Hana Kanzashi

Delicate kanzashi hairpins with seasonal floral motifs, worn by maiko (apprentice geishas)

By Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

By: Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University in collaboration with Kyoto Women's University

Various hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

What
are hana kanzashi?

 Hana kanzashi (traditional Japanese flower-decorated ornamental hairpins) have seasonal flower motifs. Such hairpins, particularly those of high quality, have adorned the hair of Japanese women since the Nara period. They are associated with modern-day Kyoto—in particular with the maiko, or apprentice geisha, who live in Kyoto's geisha districts. New hana kanzashi are made when a maiko makes her debut. The maiko wear different hairpins each month. There are also hairpins specific for special events such as the Gion Festival. There are set designs for each geisha district and for the hairpins worn at dance performances held in the spring and the fall. Hairpins can also be chosen to match individual performances or costumes.

What are hanakanzashi? (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

What are hanakanzashi?

Hana kanzashi can be worn in pairs, one on each side of the head, or a single hairpin can be worn alone. Modern-day hana kanzashi fall into two broad categories: katsuyama hairpins (sizeable long ornaments placed at the top of the head) and kanzashi hairpins (or daikan hairpins; in which strings of triangular petal ornaments known as bura hang down from the main flowers). When a young women becomes a maiko, she wears both katsuyama and kanzashi hairpins in a hairstyle known as wareshinobu. This is a particularly charming hairstyle involving a large number of small flowers. After two or three years, as the maiko's apprenticeship period draws to a close, her hairstyle also changes to the ofuku style, which involves only kanzashi hairpins and combs, with no katsuyama hairpins. There is also a move towards a more “settled” look in terms of the flowers in the hairstyle. The hairpins can also be made for ordinary people, but there are some differences in size, etc.

Tsumami-method hanakanzashi by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Making
hana kanzashi

There are two methods of making the flowers used in these hairpins: zouka (“artificial flowers”) and tsumami (“pinching”). Here, we will look at the tsumami method (also known as tsumami saiku or tsumami craft). We will follow the tsumami process that produces the flowers making up a hairpin. A high quality plain-weave silk called habutae is used to make tsumami flowers. This is thin silk, slightly lighter than that used for kimono. In recent years, it has apparently become difficult to obtain habutae as well as the best type of starch and other traditional tools and materials. As a result, it is a struggle for makers today to give the hairpins the same finish as in the past.

Folding the cloth, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Japanese plum blossom tsumami

We will now look at how a Japanese plum blossom hanakanzashi is made. First, the tsumami cloth is cut to the correct size for the flower in question. Small Japanese plum blossoms require pieces around 2.3 cm square. There is serration of around 1.5 mm , and the smallest flowers—small chrysanthemums— require pieces of cloth around 1.5 cm square. The biggest flowers—peonies or cherry blossoms—require pieces of around 6 cm square.

Hime nori paste (made from rice or wheat cooked until soft) is spread thickly on a Japanese cypress board. The squares of cloth are folded in half twice with tweezers. Next, the points on each side are opened and lined up with the other point to form a triangle. 

Arranging the folded cloth into a petal shape, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

The center of the folded cloth is repositioned with the tweezers, and the cloth is arranged in the shape of a petal.

Placing the petal on the paste, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

The petals are then placed on the himenori paste.

 

Placing the petals on the base, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Making the flowers

One by one, the petals are placed onto a round paperboard base attached to a wire rod. 

Standing the flowers in the tsuto to dry, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Setting

The finished flowers are put into a stand known as a tsuto and left to dry for around 24 hours.

Adding buds and stamens, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Adding details

Details are added to make the flowers look more real. For example, stamens are added, created from spirals of thin wire wrapped in gold thread. Authenticity is given to small red buds by putting a touch of white on their edges. 

Wrapping in hiraito, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Grouping the flowers

The flower stems are grouped together by winding with low-twist silk thread (hira ito). A subtle nuance is added by the fact that the thread is not single-colored but combines two colors. For Japanese plum blossom, the two colors are set as red and hiwa (a bright yellowy green). 

