Maiko Small Fang SAKKOU

Today was Maiko SMALL FANG SAKKOU. The proud Maiko she will become a GEIKO later this month.

SAKKO is a hairstyle used nowadays by MAIKO, but was used in the Edo period for a wife to show dedication to her husband. For the MAIKO represent her marriage with the OKIYA family. (Okiya is the lodging house in which a MAIKO or GEIKO lives during the length of her nenki, or contract or career as a GEIKO.)

She will wear this hair style for the final two weeks of a MAIKO's apprenticeship, before her ERIKAE, when she'll become GEIKO (Geisha). Her hair ornaments must now be more subtle, though still more daring than those of the GEIKO (Geisha).

A CRANE KANZASHI is added as well as tortoiseshell items. It's twisted in many knots, so it is quite striking and elaborate. Also KANSASHI featuring gold and silver and quite often green pines.

During this period she'll also wear OHAGURO a custom of dyeing her teeth black.
This custom existed in Japan since the prehistorical ages, and was seen among the civilians until the end of the Meiji period.

Dyeing was mainly done by married women, though occasionally men did it as well. It was also beneficial, as it prevented tooth decay, in a similar fashion to modern dental sealants.

This tradition in Japan has existed since the prehistorical ages, and was seen among the civilians until the end of the Meiji period. Pitch black things such as glaze like lacquer were seen as beautiful.

Nowadays MAIKO use black wax to stain their teeth. The word OHAGURO was a Japanese aristocratic term, literally 'iron drink'.