At wit's End

        My computer has been giving me a few problems in recent weeks. I had to replace a few things, which needed to be done after all my computer is almost 7 years old...with no tune ups.LOL
        Everything seems to be back in working order save one.....all my End of Summer releases by Plum Tree Dance......POOF........gone! I also lost all my photos and docs...however I had a back up for them. I never backed up my animations....>_<

        Live and learn I guess...Starting tomorrow I will begin once again, making all those wonderful dances I lost during this adventure of mine. So please join Plum Tree Dance's group...for information on up and coming complete dances for all your entertaining needs.

New products: Late Summer Dance 1+2
Hanamachi Uchiwa- A special uchiwa made for each of the five Kyoto hanamachi. Only on my Marketplace store.


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   I am proud to annouce.......Maiko san Komomo no Omisedashi! Aug. 25th!

Komono chan, my youngest little sister, has worked long and hard. Please come and see her debut! Traditionally, a newly made Maiko san, will walk the streets of her hanamachi, visiting all the surrounding Ochaya and Okiya. Not only to thank them for helping them on their guest...But to show everyone she is ready to work. Visits will start around 1 pm SLT. I hope to visit all the surrounding Second Life Hanamachi, and proudly show the world my little sister.

A special Debut Ozashiki is planned for 4 pm SLT. Located on our home sim: Gion Higashi Hanamachi, Flytrap

I have been away

Konbanwa, dear readers

           I have been very busy as of late! With Bon Odori not too far away...I have been working on many dances for this joint event. The excitement of all the different okiya agreeing to do this together really has my creative juices flowing. Okaasan's dream is coming true...even if only a slow steady pace.  Not to mention, I have 6 new complete dances to put out for summer for all our wonderful artists through out the karyukai. I completed Sagi Musume as well, though I don't know if Gion Kobu still wants it....a few weeks back they sent a request for animators and scripters. So I may just release it near the beginning of August.

          There has been rumor as well, that we will be entertaining again at Azuchi Village! Oh the people there are so wonderful! I do pray that this time the rumors are true.

The Rain shall hide our tears

    Mitsuhana Okiya recently was told that Naomi Ayame, a sister and member of our family, is dying. At first, I sat at my desk, reading all the notices. I think shock was my first reaction. Then as I read the next notice, I came to realize...this was very much real. I dressed into my Mofuku....mourning kimono, with a very heavy heart. I cried some in Real Life, while ignoring all the Ims I was getting. Gomen yasu, for those I didn't respond to.
    Gion Higashi was a ghost town. I walked its streets and found that our shrine had a white paper on it....a Buddhist tradition to protect it from unwanted spirits. I travel to the sake house, expecting my sister Sayohana san there...it was empty. Then I noticed something next to the Dojo....it was a statue with two drapeing cloth on either side. "our angel"
     I will admit, I cried when I saw this symbol of our love for her. I clapped my hands and bowed to offer my prayers to Ayame san. The silence of the sim just went through my soul. I decided to return to the okiya. It was a sobering feeling as I walked down the main hallway towards the stairs lending to our rooms. I stopped before entering mine and continued down the hall to where Ayame san slept. Slowly I opened the door. My heart dropped a little when I saw it empty.
     On the eastern wall.....there was a small table, with a picture of a poem hanging on the wall. I knew right away what this was. Our Okiya memorial for our sister. A few placed flowers, some incense, and candles. I sat down before this altar....bowed three times. I placed on the right hand side of the table a bowl of cooked rice. Reika chan walked in and sat next to me. We shared a few silent moments before we embraced each other and cried.
     She told me, several people from other sims came to pay their respects and other sims were letting us know, if there was anything we needed to just ask. My heart felt the warmth of everyone's respect and honor....I only wished it didn't take such sorrow to feel it.  I must say, Okaasan is taking it the worse. She spoke to Ayame san the most...both in Second Life and outside of it. They were very close from what I'm being told. Everyone's heart is breaking for her...hopeing she will find the strength to smile again.
     I am reminded of though we are vitural girls, playing a game...exploring our inner desires of a life we'll never know in real life......we really are a family. Our connections and affections go beyond the computer screens we sit before. Yes, we see avatars walking and we read what we say....but there are real people behind this charactors you see before you. We all laugh and cry. Our emotions still play an important part in the group of friends we surround ourselves with. The heart does bond with those you play with. What we look like, how we live...has nothing to do, with who we are.
     When you are on second life, you don't see the person...only the avatar. However you meet the real person controlling it. We humans judge too much on looks, lifestyle, wealth...on second life...you can only judge based on their personality. Which in the end is what really counts. You can be deformed, and be the greatest person in the world. Not to mention you could be the most beautiful person, and be the most wicked. Personality is what truly counts and all I can say, my sister Naomi Ayame san....was one of the most sweetest, most kindness, and most beautiful person I have ever known.
     She never judged nor did she speak poorly of anyone...at least never to me. She was so full of life and energy that was so profound, you could feel it come through the computer screen and surround you. She was truly one of a kind...and there will never be one like her again. She was afraid to be forgotten...and I must say, I do not know your real name and I do not know where in the world you lived...but what I do know, dearest sister....you shall never be forgotten.

