The Life of a Modern Day Tayū Working in Kyoto

We had the rare opportunity to interview Aoi Tayu-san, the only tayu in Japan who is still active. We asked him various questions not only about the history of tayu, but also about the difference between tayu and oiran (courtesans), the characteristics and meaning of their fashion, and what kind of work they usually do. If you are interested in the history of women who were active in Japan, you will find this video very informative.

●Aoi Tayū-san's YouTube Channel:
●Aoi Tayū-san's Instagram:

●The venue where we filmed this video: Kimono Tea Ceremony MAIKOYA

▼Please support me through Ko-fi (a donation platform like Patreon)▼
I have a new dream… It is to raise money to enroll in a school to become a Japanese language instructor (an official qualification)! I promise you that I will become the best Japanese teacher who not only teaches Japanese, but is also familiar with Japanese history and traditional culture.

Things I want to do after I get the qualification:
-Free Weekly/Monthly Japanese lessons on YouTube LIVE
-Online private Japanese lessons
etc.

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▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼

▼Related videos in this channel▼
-Photo Shooting with the Highest Grade Oiran Kimono in Kyoto, Japan
-Won’t the White Makeup Damage the Maiko's Skin?
-How Has the COVID Pandemic Changed the World of Maiko/Geisha? | Where You Can Meet a Maiko in Kyoto

▼MY DREAM▼

“To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in”

I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more.

▼Join our Membership▼

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-Limited behind-the-scene videos
-Weekly Zoom call or live stream
-Priority reply to comments

▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼
Please subscribe!!

The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores.

Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments.

▼Places recommended to visit in Kyoto | "Kyoto Hidden Gems" series▼

▼Instagram▼
*Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠️I do not use e-mail）

[Timecodes]
0:00 Let's START!
1:03 Who Are Tayu?
1:58 How Are Tayu and Maiko, Geiko, Oiran Different?
5:37 Tayu’s Special Ceremony “かしの式 Kashi no Shiki”
8:05 Tayu’s Fashion
11:36 About Tayu’s Black Teeth
13:17 How Much Time To Get Fully Dressed
13:36 Who Are The Two Little Girls?
14:26 The Steps To Become A Tayu
15:50 Japanese Traditional Dance “いにしえ Inishie”
19:27 About Hanamachi (Kagai) in Kyoto
20:07 About 嶋原 Shimabara in Kyoto
20:22 Why Tayu Culture Continued To Shrink
21:46 About Aoi Tayu San’s Previous Jobs
23:31 Why Can Tayu Get Married?
23:55 How She Works For Shelter Dogs
24:57 Her Opinion About The Meaning And Values Of Japanese Traditional Culture
25:43 Her Dreams And Goals For The Future
26:21 Chikuzen Biwa Performance “Kamogawa No Tsuyu (Dew of the Kamogawa River)”

#aoitayu #tayu #oiran #kyoto #hanamachi

[LetsaskShogo]

●Aoi Tayū-san's YouTube Channel:
●Aoi Tayū-san's Instagram:

●The venue where we filmed this video: Kimono Tea Ceremony MAIKOYA

▼Please support me through Ko-fi (a donation platform like Patreon)▼
I have a new dream… It is to raise money to enroll in a school to become a Japanese language instructor (an official qualification)! I promise you that I will become the best Japanese teacher who not only teaches Japanese, but is also familiar with Japanese history and traditional culture.

Things I want to do after I get the qualification:
-Free Weekly/Monthly Japanese lessons on YouTube LIVE
-Online private Japanese lessons
etc.

▼The BEST online katana shop for decorations and cosplay: Mini Katana▼
*Get 15% OFF off all their products by purchasing through my affiliate link

▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼

▼Related videos in this channel▼
-Photo Shooting with the Highest Grade Oiran Kimono in Kyoto, Japan
-Won’t the White Makeup Damage the Maiko's Skin?
-How Has the COVID Pandemic Changed the World of Maiko/Geisha? | Where You Can Meet a Maiko in Kyoto

▼MY DREAM▼

“To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in”

I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more.

▼Join our Membership▼

●Membership benefits
-Limited behind-the-scene videos
-Weekly Zoom call or live stream
-Priority reply to comments

▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼
Please subscribe!!

