misedashi; debut of an apprentice geisha; ceremony where a shikomi becomes a maiko
A traditional Kyoto geisha district term for the formal debut of a young woman transitioning from shikomi (trainee) to maiko (apprentice geisha). The ceremony involves visiting tea houses and receiving greetings.
See also: 仕込み (しこみ) · 舞妓 (まいこ)
On the day of her misedashi, many geisha and maiko came to celebrate.
Until her misedashi, the shikomi undergoes rigorous training.
A shikomi is a trainee in the geisha world, the stage before becoming a maiko. Misedashi is the ceremony marking the end of this training period.
A maiko is an apprentice geisha. Misedashi is the debut ceremony that officially makes a shikomi into a maiko.
Standard kanji spelling for the debut ceremony of an apprentice geisha.
Variant spelling using okurigana; less common but still encountered.
Rare spelling using 見世 for みせ; mostly historical or stylistic.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; occasionally seen but not standard.
Rare variant combining 見世 and okurigana; mostly historical.
Compound of 店 (mise, 'establishment' or 'tea house') and 出し (dashi, 'putting out' or 'sending out'), referring to the act of presenting a new apprentice to the geisha community.