Kyoto's Miyagawacho to stage autumn dance Mizuwa-kai from Oct 8
In short
The autumn dance performance “Mizuwa-kai” by geiko and maiko of Kyoto's Miyagawacho district will be staged Oct 8–11 at the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Mitsuwa-za, with 41 performers including 10 maiko. It is the first Mizuwa-kai in two years and the first at the rebuilt kaburenjo. A final rehearsal, the 大ざらえ, was held on Oct 7.
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The autumn dance performance “Mizuwa-kai”, in which geiko and maiko of Kyoto's Miyagawacho district show their arts, will be staged Oct 8–11 at the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Mitsuwa-za in the city's Higashiyama Ward, the three newspapers reported. A total of 41 performers will appear, according to Nikkei and Sankei; Nikkei said the group includes 10 maiko. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Nikkei reported that the run is the first Mizuwa-kai in two years and the first to be held in the rebuilt Miyagawacho Kaburenjo. Nikkei said the theater was rebuilt in 2025, Sankei said it was rebuilt last year, and Asahi said the new kaburenjo opened last May. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On Oct 7, performers held the final rehearsal known as the 大ざらえ. Sankei reported that the 41 geiko and maiko, in colorful kimono, received instruction from their masters on eye lines and stage movement during the final checks. Rehearsing in the same order as the performance, they ran through the celebratory nagauta “Kimi ga Yo Shōchikubai”, the dance “Kikuzukushi” and the closing group dance “Miyagawako-uta”, Nikkei and Sankei reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Asahi reported that this year's theme is “百花繚乱”, and that “Kikuzukushi” weaves in verses about many kinds of chrysanthemums. Geiko association head Fukuka said, “This year's theme is a profusion of flowers, and there are many pieces based on flowers. I hope people will see the finale, Miyagawako-uta, which features many geiko.” Geiko Fukunagi, who is appearing for the first time, said she will do her best; Sankei quoted her saying she wants to savor the joy of standing on a stage she had previously only watched. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Asahi also reported that the head of the Miyagawacho geiko association has changed from Fukuka's predecessor, Fukuha, who held the post for many years. [ 3 ]
Performances begin at 16:00 on weekdays and at 13:00 and 16:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, with tickets at 10,000 yen for first class and 8,000 yen for second class, the newspapers reported. Inquiries are being taken by the Miyagawacho Ochaya Kumiai at 075-561-1151, according to Sankei and Asahi. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
Miyagawacho is one of Kyoto's five flower districts, and the Mizuwa-kai is its autumn counterpart to the spring “Kyō-odori”, so the run is a fixture of the district's performance calendar. This year's edition is the first in the theater rebuilt in 2025, and it also follows a change in the geiko association leadership noted by Asahi.
Key facts
- Performances of “Mizuwa-kai” run Oct 8–11 at the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Mitsuwa-za in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A total of 41 performers will appear, including 10 maiko. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It is the first Mizuwa-kai in two years and the first held in the rebuilt kaburenjo. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The final rehearsal, the “大ざらえ”, took place on Oct 7, following the order of the actual program. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The program includes the nagauta “Kimi ga Yo Shōchikubai”, the dance “Kikuzukushi” and the finale “Miyagawako-uta”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Weekday performances are at 16:00; weekend and holiday performances are at 13:00 and 16:00. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Tickets cost 10,000 yen for first class and 8,000 yen for second class. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Geiko Fukunagi is appearing in the Mizuwa-kai for the first time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Mizuwa-kai will be staged Oct 8–11 at the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Mitsuwa-za in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A final rehearsal, the 大ざらえ, was held on Oct 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Forty-one performers will take part. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The run is the first Mizuwa-kai at the rebuilt kaburenjo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Weekdays have one performance from 16:00; Saturdays, Sundays and holidays have performances from 13:00 and 16:00. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The program features “Kimi ga Yo Shōchikubai”, “Kikuzukushi” and the finale “Miyagawako-uta”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Geiko Fukunagi said she will do her best in her first Mizuwa-kai. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- First class tickets are 10,000 yen and second class tickets 8,000 yen. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Inquiries are handled by the Miyagawacho Ochaya Kumiai at 075-561-1151. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- When exactly the new Miyagawacho Kaburenjo opened. Asahi says the new kaburenjo opened last May, Nikkei says it was rebuilt in 2025 and Sankei only says it was rebuilt last year; the documents do not agree on a precise date.
- Why the Mizuwa-kai was not held the previous year, making this the first in two years. Nikkei states the two-year gap but no document explains the reason.
- The number of maiko taking part. Only Nikkei gives the figure of 10 maiko; the other documents give only the total of 41 performers.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nikkei reports that the Oct 7 大ざらえ final rehearsal has ended and that 41 performers, including 10 maiko, will appear in the Oct 8–11 run. [ 1 ]
- Sankei reports the 大ざらえ held at Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Mitsuwa-za, including the first performance there of the Mizuwa-kai. [ 2 ]
- Asahi reports the “百花繚乱” theme, notes the change of geiko association head to Fukuka, and confirms the Oct 8–11 schedule. [ 3 ]