October 2nd will be Umechie’s last day as a member of the Kyoto karyukai, so in dedication of her hard work and long service let’s take a look back at the career of a maiko that’s spanned 6 years, many ups and downs, and a wonderful smile!







September 13th, 2012

Image courtesy of the Kamishichiken Kabukai.

16 year old Moeka takes her first steps to becoming a maiko with the start of her minarai period. She is from the Umeno (梅乃) okiya in Kamishichiken and possesses the geimei of Umechie (梅ちえ). She has stated that she wanted to become a maiko ever since she was a young girl and now strives to make her dream come true!







October 2nd, 2012

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie marks her formal debut with her misedashi ceremonies. She debuts without an onesan and is the second active maiko at her okiya. Within two months she would become the only maiko as her okiya onesan Umeyae (梅やえ) leaves the profession. She will remain Umeno’s only maiko until 2014.







February 25th, 2013

Image courtesy of Hiro’s Factory.



Umechie takes part in her first of six Baikaisai (梅花祭). She is joined by another first year maiko, Katsuna (勝奈) of Daimonji (大文字), who she would become close friends with.







March 25th - April 7th, 2013

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie takes part in her first Kitano Odori (北野をどり). She performs the tea ceremony with okiya onesan Umeha (梅葉). It is her first stage performance since debuting just shy of 6 months prior to the event. She would take part in a further six Kitano Odori over the course of her career.







August 2013

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie takes part in her first Bon Odori (盆をどり) with best friend Katsuna. A few weeks later she would turn 17.







October 2nd, 2013

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie completes her first year as a maiko and no longer wears shidare in her kanzashi. She also begins to paint her upper lip.







January 2014

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie kicks off the new year with a formal outfit. 2014 would hold many changes for the okiya, including a great deal for Umechie as well!







March 25th - April 7th, 2014

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie takes part in her second Kitano Odori, looking much more comfortable in her role as a maiko. Her newfound growth doesn’t go unnoticed though!







May 2014

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie becomes a senior maiko after being active for 1 year and 7 months (19 months), just ahead of the misedashi of new maiko in her okiya.







June 2014

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



The two newest maiko debut from Umeno in the same month, Umechō (梅蝶) on the right and Umesaku (梅咲久) in the middle. Sadly Umesaku would retire quickly only 7 months later in January 2015.







June 28th and 29th, 2014

Image courtesy of the Kamishichiken Kabukai.



Although slightly hard to see, Umechie performs on stage in her first Miyako No Nigiwai (都の賑わい) performance. She would reprise this role three more times before her retirement.







August 2014

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Now looking far more comfortable in her role as a maiko (just look at how relaxed and happy she is!) Umechie celebrates her 18th birthday.







February 25th, 2015

Image courtesy of Blue No Shashin.



Umechie celebrates her first Baikasai as a senior and is absolutely glowing!







March 25th - April 7th, 2015

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie participates in her third Kitano Odori, with junior maiko Umechō. Sadly, Umechō would also leave the profession in October of 2015.







June 2015

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie makes a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia on a promotional trip. It’s one of her first international trips abroad.







August 2015

Image courtesy of Cita111.



Umechie dances with Katsuna at the annual Kyoto Tanabata Festival (京の七夕祭). A few weeks later she celebrates her 19th birthday.







December 2015

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie shows off her signed maneki from Kaomise Soken (顔見世素見). They were signed by Kataoka Ainosuke (片岡愛之助 - black) and Nakamura Senjaku (中村扇雀 - red).







January 2016

Image courtesy of Umeno Okiya and Ochaya.



Umechie rings in the new year in a stunning outfit that shows off her senior status well! During the year she’ll witness a new batch of recruits join Umeno and will no longer be alone while continuing to grow ^^







March 25th - April 7th, 2016

Image courtesy of Nuriatrillo.



Another Kitano Odori, this time with new outfits!







June 2016

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



Big changes for Umechie and her okiya! The new okamisan, Yuko, makes the change to her new kamon official, switching from the three leaf standard paulownia to the bent leaf paulownia. The first of a new line of Umeno maiko also begins her minarai period. She is Umehina (梅ひな), who would prove successful enough to still be active today.







August 2016

Image courtesy of h.ishibashi1001.



Another year of Kyo No Tanabana, this time with a new obi and a new kanzashi! A few weeks later she would turn 20 years old.







December 2016

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



Umechie, along with Umehina and new maiko Umekana (梅叶菜), perform at Tokyo Disney on Christmas.







January 2017

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



Umechie rings in 2017 by telling people customers that she will be having her erikae within the next year. The year looks bright for her okiya as well with the addition of more shikomi.







March 10th, 2017

Image courtesy of Kuumill.



Umechie takes part in the annual Higashiyama Hanatōro (東山花灯路) dances at Yasaka Shrine.







March 25th - April 7th, 2017

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



The trio of Umeno maiko perform at the Kitano Odori, showing off the new motifs that were introduced in 2016. A month later Umechie would become the most senior maiko in the Kyoto gokagai.







June 24th and 25th, 2017

Image courtesy of Chihiro_So_Ko.



Umechie takes part in her final Miyako No Nigiwai performance.







August 2017

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



Umechie celebrates her 21st birthday to much fanfare. However, the youngest Umeno maiko, Umekana, would leave around the same time, leaving their overall maiko numbers down to two.







September 2017

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



Umechie poses with the newest Umeno minarai Umetae (梅たえ) and Umehina. Umetae would debut one month later, just after Kotobukikai, bringing the total count of Umeno maiko back up to three.







December 2017

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



With another year come and gone everyone is wondering what happened to Umechie’s planned erikae and, even more puzzling, why she isn’t tying her obiage. Even if a maiko plans to leave at the completion of her apprenticeship she will still tie her obiage within a year of that planned date or starting around her 20th birthday. Since Umechie has passed both milestones it becomes more apparent that she may not be staying after all.







March 25th - April 7th, 2018

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



In a day that karyukai fans patiently waited for, Umechie finally ties her obiage. She first tied it at the end of February and would continue to have it tied for the Kitano Odori performances. However, by the end of April she was no longer tying her obiage anymore. No one is still sure of the reasons why this occurred and no maiko before or since has begun to tie their obiage and then suddenly untie it.







August 2018

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



Umechie celebrates her 22nd birthday, which comes as a bit of a surprise as the oldest a maiko is allowed to be active is up until the age of 21. By this point it is confirmed that Umechie will not be having her erikae and will instead retire. A few weeks later the first of three new minarai would debut from Umeno.







September 2018

Image courtesy of Yuko Umeno.



Umechie poses proudly with the other maiko and new minarai of her okiya. They now include the ranks of Umehana (梅はな), who debuted on September 19th, Umenana (梅なな), who debuted on September 25th, and Umesana (梅さな), who would debut on October 2nd, the same day as Umechie.







October 2nd, 2018



Image courtesy of Mosaic Machiya KSK.



Umechie retires after spending exactly six years as maiko.



Her personality has changed Kamishichiken for the better and she was an absolute jewel of the karyukai. I can only hope that the young maiko of Umeno can carry on the warm spirit and friendly smile that Umechie shared with everyone.



Wishing her all the best in whatever she chooses to do next in life. Umechie, you were truly one of a kind.



おおきに梅ちえさん ♥