Erikae

Erikae (襟替え, 'the turning of the collar') is the ceremony where an apprentice geisha graduates to become a geisha. The occasion is marked by a number of ceremonies and changes in appearance, such as wearing a plain white collar on the underkimono (juban) instead of the embroidered red-and-white attached collar (han'eri) worn by apprentices. The hairstyle worn by an apprentice also changes: from a variety of different styles constructed with her own hair to the shimada-style wig worn by geisha.

References

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  • Melissa Hope Ditmore (2006). Encyclopedia of prostitution and sex work. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-32969-9., page 184 [1]
  • Reynolds, Wayne; Gallagher, John (2003). Geisha : A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art. PRC Publishing. ISBN 1-85648-697-4. page 159