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January
Usually has a Japanese New Year theme. The most popular decoration is ShoChikuBai an auspicious motif of Pine, Plum
blossom and Bamboo. Known as the Three Friends of Winter, or Three Elements of Happiness.
Primary Motifs:
Plum Blossom
ShoChikubai (plum, bamboo, pine)
Mizuhiki Pine
Ume Blossom
Associated Colors:
Green
White
Additional Decor:
Pine Needles
Pine Cones
Bobbins
Hagoita
February
February sees winter leaving and the promise of Spring. This month the main flower is Plum Blossom which is seen to
symbolize young love and the approach of spring.
Junior maiko wear kanzashi made up of many tiny plum blossoms in shades of pink, white and red. Sometimes with a row
of glittering bira bira, but often with the long flowing falls or shidare.
Senior Maiko wear a single large or miwa (3 flower) plum blossom kanzashi kanzashi.
Primary Motifs:
Plum Blossom
Pinwheel
Associated Colors:
Deep pink
Sometimes Red
Additional Decor:
Buds
Branches
March
March sees the beginning of spring, and fresh greens and yellows are the calling card if this month.
Junior maiko wear vibrant rape blossom kanzashi. Although this flower has a seemingly violent name, it is actually a small
yellow flower whose seeds are cultivated for it's oil.
A less common, but very sweet motif in March is peach blossom. In subtle pink or clean white silks with often bright pink
fluffy centers.
Primary Motifs:
Peach Blossoms
Narcissus
Peony
Rape Blossom
Associated Colors:
Yellow
White
Green
Additional Decor:
Butterflies (Silver)
April
The cherry blossom is the most common kanzashi for April. The Cherry Blossom is the national flower of Japan, and April
sees the cherry blossom season with many events revolving around this popular flower!
Senior Maiko wear beautiful large cherry blossom pins in this month.
Another Popular motif are butterflies, these are in anticipation of an early summer. Although these lovely mizubiki
butterflies are normally silver, occasionally a younger maiko might wear them in bright gold.
Senior maiko often also wear a weeping cherry blossom kanzashi.
This one has beautiful falls like the junior Maikos pins, but instead of the long double petal shidare, they often have
shorter falls always with full cherry blossoms strung all the way down.
This elaborate pin is worn with a beautiful subtle flower comb to match
Primary Motifs:
Cherry Blossoms
Mizubiki Butterflies
Silk Butterflies
Associated Colors:
Soft Pink
Additional Decor:
Bonbori
Silver Butterflies
May
May is full of purple. The blue flag iris and dangling wisteria are the colors of late Spring.
A popular motif amongst senior maiko the blue flag iris has clean lines and makes a sophisticated kanzashi. Both senior
and junior maiko wear these dramatic wisteria kanzashi.
With the dynamic falls and silver butterflies
Primary Motifs:
Wisteria
Blue Flag Irises
Associated Colors:
purple
Additional Decor:
Silver Butterflies
June
June is the beginning of the rainy season, and of Summer. Lush green kanzashi are every wear in this month, often with
little hints towards the rain.
Junior maiko wear beautiful willow kanzashi with delicate pinks. Crystal raindrops hang amongst the leaves, and often
you will see paper umbrellas in these fresh looking kanzashi.
Senior Maiko wear kanzashi featuring hydrangea. These pins just like the flowers come in many different colors for the
summer months!
This month is the rainy season in Japan and therefore willow (a water loving tree) and the washy blue of hydrangea is
appropriate.
Primary Motifs:
Weeping Willow
Hydrangea
Gardenia
Associated Colors:
blue
green
pink
Additional Decor:
Umbrellas
Gold Swallows
Water
Dew drops
July
July sees the Gion festival in Kyoto, as such this month not only has a host of everyday kanzashi, but a huge selection of
special kanzashi worn throughout the festival.
The most common kanzashi motif in July is fans. Lovely silk fans decorated in tiny tumami-e flowers.
One of the most poetic kanzashi motifs is called tsuyushiba which represents dew drops on grass.
This unusual kanzashi is worn by maiko in July. Most often seen with pinks, it's abstract form and sparkle make it one of
the most intriguing kanzashi.
