Akiyama Okiya

[Toneriko]

Welcome...

...to the Akiyama okiya, proudly owned by Akiyama Lucya, and with fine Geisha under it's roof, will be one of the most famous okiya in Gion Baraen.

Legend...
Post One: Welcome and Description of our Okiya
(you are here)
Post Two: Rules of our Okiya
Post Three: List of Geisha and Maiko in our Okiya
Post Four: Okiya expenses and inventory
Post Five: Profile of the Okaasan
Post Six: Profile of the Atotori
Post Seven: Profiles of the head Geisha
Post Eight: Profiles of the Geisha
Post Nine: Profiles of the Maiko
Post Ten: Profiles of the Maids

More about our Okiya...
The okaasan of the okiya is a well-known Geisha who taught at her very own school before she decided to inherit this Okiya, I'd like to introduce you to Lucya-san, okaasan and most respected woman in Gion Baraen, she will be giving you a tour of the Akiyama Okiya.

Konnichiwa, I am Akiyama Lucya, welcome to the Akiyama Okiya, I am here to give you a personal tour of our okiya...

Our okiya is two stories tall, with 7 bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a storage shed. The main entrance, which has beautiful old oak-wood fence surrounding it, as well as a lush green garden of miniature pines and a small pond, leads you to a wide and bright place, where we meet our visitors.

Before entering further, take off your zori or geta and leave them beside the door. The floor is covered with tatami mats, and there is a low table in front of you with a few cushions around it. The walls are painted. The maids or maiko will bring you some tea. The rest of okiya is hidden from you behind fusuma, sliding doors. You are not allowed to go there unless you belong to Akiyama okiya.

If you slid open the first fusuma, you find yourself in a long, wide corridor with three rooms on either side of it. The first room to the right is reserved for meetings, while the first two rooms to the right are the okaasan and her atotori's bedrooms. The next rooms in the hall are the rooms where geisha and maiko live.

The second room to the left belongs to the head geisha, her intimacy and kingdom. Not even okaasan allows herself rushing into the head geisha room without a warning.

The third room to the left belongs to maiko, our apprentice and future geisha. It is messy sometimes, because maiko have to do a lot of things (dressing up and putting up make-up, attend lessons in the geisha school, doing their chores about the okiya) and they are always in a hurry.

The geisha live in the third room to the right. You may expect it to be neat and clear, though to tell you the truth, geisha make even more of a mess than a maiko. Choosing the matching kimono and obi may take them hours sometimes, and the items they reject stay in heaps until the maids come to pick them up and clean the room. Yes, if the magnificent clients of the geisha would take one look at their rooms, they would be quite astonished by the difference between their appearance and the way they keep their habitat.

There is one lavish bathroom downstairs.

Upstairs is the kitchen, the maid's bathroom, two bedrooms for the maids and a large storage room.  

[Toneriko]

Rules of the Okiya

1. If you want to be enter the Akiyama okiya, make sure there is a place vacant. The list of geisha and maiko, currently living in Akiyama okiya is in post 3. We can place only 5 geisha/maiko.

2. If a position you apply to is vacant at the moment, PM okaa-san or her atotori your profile.

3. It is up to the okiya owner to choose geisha and maiko, so don't be upset if your profile is rejected. If there are other okiya in Gion Baraen, you could probably apply there.

4. Once you are accepted as a maiko, you are supported by the okiya as you learn about the geisha way of life, though you will have to work hard to become a geisha. You will have to learn how to treat customers, act in teahouses, and get patrons. You will not be able to become a geisha, or work in an ochaya alone until you have been accepted as a Imoutochan(little sister), and have pleased your Oneesan with your knowledge and performance.

5. Once you become a geisha, you will have to continue your work if you want to become independant. The okaasan or atotori decide if you are ready to become independant. If you do not become independant, you will work for the okiya for the rest of your life, or give back anything the okiya has given you.

6. If you feel you need to leave the guild for some reasons you will have to give back the outfit the okiya purchases for you.  

[Toneriko]

The list of geisha and maiko in Akiyama Okiya

(blue colour means that a geisha/maiko can be invited to entertain (in case of a maiko she needs an one-san to join), violet colour means a geisha/maiko is still to be taught)

Head Geisha
1. Akiyama Sayuri


Geisha
1. Akiyama Toneriko
2. Tatamachi Yukiko
3.

Maiko
1. Akiyama Umemi
2. Kiyora Soutou (new name soon)
3.  

