On October 3, 2023, three maikos celebrated their debut at the same time in Gion Higashi, a red-light district in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. It's unusual for three people to open a store from the same okiya at the same time, so they went around to greet each other with renewed determination, saying, ''I'm happy that the three of us can work together and be of help.''

The three of them opened the store at the same time and headed to a familiar store (from the right) Shizuka Kano, Suzu Kano, and Kanozono, all from Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City.

Shizu Kano from Osaka Prefecture, Suzu Kano from Kagoshima Prefecture, and Kanosono from Tokyo. All of them have been living at Kanoya since February of this year, training and learning Japanese dance and etiquette. It is said that not only local geishas and geishas from the Kano family, but also senior maikos and geishas from Gion Higashi, all of whom were ''nee-san'', provided guidance.

The three of us helped each other on the opening day of our store.

On this day, the three of them got ready in the morning by tying their hair and putting on kimonos, and after purifying themselves with a flint stone, they were seen off by their parents and relatives and set out to greet each other at the teahouse, nearby coffee shop, and familiar Japanese sweets shop where they would be taken care of from now on. did.

After greetings, leaving the store (from left) Kano Shizuka, Kano Suzu, and Kanozono.

Shizuka Kano, who chose to become a maiko because her mother worked in hand-painted Yuzen, said of her training, ''There were a lot of things I didn't understand or felt anxious about, and the three of us supported each other.'' Looking back, he said with all his might, ''I want to do my best not to worry my sister.''

Suzu Kano saw documentary footage of her as a maiko and felt that it was ''homely and wonderful,'' so she knocked on the gates of Gion Higashi. She said shyly, ''I'm happy to be able to join your sister,'' and vowed to devote herself to the arts.

Ms. Kanozono, who wanted to become a maiko because she wanted to work while being exposed to Japanese culture, said, ''She wants to become the graceful maiko that everyone imagines.'' "I'm so happy," she said with a smile.

The three will make their debut on stage at the dance performance "Gion Odori" starting November 1st. To date, Gion Higashi has only three maikos and nine geiko/locals, and the fourth generation owner of the Kano family, Yukitaka Nishida (47 years old), says, ''I want them to grow up to be geishas and support Gion Higashi.'' I had high hopes.