Primary Motifs:
Fans
Fireworks
Dew Drops on Grass
Associated Colors:
Various Colors
Pinks
Additional Decor:
Folding Fans
Dragonflies
Butterflies
Pampas Grass
August
Purple morning glory (asagao) or susuki grass. The susuki grass appears as a starburst of spines. Senior maiko wear
silver-white and junior maiko wear pink or red.
A popular choice amongst senior maiko are morning glories. These kanzashi come in many colors, but light pink and
turquoise are the most common.
The junior maiko will wear a slightly more ornate version with a pink coating on the back of each "petal" which reflects
back brightening up this delicate silver kanzashi.
Primary Motifs:
Morning Glory
Pampas Grass
Dragonflies
Fireworks
Associated Colors:
purple
light pink
Additional Decor:
Fans
September
September is the beginning of Autumn, and brings in the beautiful Autumn flowers and their rich jewel colors.
The most common kanzashi for this month is chinese bellflower, The Junior Maiko wear beautiful large clusters of tiny bell
flowers most often with long vibrant purple falls.
These kanzashi are see with bellflower alone, or mixed in with 2 more of the seven autumn flowers*, bush clover and
partina
Primary Motifs:
Chinese Bellflower
Bush Clover
Associated Colors:
purple
Additional Decor:
Patrinia
Chrysanthemum
Kudzu
Japanese Boneset
October
Chrysanthemum (kiku). These are well loved in Japan, and are a symbol of the Imperial Family. Usually the
chrysanthemums featured are red and white, a combination which signals the height of autumn.
In October the days grow shorter and grayer, but bright vibrant chrysanthemum keep us happy and brighten the days!
The junior maiko wear large bouquets of bright single bloom (daisy like) chrysanthemum. This beautiful kanzashi are a
sweet mix of subtle pink or white and red. Most often with delicate swinging falls.
Senior Maiko's wear elaborate large pompon chrysanthemum flowers, the most popular colors are yellow, pink and white,
but you'll see lilac make an appearance as well
Primary Motifs:
Pompon Chrysanthemum
Single Chrysanthemum (daisy like)
Associated Colors:
red
yellow
orange
autumn colors
November
Trailing autumnal leaves. These may be a generic yellow leaf or the characteristic red maple leaf. Maple viewing is the
autumnal equivalent in Japan of cherry blossom viewing. Ginkgo and liquidambar leaves are also employed.
Primary Motifs:
Maple leaf
generic yellow leaf
Associated Colors:
red
yellow
orange
autumn colors
Additional Decor:
Ginkgo
Liquidambar
December
Each kanzashi have 2 maneki tags just like the plaques hung outside the Minamiza theater at the end of each year.
These maneki feature the names of the most popular kabuki actors. For these kanzashi a maiko will visit the Minamiza
theater and ask her favorite kabuki actors to sign the 2 maneki on her kanzashi
The charms and dangles on the young maiko's kanzashi feature various games and lucky charms. Different charms are
displayed around new year to bring luck in different areas of a persons life. Also old fashioned games such as Fuku Warai
are revived and played around New Years.
This vibrant kanzashi is worn by younger maiko. It features the maneki tags to important to the December kanzashi, and
is surrounded by bright mochibana, and traditional Japanese toys and lucky items.
(Mochibana are little rice cakes strung on trees and falls to look like flowers.)
Primary Motifs:
Maple leaf
generic yellow leaf
Associated Colors:
red
green
various
Additional Decor:
Toys and Lucky Charms
1: Fuku Warai -This game is much like "Pin the Tale on the Donkey" Blindfolded players try to pin various features onto
the face and often create many funny faces! original this game came about during the edo period in Japan, but is still
often played around new years.
2: Hamaya - A sacred arrow from a shinto shrine. This lucky Charm is said to dispel evil spirits and invite good fortune.
These are bought and displayed around New years
3: Maneki Neko - This beckoning cat invites good fortune!
4: Hagoita - A paddle used to play hanetsuki, another Edo game revived around New Year. Highly decorated hagoita are
also displayed in the house around New Year (roughly Dec15-Jan15) as a good luck Charm
5: Dice - New year decoration to bring success
6: Koban - Old style of gold coin from the Hoei era, this is a lucky charm for wealth.
7: Fish - A lucky charm to bring happiness in life
8: Target and arrow - A lucky charm to bring success in your goals.