#oshiroi
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sarahnour.bsky.social
In Japanese folklore, Oshiroi Baba, or Face Powder Hag, is a mountain spirit in the form of an old woman with a bent back & a wrinkled face smeared in makeup. She appears to those lost in the mountains during snow storms & gives them warm sake. #WyrdWednesday
December 4, 2024 at 1:56 AM
samkalensky.com
Oshiroi-baba - 白粉婆 - [Yokai] A hunch-back old hag whose face is absolutely caked in top-quality Oshiroi makeup, but it's been applied poorly, giving her an "appearance which makes even the mountain gods tremble." Often an implied variant of Yuki-Onna.👵 samkalensky.com/products/osh...
A hunchbacked old woman With too much makeup on her face! art sticker by samkalensky on the sticks detail shot in leaves Next to toriyama sekiens illustration from 1776
November 8, 2024 at 6:32 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
Debut of maiko Satohina. Photography by Onidide on Flickr
Captured in elegant profile against a dark, slatted wooden screen, a newly debuting maiko bows gently in her formal ensemble. Her stark white oshiroi makeup coats her face and neck, creating a striking contrast with her jet-black, sculpted coiffure and the deep black field of her formal trailing kimono (hikizuri) decorated with graphic wave and pine motifs. Hair adornments (kanzashi) crown her head, featuring a fluttering silver bira-bira pin over her temple, warm amber-toned tortoiseshell picks, a polished red coral bead, and a scarlet silk kanoko pad tied around the base of her topknot. The delicate curve of her downcast profile, the gleam of metallic ornaments, and the soft red embroidery of her inner collar invoke a intimate sensory atmosphere: the soft rustle of heavy silk layers, the faint fragrance of camellia hair oil, and the quiet reverence of a formal greeting. Photographed by Onidide, this portrait documents maiko Satohina during her misedashi—the official debut ceremony marking an apprentice's formal entry into Kyoto's traditional hanamachi (flower towns). The milestone demands a highly codified wardrobe, most notably the formal black kuro-hikizuri paired with a heavily embroidered red collar (han'eri) that signifies her junior rank. Her hair is sculpted into the waeshima hairstyle, a specialized traditional coiffure reserved exclusively for formal occasions like debut rites. The assembly of such an ensemble represents the living heritage of Japanese monozukuri (artisanal craft and technical mastery), synthesizing the expertise of traditional hairdressers (kamiyui), silk weavers, yūzen dyers, and metal craftsmen who maintain centuries of material tradition.
September 27, 2026 at 7:38 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
Naoyuki as maiko in November outfit. Photography by WATASAN on Flickr
Bowing her head in quiet, introspective grace, the young apprentice geisha stands bathed in a shaft of soft autumn light that breaks against a dark, velvety backdrop. Her face is painted in luminous white oshiroi, accented by subtle crimson edging along her eyes and a vibrant red mouth that echoes the rich tones of her ensemble. She wears a deep plum-colored silk kimono dotted with crisp, white star-shaped maple leaves (momiji), which cascade across her shoulders and sleeves. At her waist, a shimmering cream and gold brocade obi is secured with a pink cord and an exquisite, carved coral chrysanthemum obidome brooch. Crowned with an elaborate nihongami hairstyle, her head is adorned with bright yellow November kanzashi hair ornaments—fashioned to resemble autumnal leaves and chrysanthemums—alongside fluttering silver bira-bira hairpins that gleam against her dark, sculpted hair. Photographed by WATASAN on Flickr, this portrait captures the subject Naoyuki wearing the traditional November seasonal attire of a Kyoto maiko. In the classical world of the hanamachi (geisha districts), a maiko’s dress is meticulously synchronized with the natural calendar, a practice known as fūbutsushi (seasonal markers). November heralds the peak of late autumn, expressed through the motif of momiji (maple leaves changing color) and late-blooming chrysanthemums (kiku). The elaborate hair ornaments (tsumami kanzashi) are hand-crafted from tiny squares of silk by master artisans, illustrating the living tradition of Japanese monozukuri (artisanal mastery) where hair ornaments, hand-carved obidome, and hand-dyed yūzen textiles converge to embody the shifting mood of the eleven-month cycle.
September 25, 2026 at 11:02 AM
feleciaangelle.com
Today's letter in the ABCs of Characters I Voice is...
"O" for:
(Manami) Okuda - Assassination Classroom
(Hana)Oshiroi - Ben-To!
(Serika)Onoe - Chaos;Child

In addition to the letter of the day being found in their last names, these characters have something else in common! Can you guess what? 🤔🧐
December 31, 2024 at 4:18 PM
animint.com
Dans Ben-To, Hana Oshiroi a son anniversaire le 23 août #birthday
Hana Oshiroi
August 23, 2025 at 9:56 AM
roger1952.bsky.social
Maiko. Japan.
