Hanataba Maiko Hikizuri

This is the kimono of a junior maiko; the red-coloured collar is slightly covered in white embroidery, indicating the maiko has completed one to two years of her apprenticeship. Thius elegant tsukesage hikizuri has a colorful chic flower design. The maru obi is from around Taisho period (1912-1925), and has a luxurious design: fans, 'karabana'(imaginary flower in China) and crane motifs are woven boldly. Lots of gold threads are used, and it has exceptionally gorgeous atmosphere.

"Hikizuri" means that the kimono has a longer length than a usual one and is worn by geisha and maiko, apprentice geisha. What is more iconic than the geisha in her hikizuri? The hem of a hikizuri, or tailing kimono, would drape on the floor and swirl gracefully as the geiko or maiko stands, and of course, as she dances.

The susohiki is mostly worn by geisha or by stage performers of the traditional Japanese dance. It is quite long, compared to regular kimono, because the skirt is supposed to trail along the floor. Susohiki literally means "trail the skirt". Where a normal kimono for women is normally 1.5–1.6 m (4.7–5.2 ft) long, a susohiki can be up to 2 m (6.3 ft) long. This is also why geisha and maiko lift their kimono skirt when walking outside, also to show their beautiful underkimono or "nagajuban".