The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores.

Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments.

▼Places recommended to visit in Kyoto | "Kyoto Hidden Gems" series▼

▼Instagram▼
*Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠I do not use e-mail）

[wellimeantosaywhat]

Shows up to a party, won’t make eye contact, and immediately goes home again. Never thought I‘d relate to a Tayu on a deep spiritual level.

[mokko]

Her husband must be so proud that his wife is such a well-educated, skilled, ambitious, inspiring and compassionate woman. Aoi was an absolute delight to watch.

[mirushiroi]

Every time I watch tea ceremony videos I realized how lucky we are for having Shogo providing such unique and privileged experiences to us

[rayindahay]

You talk about how there’s only two people left that can do these hair styles and I really hope someone is learning from them, it’s such a historical importance to remember things like this, it makes me sad that some things are forgotten because the last masters of a craft have passed and no one wanted to learn

[sangwoo]

7:20 “The Tayu decides whether to join the customers or not” - boss level 1000 🔥

[damieismediocre]

i like how she didnt make fun of oiran in any way and was respecting them by explaining how their job normally functions

[bloodynessie]

Please don’t lose your historical culture Japan. 😭

[carriepadgett]

It breaks my heart that things like this are becoming more and more rare...even the fact that there are only 2 traditional hairdressers left that are 90 years old.

[talorzwilliamz]

Omg I just realized that Maiko, Geiko, Oiran, and Tayu interpersonal interactions amongst each other most have been quote riveting and potentially saucy AF conversations and peak culture moments. We need a live action show or anime just on these kinds of women and their interactions as women in ancient Japanese communities. However the money and skill required for such (as well as research) would be a monumental task if show-runners were serious about trying to be as authentic as possible. It'd be a cool way to capture snapshot and explanation of ancient society though and opportunity to share historical treasures like dance and poetry, as well as amusing social interactions between women of the most renowned status and skill

[MadamMopGee]

I cannot imagine the amount of discipline and attention it takes for them to learn everything they know! Just amazing

[mizhomesiq]

Her singing voice is so hauntingly mesmerising. And she having to play the Biwa and sing at the same time is purely skill from the heart. A pleasure to watch and immerse in the message she is rendering thru her art. Bravo indeed.

[VermisTerrae]

She's like a living painting! Any time she would pause it looked as if she could have come to life from an illustration. Just amazing. And to think that the knowledge has been passed down personally for so long. What a precious bit of culture, I hope it will continue on.

[rikokojima]

Great job Shogo! You managed to get Aoi tayuu for this interview. Her mum is also a famous tayuu in Kyoto. It’s rare to get any interviews, especially with subtitles with any of them and I find them very fascinating
Kokyu is rarely played here days and kudos to them for keeping this tradition alive
I find her an amazing artisan and for keeping this culture alive

[acaciaeugenia]

honestly, she should write books to preserve the history and culture she so passionately represent.

[LoveandLucy]

as a western musician I find the way her performance is done very interesting. when she's playing the biwa she's either silent or just vocalising and then she's not actively *playing* when she's singing lyrics so it changes whether the emphasis is on the lyrics/vocals and storytelling or the instrumentals, and if she's vocalising and playing then both the instrument and vocal line are quite simple and harmonious so they compliment each other perfectly, and honestly the level of skill it takes to do that well is amazing. her performance on the biwa was my favourite part of the video, her vocals are gorgeous and her instrumental skill is simply incredible

[Rockawaysiren]

Shogo, just the fact that you are filming and capturing these artists-who may very well be the last of their kind- is a huge service to Japan and all of us, as well. These videos are treasures. With profound gratitude I thank you.

[black_gurl_theatre_magicarp]

That was the best way that the difference between Tayuu and Oiran has been explained to me. Thank you so much!

[TheCCBoi]

It sad seeing the traditional Tayu fade away, thank you Shogo for introducing and showcasing it. Hopefully, more people will take up the flame and continue the tradition.

[lesfleurs]

Excellent interview. I love her sense of tradition, and agree that the Japanese arts are fading among the younger
generation. Everyone around the world is too enthralled in the instant trend of the moment which are forgotten as easily as they come about.