[Toneriko]

Okiya Current Cash and Expenses

AkiyamaOkiya_CashMaid

Current cash: 2000g
Inventory: Wild Orchid Kimono (9600g); Autumn Leaf Kimono (9900g); Ghosty; 3 red present boxes (female presents); 3 white present boxes (any gender presents); 2nd Gaian Anniversary Baloon.

~Debts~
Akiyama Toneriko
-1500g
-Tabi (White Mid Socks 200g)
-Zori (Wooden Sandals 500g)
+2100
+100
0


Akiyama Umemi
-Royal Kimono (10777g - Crate&Apparel in Aekea)
-Tabi (White Mid Socks 200g - H.R.Wesley in Durem)
-Zori (Wooden Sandals 500g - Crate&Apparel in Aekea)

Kiyora Soutou
-Spring Green Kimono (9300g - Crate&Apparel in Aekea)
-Tabi (White Mid Socks 200g - H.R.Wesley in Durem)
-Zori (Wooden Sandals 500g - Crate&Apparel in Aekea)  

[Felicity Pike]

Akiyama Lucya
Gaia username: Lucya

Age: She'd rather laugh at this question
Position: Oka-san, Mother of Akiyama Okiya

Appearance:
Although Lucya-san is already an okiya Mother and conceals her age carefully, she doesn't look old. Japanese women, geisha especially, keep beautiful looks till very late age. Besides, she retired very early from her job and not a wrinkle appeared yet on her face.
People, especially men, are usually so attracted by her piercing eyes, that pay almost no attention to all the other features. So, when someone is asked what Lucya-san looks like, you are sure to hear the words "her eyes are amazing, they look... violet". And of course Lucya is quite aware of this advantage of hers. She learned how to use her eyes perfectly both to idolize and to bring a man to his knee.
As to the body, one cannot say she is small, but so slender, that it makes her look even younger. Her movements are fast and light. Okiya Mother has a habit of approaching from behind without being noticed. So all the maiko should be very attentive and behave their best in order not to get into trouble.

Background/Story behind the character:
She had long ago passed her way from a child, named Hayama Akita, to a puny little maiko, Akiyama Lucya. And then from maiko to one of the best geisha of her district. It was not easy, yet brought along a great many emotions and memories, which are the main treasures of our life.
Many things happened before she could become independent and decided to start her own school, because she did not want to work as geisha anymore. People were really surprised to see the geisha of her level retire so early, but Lucya was adamant. Something happened that did not let her continue.
The school, however, turned out to be a successful and profitable business, so in the end Lucya-san made up her mind to found an Okiya of her own.  

[Toneriko]

Akiyama Toneriko
Gaian Username: Toneriko

Age: 18
Position: Atotori of the Akiyama Okiya.
Status: Working Geisha

Personality: I am a very hard worker who enjoys learning about the Geisha life. I am a very social person, who enjoys entertaining and keeping parties alive.

History:
Toneriko was a young girl when she was selected from her family to be Atotori of the Akiyama Okiya by Akiyama Lucya. She willingly went with Lucya, for she was interested in the ways of the Geisha, and how beautiful they looked, and she soon realized her dream of learning to dance once she began school as a maiko. Luckily, she was able to select her own Onii-san, the Okiya's very own Akiyama Sayuri, who was quickly becomming one of the most well known Geisha in Gion Baraen.

Donations Received:
Gifts Received:  

[Toneriko]

Akiyama Sayuri
Gaian Username: s a y u r i

Age: 18
Position: Head Geiko of the Akiyama Okiya.
Status: Accomplished Geisha

Personality:
Much like the flower of her namesake, Sayuri is strong willed; demanding attention wherever she may go. Growing long, deep, red hair she finds herself out of the norm of Japan. They say red heads attract attention wherever they go and this is more than true. Having such a strong-willed personality, it often predominates her inner softness that has been much developed by her geisha training. She works hard with a grace that astounds.

History:
Born from a Japanese mother and Irish father, Sayuri often felt left out as a child. It was her mother that pushed Sayuri into the life of a geisha. She noticed her daughters love for music and art and thought no better a life than that of the exotic and cultured geiko. So at the tender age of six, Sayuri's mother began taking her to the Iwasaki Okiya regularly. Exactly four years later, Sayuri was adopted by the okiya and her life with her parents became almost dream-like to her. Even two years after that, Sayuri became quite confused what to do with herself; due to the closing down of her own okiya, Sayuri was at a loss of direction in life. For a small time, she managed to live successfully as an independent geisha. One night however, while entertaining several okiya mothers at teahouse, the mistress of the Akiyama okiya extended an invitation to her. Since that day, Sayuri has been calling the Akiyama okiya, home.

Donations Received:
Gifts Received: