
Gion was established in the Edo period (17th century), just in front of the Yasaka Shrine. The shrine’s pilgrims needed an entertainment place where they could take a rest, drink, eat, relax, and prepare for the journey back home. Eventually, geiko and maiko populated the district. Back in the Meiji period, there were 700 teahouses and over 3000 geiko and maiko at Gion. After the war, the geimaiko population shrinked to 600 and the teahouses number was reduced to 150. Nowadays (2019), Gion Kobu is inhabited by about 70 geiko and 30 maiko, and they work at 60 teahouses. Gion Kobu is divided by the Shijo street into Gion Minamigawa (historical scenery preservation area) and Gion Kitagawa (Shinbashi street and Gion Shirakawa area are treated as a traditional buildings preservation area). Gion Kobu’s geiko and maiko study the Inoue school of dance (it can be learnt only there, from the master Inoue Yachiyo) and present Miyako Odori stage performance every April, since 1872. In Autumn, they prepare the Onshukai stage dances. Gion Kobu’s crest represents a dango skewer with “Ko” sign inside.
The Gion area was closed during the II World War but resumed business operation in 1945 and Miyako Odori was resumed in 1950 at the Minamiza Theatre. The show returned later to Gion Kaburenjo, but recently it moved to Minamiza again, due to a renovation of Kaburenjo. Geiko and maiko of Gion Kobu study at Yasaka Nyokoba (八坂女紅場学園) female school of arts.
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新井 Arai
Maiko: 豆誉 Mameyo
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福嶋 Fukushima
Geiko: 章乃 Fumino, 紫乃 Shino
Maiko: 瑞乃 Mizuno, 鈴乃 Suzuno -
廣島屋 Hiroshimaya
Geiko: 小愛 Koai, 小扇 Kosen, だん満 Danmitsu, 小衿 Koeri
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桝梅 Masuume
Geiko: 小富美 Kofumi, 小萬 Koman, 小りん Korin, 小喜美 Kokimi, 小菊 Kogiku, 小恵美 Koemi, 小花 Kohana
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美の八重 Mi no Yae
Geiko: 真咲 Masaki, 恵美華 Emika
Maiko: 真矢 Maya -
中支志 Nakagishi
Geiko: 市有里 Ichiyuri, 小芳 Koyoshi, 市十美 Ichitomi, 市晴 Ichiharu, ます音 Masune
Maiko: 市紘 Ichihiro, 小奈都 Konatsu
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亻 Ninben
Geiko: 豆弘 Mamehiro, まめ弥 Mameya, 豆まる Mamemaru, 豆純 Mamesumi, 恵美乃 Emino
Maiko: 豆珠 Mametama, 豆沙弥 Mamesaya, 豆結 Mameyui, まめ彩 Mameaya -
西村 Nishimura
Geiko: 美帆子 Mihoko, 有佳子 Yukako, 槇子 Makiko, 朋子 Tomoko
Maiko: 槇里子 Mariko, 美羽子 Miwako, 亜佐子 Asako, 槇沙子 Masako, 依子 Yoriko -
小田本 Odamoto
Geiko: 章佳司 Fumikazu, 佳つ智 Katsutomo, 佳つ雛 Katsuhina, 佳つ江 Katsue, 佳つ花 Katsuhana
Maiko: 佳つ春 Katsuharu, 佳つ桃 Katsumomo, 佳つ笑 Katsuemi, 佳つ梅 Katsuume, 佳つ駒 Katsukoma
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多麻 Tama
Geiko: 福葉 Fukuha, 満友葉 Mayuha, まめ鈴 Mamesuzu, ます穂 Masuho, 幸苑 Yukizono, 恵里葉 Eriha, まほ璃 Mahori, まめ柳 Mameryu, まめ衣 Mamekinu, 多都葉 Tatsuha, まめ藤 Mamefuji
Maiko: ゆり葉 Yuriha, 菜乃葉 Nanoha, まめ樹 Mameju, 櫻千鶴 Haruchizu, 柚子葉 Yuzuha -
つる居 Tsurui
Geiko: 紗矢佳 Sayaka, 紗月 Satsuki, 茉利佳 Marika, 美月 Mitsuki
Maiko: あす佳 Asuka, 紗友美 Sayumi