Ganko

SM - NOT difficult to find a delicious dinner places in Kyoto. Restaurants scattered in almost all corners of the city. In the star-rated hotels, restaurants also serve Japanese cuisine is so impressive. However, for me, dinner on the side of the Kamo River (Kamogawa) is the best.

That night, Thursday (10 / 6), we come to the Hospitality Ganko in the heart of the city of Kyoto. As appropriate average of the other buildings in the city area of 827.90 km2, this, too Ganko minimalist design. Not just cooking menu or panoramic Kamogawa edge that makes the foot toward the meal which is always crowded. Big reason is Maiko. Yes, this restaurant is serving traditional Japanese dance performance.

Maiko is a term for young dancers (aged around 15-20 years old). As an adult he called geiko. Here's another interesting side of Kyoto. Only in this place they call the traditional dancers as a geiko. In other regions in Japan, the dancers are called geisha. The song "firefly" from an old tape recorder Maiko accompany movement. Stained face with powder almost no expression and her eyes so sharp. Slowly she followed the harmony accompaniment. Occasionally sitting, standing, rotating body, sometimes brushed strands of her kimono. That feels shrill music finally stopped, just when Maiko sitting. The applause echoed from the diners. Only when it's Maiko original expression. Sweet smile from her lips curved thick dye. As question after question from a visitor rolled a restaurant, he replied kindly. Fukuzusu, Maiko is a graduate of junior high school, eventually accompanied us to dinner that night.

Why choose a Maiko? Was not always a negative stigma attached to the job? Fukuzusu small smile. "Plenty of people think geisha negative connotation. Actually did not like that, "she said. Yamaguchi Prefecture is the home boy explained, Maiko or geiko is a Japanese cultural conservationist. Cap geisha as a mistress officials, he said, happened in the past. Fukuzusu admitted to intentionally take the risk do not continue schooling and become a Maiko. Why? "At first I ever saw the show Maiko. I finally became interested and eventually actually become Maiko, "she said.

Fukuzusu claimed to be a dancer entertainer in restaurants is not the job of rebuke. "This is the cultural heritage of our ancestors," she said. Fukuzusu not excessive. In Kyoto itself, there are currently only 100 people geiko (geisha). Of that total, only 10 people who truly authentic Kyoto. Not easy to be a Maiko. Fukuzusu took nearly a year in the dorms before being allowed to perform in front of people. During a year in a special dormitory, she and her friend are also taught about the life of Maiko. "We should be dancing, singing, also had their culture and traditions," she said. All affairs of life in the dorms is borne entirely by the manager. Later as adults and become geiko, they must get out of the dorm and took her own life.

According to Ayako Shimizu, one of the employees of the restaurant explained, Maiko or geiko who decided to get married, also ended its role as a dancer. "She became an ordinary woman," she said. Fukuzusu smile. Chat flowing seemed so short. Sashimi with wasabi that makes the tongue dance, tempura, bento, and OCHA at the dinner table has been demolished. More late night. A sip of sake to end dinner at the Kamo river beautiful.