Hidetae, Spring 2023
Maiko Hidetae from Masamiya Okiya of the Pontocho hanamachi(Geisha district).
Hidetae debuted as a Maiko late in 2021 during the challenging times of the pandemic. While many of her peers left the Kagai due to uncertainty at the time, she persevered.
Spring 2023, Hidetae was almost two years into her apprenticeship. We spent some time in the early evening around Pontocho, her Hanamachi neighborhood.
Hidetae, tranquil evening and Pontocho alleyways
It is early evening, feeling the need for a change of scenery from the okiya we went for a stroll in the charming Pontocho neighborhood.
We duck through narrow alleyways and walk pass traditional machiya houses. Ceramic bowl with goldfishes, weathered wall embellished with colorful senjafudas, and a quirky vending machine with Maiko motifs - each adding a touch of enchantment to our walk.
The overcast spring evening offered us a tranquil walk and perfect lighting to photograph Hidetae in her lovely kimono.
