Portraits of Maiko

A limited-edition book featuring 42 images from this project was released on September 8th 2026. The book can be ordered here.

Maiko-san are Geiko (Kyoto Geisha) in training, learning advanced skills in music, dance, conversation, and other traditional Japanese arts. This project documents a fast-disappearing facet of traditional Japanese culture. Only about 1,000 geisha remain in Japan today, down from an estimated 80,000 a hundred years ago. I’ve been traveling to Kyoto several times a year since 2023 to photograph these iconic figures of traditional Japanese culture.

Hand-made silver gelatin prints from “Portraits of Maiko” are available here, with more being added as I print them. A selection of photographs from the project is shown below.