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Kyoto geisha start New Year preparations

KYOTO, Japan - Geisha entertainers and maiko apprentice geisha line up to greet the Kyomai dance master Inoue Yachiyo (L) at her home in Kyoto on Dec. 13, 2010. The annual ''kotohajime'' event signaled the start of preparations for the New Year in the city's Hanamachi entertainment quarter.

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Kyoto geisha start New Year preparations

KYOTO, Japan - Apprentice geisha, or maiko, line up to receive a special fan from the Kyomai dance master Inoue Yachiyo (L) at her home in Kyoto on Dec. 13, 2009. The ceremony was one of the annual ''kotohajime'' events that signal the start of preparations for the New Year in the city's Hanamachi entertainment quarter.

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Kyoto geisha start New Year preparations

KYOTO, Japan - Apprentice geisha, or maiko, line up to receive a special fan from the Kyomai dance master Inoue Yachiyo (2nd from L) at her home in Kyoto on Dec. 13, 2009. The ceremony was one of the annual ''kotohajime'' events that signal the start of preparations for the New Year in the city's Hanamachi entertainment quarter.

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Geisha festival, symposium to be held in western Japan

Kikuno (L), a geisha in Nara, western Japan, and an apprentice geisha known as maiko, hold a poster advertising Naramachi Hana Akari, a festival gathering geishas and maikos from Tokyo, Kyoto and six other locations, on Jan. 6, 2016. Kikuno is a chief organizer of the festival to be held on Feb. 26-28 in Nara, in which various events and entertainment will be on display, including a symposium to discuss how to revive Japan's "hanamachi" (flower town) geisha districts. Kikuno said there are only five geishas, including her, in Ganriin, a local hanamachi, compared with the peak of some 200 before World War II. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Maiko rehearse for Kyoto dance event

"Maiko," female apprentice entertainers clad in gorgeous kimono, perform during a joint rehearsal for "Miyako no Nigiwai" in the western Japanese city of Kyoto on June 16, 2015. A total of 20 maiko from five major "Hanamachi" entertainment areas in the city took part in the rehearsal for the traditional dance event, which will be held on June 27 and 28. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Maiko rehearse for Kyoto dance event

"Maiko," female apprentice entertainers clad in gorgeous kimono, perform during a joint rehearsal for "Miyako no Nigiwai" in the western Japanese city of Kyoto on June 16, 2015. A total of 20 maiko from five major "Hanamachi" entertainment areas in the city took part in the rehearsal for the traditional dance event, which will be held on June 27 and 28. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kyoto geisha start New Year preparations

KYOTO, Japan - Geisha entertainers and maiko apprentice geisha line up to greet the Kyomai dance master Inoue Yachiyo (L) at her home in Kyoto on Dec. 13, 2010. The annual ''kotohajime'' event signaled the start of preparations for the New Year in the city's Hanamachi entertainment quarter. (Kyodo)

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Kyoto geisha start New Year preparations

KYOTO, Japan - Apprentice geisha, or maiko, line up to receive a special fan from the Kyomai dance master Inoue Yachiyo (L) at her home in Kyoto on Dec. 13, 2009. The ceremony was one of the annual ''kotohajime'' events that signal the start of preparations for the New Year in the city's Hanamachi entertainment quarter. (Kyodo)

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Kyoto geisha start New Year preparations

KYOTO, Japan - Apprentice geisha, or maiko, line up to receive a special fan from the Kyomai dance master Inoue Yachiyo (2nd from L) at her home in Kyoto on Dec. 13, 2009. The ceremony was one of the annual ''kotohajime'' events that signal the start of preparations for the New Year in the city's Hanamachi entertainment quarter. (Kyodo)