Traditional Kyoto entertainers offer early New Year greetings

Traditional female entertainers in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto have exchanged early New Year greetings. In Kyoto's Gion district, December 13 is regarded as the day for starting preparations for the coming year.

Professional female entertainers known as geiko and their apprentices, known as maiko, offer greetings to their teachers every year on the day. One by one, the students wished their teacher a happy New Year and asked for her continued support.