Okiya - A house that cares for geiko and sends them to teahouses.

Isn't she cute?

Masako-chan

This is our accompanist, Umechiyo.

She is very skilled at the shamisen.

From now on, she will act in place of your mother,

so you should call her "Mother".

That's just a custom at the okiya.

Plus, I'm not old enough to be called mother yet.

Right,

that's the most important point. Right,

that's the most important point.

Oh, my...

Ah, what a willful girl.

This is going to be difficult!

Saeko-san-neesan, welcome back.

Welcome back.

Welcome back.

I'm back.

Welcome back.

Shouldn't you be at the Tokushige ozashiki right now?

The customer was stingy and weird, and seemed like an idiot.

So I said my stomach hurt and came back early.

What a willful girl.

Who's she?

That's my seat.

Get up!

She's Masako-chan. Get up!

She's Masako-chan.

I plan to have her take over after me.

From today, your name will be Mineko.

So we'll call you Mineko.

No!

No!

I hate Mineko!

Mineko-chan!

My name is Masako, not Mineko!

Raise your knees.

Face forward.

Don't lower your hand.

Higher, higher, higher!

That's right, higher!

Mine-chan, you have to scrub harder.

Cleaning the toilet is the successor's job.

It's tradition.

If the toilet is dirty, you're the one who will be laughed at.

Mineko: Age 10

6 years later, Showa 35 (1960), Winter

Six years had passed since I came to Iwasaki, and it was winter. 6 years later, Showa 35 (1960), Winter

Six years had passed since I came to Iwasaki, and it was winter.

Ow, it hurts.

Saeko-san, are you all right?

Are you injured?

Ow.

Ow.

Sorry about that.

For God's sake!

She's the successor, huh?

Well,

what will you do?

Come now,

answer us, Mine-chan. Come now,

answer us, Mine-chan.

You must decide today.

Will you return to Yamashina?

Will you return to being Masako?

Oh, come out already

I will become a geiko.

Oh my.

Oh!

The flower bud has opened.

Mineko,

blossom into a large flower in Gion.

Kinki District Family Court: Kyoto Branch blossom into a large flower in Gion.

Kinki District Family Court: Kyoto Branch

I want to be adopted by Iwasaki.

Is that really okay, Masako?

I'm Mineko.

Masako is already dead.

I will become the best geiko in Gion.

I will definitely be the best.

Misedashi

Mineko: Age 15

You're so lovely.

Lovely!

How lovely...

Haruba's timing was so bad.

If she had only waited two more weeks...

Take care of

everyone.

Mineko.

Here in Gion,

become a beautiful, beautiful flower,

one...

that won't lose...

to anyone.

Listen, Mine-chan.

Maiko must smile.

You can never stop smiling.

Okey?

Mineko

This is the Misedashi for Mineko of Iwasaki.

Please treat her well.

This is the Misedashi for Mineko of Iwasaki.

Please treat her well.

In March of Showa 40 (1965),

in the spring of my 15th year,

I become a Maiko in Gion.

I look forward to working with you.

However, the real battle for me had just begun.

It was beginning of the flower battle (hana ikusa).

Hana Ikusa Kyoto, Gion: The legendary Geiko, Iwasaki Mineko

Based on " The Flower Battle of Geiko Mineko " by Iwasaki Mineko

Do you have some sort of problem with me?

Heaven forbid!

That's not what I meant at all.

Then what did you mean?

At that time, Saeko-san was the most popular geiko at Iwasaki.

I was hoping maybe you could be just a little more...

enthusiastic at the ozashiki.

Just a little. enthusiastic at the ozashiki.

Just a little.

So, I'm asking

who it is that has been

complaining about me?

Which teahouse?

Fukumasaka?

Tsujimoto?

Mihanate?

I can't really say...

If you aren't happy with me,

that's easily fixed.

I'll just quit. that's easily fixed.

I'll just quit.

Please don't say that!

Alright, Saeko-san.

Think of it as helping me save face...

And just what part of your face would you like me to save?

Over here? Ow, ow, ow...

Here?

Stop that. It hurts.

Hey, Mineko.

Now that you did your misedashi,

you're not getting cocky, are you?

When a teacup is empty,

why don't you come and fill it quickly!

No, please don't do that!

That teacup is expensive, you know.

Your escort is here.

In this world,

money is everything.

If you don't like it, try and see if you can stop giving me work.

Oh, no. That was expensive...

Mine-chan!

Kae-chan!

Done for the day?

Yes

Then, come on...

Hurry up, come, come!

Come!

Wait a sec.

Ah! Wait a sec.

Wait a sec.

Oh look, there she is, Ayako-san!

I really look up to her.