Grouping flowers and buds, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

For cherry blossom, hiwa and toki (a light pink) are used, or hiwa on its own. For buds, two components are bound with hiraito to the wire core, and six of these are made.

Making hanakanzashi: assembly (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Making hana kanzashi: assembly 

The various components are brought together. The flowers are fixed to the pin. The flowers are bound with hiraito one at a time in a round formation. Finishing touches are made with tweezers, with any angles corrected to ensure a round shape for the flowers. Strings of dangling blossoms (bura) are sometimes added. 

hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Types of hanakanzashi

Maiko wear hana kanzashi with different flowers each month. Including the hairpins associated with the Gion Festival, a maiko needs to have a total of 13 types of hairpins. In addition, the various geisha districts hold dance performances in the spring. These are the Miyako Odori (associated with the Gion Kōbu district), the Gion Odori (Gion Higashi), the Kyō Odori (Miyagawacho), the Kamogawa Odori (Pontocho), and the Kitano Odori (Kamishichiken). Hairpins with designs unique to each geisha district are made for these meetings, as well as hairpins that suit that year’s performance theme, costumes, or dancers.

 Hairpin designs and manufacturing methods are not written down for posterity. Long-standing designs that have been passed down are recreated from the craftsmen’s memory and long experience.

January: fans and pine on winter chrysanthemums, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

January:
fans and pine on winter chrysanthemums 

Different designs are used each year. It seems that two or three motifs are often combined. Typical motifs for January include winter chrysanthemums, pine, bamboo, Japanese plum blossoms, battledores, and dwarf bamboo leaves.

 

February: small Japanese apricot blossom (with bura strings) , hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

February: small
Japanese plum blossoms (with dangling bura
decorations) 

February: small Japanese apricot blossom (with bura strings) , hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

March: narcissus, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

March: narcissus
(single bloom, five blooms)

Narcissus were originally associated with February, but they are often also used in March, because rapeseed is the only other flower for that month. 

March: narcissus, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

April: cherry blossom, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

April: cherry blossoms (three blooms or five
blooms)

April: cherry blossom, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

May: iris, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

May:
iris (three blooms or five blooms)

Peonies and wisteria are also used in May.

May: iris, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

June: willow, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

June: willow

Hydrangeas are also used in June.

June: willow, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

July: dancers’ fans, round paper fans, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

July:
dance fans or round paper fans

July: dancers’ fans, round paper fans, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Festival (Gion Festival), hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Festival
(Gion Festival)

In July, specific hairpin designs are worn during the Gion Festival only.

Festival (Gion Festival), hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

August: pampas grass, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

August: miscanthus grass

Morning glory is also used in August.

August: pampas grass, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

August: pampas grass, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

August: pampas grass, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

September: balloon flower (three blooms, five blooms), hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

September: bellflower (three blooms or five blooms)

September: balloon flower (three blooms, five blooms), hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

October: chrysanthemum, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

October: chrysanthemum (three blooms or five blooms

October: chrysanthemum, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

November: small autumn leaves, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

November: small autumn maple leaves

Ginkgo leaves etc, are also used in August.

November: small autumn leaves, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

November: small autumn leaves, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

December: “maneki” on New Year rice cakes, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

December: “maneki”
on New Year rice cakes

Each December, kaomise—official debut kabuki performances—are held at the Minami-za theater in Kyoto. At the venue, traditional noticeboards known as maneki  post the names of performers in the seasonal debut. 

December: “maneki” on New Year rice cakes, hanakanzashi (2015) by Kintakedo and Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTSArt Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

During the period in which the kaomise Kabuki debut performances are being held, there is an event known as kagai sōken, in which the geisha and maiko of the five geisha districts come to watch the performance. The maiko wear hairpins decorated with their own small “maneki” and, when they go to pay their respects to the actors backstage, the actors write their names on the maiko’s blank maneki.

Credits: Story

Information provided by Kintakedo

Supported by Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts, Fureaikan

Text written by Yamamoto Masako(Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS))

Photo by Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTS

Exhibition created by Shimizu Ayano, Kyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Edited by Melissa M. Rinne, Kyoto National Museum

Directed by Maezaki Shinya, Kyoto Women's University

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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