Shoumei Feline Geisha

In Japan, hidden away from human eyes, is a colourful entertainment district known as Nyanko-cho. Many mousers and other felines of greatest import frequent the catnip tea houses there. And to help relieve their burdens of a hard day’s hunting and naps are the Maiko and Geiko (professional female cats groomed in the arts of dance, song, and conversation). Their nine lives are spent fine-tuning their skills in what has come to be known as “The Catnip and Pussy Willow World.” These are the Maiko and Geiko of the Nyaotaka okiya (geisha household).

Here is the third of the three new geisha dolls I just finished.

Her story:

When a cat knew he was in for rather serious and
possibly unpleasant business, he made sure to move the dealings out of the office and into a tea house. Then he'd request Shoumei. She was considered the “Lantern of Nyaotaka,” known to bring light to the darkest of situations. Forever the optimist, she met any trouble or disagreement head-on with a light-hearted fable or bubbly tune. Patrons’ worries melted away, like snow in the waking sun of spring. Formerly cold negotiations warmed into pleasant ones.

Shoumei was once rumored to have caused the early bloom of Nyanko-cho’s Sakura trees simply by bathing them in the joyful light of her face.


Methods & Materials
Shoumei is hand-carved from a foam rubber block, which is then coated in a foam protectant and painted. The ‘skin’ is chirimen (a textured fabric traditional in Japanese kimono and doll making). Paw pads, ears, and noses re sculpted from polymer clay. The eyes are painted glass. Whiskers are those I have been collecting over the years, shed by my own cats.

Height: 21" (w/o umbrella)

Katsura (wigs): 100% synthetic hair rooted into the doll’s head, then styled traditionally. Shoumei’s wig is in the ofuku style: a simple mage (bun) with a triangle of shibori(hand-tied and dyed) silk pinned into place.

Kanzashi (hair pins/ornaments): Shoumei’s kanzashi feature silk flowers and swarovski crystals. The fan pin behind her right ears is called bira-bira for the fluttering look given by the dangling silver strips.

Kimono (gowns): Shoumei is wearing a simple sakura patterned Japanese cotton kimono in a everyday style.

Poses and Accessories: Shoumei is carrying a paper umbrella covered in printed silk and topped with washi paper.