The Virtual World of my Second Life

Hajimemashite, Melune Momoka desu. Otano moshimasu  I am a Jr. Maiko at Mitsuhana Okiya located on the virtual world of Second Life. I am very pleased to meet you...it is truly an honor.

I came to second life in hopes to future a child hood dream of mine. Knowing nothing of this new world I rezzed into, I searched for an Okiya who would take me in and train me as a second life Geiko san. Sadly, I was rejected by all, except one....The Nakanoshima Okiya in Hosoi Mura.
I created many fond memories working as a shikomi there. Even running under its streets in a series of secret tunnels with fellow sisters. Over the course of a year, I studied hard and devoted myself to my virtual home.
Unfortunely, due to drama and gossip caused by other Okiya...this lead to the closing of Nakanoshima forever and I will tell you this, Second Life is poorer for it.
Luckly, before we closed our doors....I did run into a wonderful woman named Ueta Akahana san. She was wandering all the different streets of Second Life's Karyuukai, looking to build community and friendships with more established Okiya. She came to second life to open her own okiya...at the time called Hitsuhana Okiya. She was so nice and so refreshing, I offered her to stay in my linden home...since honestly I wasn't using it at the time. She was so honorable, that she insisted to pay me rent. In fear to insult her good nature...I couldn't refuse.
Ueta san visited Hosoi a lot after that. Trying to continue to build good relations with other Okiya. Nakanoshima was, from what she told me, the only okiya willing to become friends. I introduced her to my Okaasan at the time, Toshiha Magic...in hopes to help my new friend reach her passionate goal. They quickly became friends, from what I gathered...so soon there were talks of trying to get Hitsuhana Okiya on Hosoi.
This never came to be.
So instead, Toshiha okaasan offered Ueta san a little spot on Teddy, to have a tea house. By now, Hitsuhana Okiya was now officially opened and renamed to Mitsuhana. Mitsuhana Okiya was located on a very large skybox. There was only the okiya house, a garden, modest tea house for lessons only, and a few shops. Which of course, I moved Plum Tree dance too :D out of invitation.
This was part of Nakanoshima's end.
Another Okiya, located on Hosoi...I'm sure you know which one...Started telling lies about Ueta san. I was given records of many conversations by trusted friends, who were coming to me...knowing my friendship with Ueta san, to find out if they were true. These lies included harsh things like.....Ueta san was here to ruin the other okiya....she was in fact Toshiha Magic using an Alt...and the most dishonorable one of all....that Ueta san was a *beep* in nature.
I was shocked....Ueta san is the nicest person and truly wants the Second Life Karyuukai...as a whole.....all of us....to work together and enjoy our passions for all. Ueta san almost closed Mitsuhana okiya over all of this. She was very upset, having all these people say things and try to undermine her in such ways...when they didn't even know her. She just wanted to make friends in this new world. And this is how everyone greeted her. After Nakanoshima closed...I do know, Ueta san contacted the owners of many sims and defended herself. She told me personally, over the Toshiha magic thing.....she had a few people check her IP address as proof.

and yet.......the rumors still continue....and we are still victims of these senseless "I'm better then Thou" personalities running through out Second Life's Karyuukai.

I was happy to be excepted into Mitsuhana Okiya...after all that I have seen and done, Mitsuhana Okiya will be the only home for me. I know too much from other okiya, and I honestly could never be apart of them. I am proud to be a Jr. Maiko here, and I hope I can only repay Gion Higashi for such kindness it has shown me. And even though, Ueta Okaasan is still faced with the venom still being spit out at her from those not part of Gion Higashi....she is still hosting a public geisha school......opened to everyone. She strictly said, no one okiya will take claim to this building. It is here for us all. Okaasan has even opened our Yasaka Hall *kabuki theater* to what others would call, outsiders.
I dont' know if I could be as open and kind as Okaasan, in all that she has to deal with trying to make the Karyuukai a friendly place. I admire her...and hope to honor her okiya in every way I can...and in my own small way, help her bring her vision/dream alive.


***pet peeve of the day***
Second Life's Karyuukai term as it truly is

I wish to extend my opinion on this for a moment. Second Life Geiko san and Okiya alike....use this term to only talk about their sim and sim only. I'm sorry to have to inform you....your sim is a hanamachi only....not the Karyuukai. All the sims.....all the okiya....combined is the Karyuukai. Its the Flower and Willow world, floating upon a dream...and if you were to sigh too hard...it will be gone forever.

 Just something to think about