SPRING~GIRL MISEDASHI

A happy family, Okasan & Onesan helping the new Maiko.

OKASAN: it's the Japanese word for Mother and is the owner or proprietress of an OKIYA, the lodging house where MAIKO and GEIKO lives during the length of her NENKI (contract or career as a GEIKO).

ONESAN, "older-sister", an older GEIKO and Maiko's mentor.

MISEDASHI: When a girl becomes a MAIKO she must find an ONESAN, "sister", an older GEIKO to become her mentor. This GEIKO may not necessarily be from the same OKIYA but that is the most common way. The rite of MISEDASHI is a MAIKO's debut, and much fanfare is given to the ceremony.
Fans and banners bearing the calligraphy and name of the new MAIKO are given out to loyal patrons and other members of the HANAMACHI, "geisha-town". To bind the MAIKO to her ONESAN the ritual of SAN SAN KUDO, a binding ceremony, where a MAIKO and GEIKO are legally bound as sisters.
The ceremony is held in the OKIYA and consist to drink sake from 3 cups. Each 3 sips from each cups, shared with one you are being bound to, the new MAIKO with her new ONISAN, GEIKO. After the SAN SAN KUDO, the new MAIKO is introduce to the public waiting outside the OKIYA followed by a walk around the HANAMACH, "geisha-town".