Captured from behind in dramatic shadow, this striking portrait isolates the iconic silhouette of a Kyoto maiko (apprentice geisha), highlighting one of the most celebrated focal points in classical Japanese aesthetics: the nape of the neck. Framed by the deeply pulled curve of an embroidered inner collar (han'eri), her neck is coated in traditional white makeup (oshiroi), leaving unpainted skin exposed at the nape in a precise pattern designed to accentuate the graceful line of the spine. Above, her natural hair is sculpted into a classical nihonkami coiffure, anchored by a tied crimson silk cushion (kanoko) at the crown and subtle seasonal hairpins (kanzashi), illustrating the physical rigor and traditional discipline maintained within Kyoto’s hanamachi (flower districts). The ensemble represents the height of Japanese textile artistry and formal sartorial hierarchy. She wears a magnificent trailing kimono (hikizuri) of dark silk, its lower skirt adorned with fluid wave motifs and seasonal flora executed in hand-dyed yūzen and delicate gold leaf detailing. Tied high across the torso is a massive darari obi—an extended brocade sash woven with opulent gold metallic threads (kinran) that drapes nearly to the heels. Unlike the shorter, compact knots worn by fully realized geiko, the long, swinging tails of the darari obi are unique to the youth and theatrical grandeur of the maiko, swaying rhythmically with her measured, gliding steps.
August 28, 2026 at 9:29 PM
girlinblack.bsky.social
Yep, así se aplica definitivamente el oshiroi, dejando el cuello sin maquillar.

(Foto: el actor Bando Tamasaburo V)
August 28, 2026 at 10:50 AM
sarahnour.bsky.social
Oshiroi Baba, or Face Powder Hag, is a Japanese mountain spirit in the form of a hunched old woman with a wrinkled face smeared in makeup, carrying a sake bottle. She appears to those lost in the mountains during blizzards & gives them hot sake. #MythologyMonday
January 13, 2025 at 2:05 AM
hiromidolls.bsky.social
O la Oshiroi-baba (bruja) Fude-onna, una yokai llena de tinta y garras de voz suave y presencia amable.
April 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
geishaartist.bsky.social
A colored pencil drawing of a Japanese geisha/geiko/geigi's red lips bigger with her neck in makeup (oshiroi) in my Strathmore toned tan mixed media sketchbook
Geisha/geiko red lips bigger with oshiroi
April 16, 2024 at 6:58 AM
onmyojiwiki-en.bsky.social
Preview of SSR Taira no Masakado's event. The new Oshiroi Baba skin is obtainable from the event store
Via NGA from CN test server: weibo.com/6050236740/Q...
#Onmyoji #陰陽師本格幻想RPG
September 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
Maiko Hisamari - view on her ofuku hairstyle. Photography by Tetsuro Hashiguchi on Flickr
Framed from behind beneath the radiating red ribs of an open oil-paper umbrella (wagasa), Maiko Hisamari presents the quiet, architectural grace of the traditional ofuku coiffure. Her alabaster-painted nape (unaji) is delineated by the classic two-pronged eri-ashi pattern, where natural skin emerges in stark contrast against the porcelain white oshiroi foundation framing her low, pulled-back collar. Her sculpted, obsidian hair swells into the characteristic ofuku bun, anchored at its base by a triangular wedge of crimson-and-white tie-dyed silk (kanoko) tucked into the crest alongside a small coral hairpin and seasonal floral kanzashi. She wears a dark kimono woven with crisp white kasuri (ikat) geometric motifs, its deep back collar dipping low to emphasize the elegant curve of her neck. The transition from the junior wareshinobu hairstyle—distinguished by its red silk ring at the center of the bun—to the senior ofuku style signals a maiko’s final years of apprenticeship prior to erikae (the "turning of the collar" when she becomes a full-fledged geiko). In Japanese sartorial tradition, where the body is otherwise enveloped in layered textiles, the nape of the neck has historically been celebrated as the supreme locus of feminine sensuality and grace. The creation of this coiffure relies on the specialized craft (monozukuri) of Kyoto's master hair artisans (kamiyui), who sculpt the maiko's own natural hair using heated wax (bintsuke-abura) into a living sculpture built to hold its form for an entire week.
September 17, 2026 at 1:31 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
Geiko is Toshimana. Shooting location is Ryuhonji , Japan.
Captured at Ryūhon-ji temple in Kyoto, this portrait features Geiko Toshimana of the Miyagawachō district draped in a white veil. The composition highlights traditional attire and styling, showing Toshimana looking downward beneath a draped white cloth patternized with pink cherry blossom motifs. She wears a soft slate-blue kimono over a crisp white inner collar and red patterned obi cord, complemented by traditional oshiroi white makeup, delicate crimson eye accents, and red lipstick. The soft, luminous lighting enhances the delicate textures of the silk and creates a quiet, contemplative portrait.
July 23, 2026 at 7:10 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
Geisha. Kyoto, Japan. Photography by Stephane Barbery on Flickr
A geisha in a moment of poised performance or formal presentation. She is captured in a three-quarter profile, her gaze directed off-camera with an expression of calm, dignified contemplation. Her skin is coated in the traditional porcelain-white oshiroi foundation, contrasting sharply with her perfectly sculpted, dark eyebrows, thin eyeliner, and neatly painted, dark lips. Draped over her head is a voluminous, structured white silk hood or veil (katsuyama or tsuno-kakushi style covering), which billows gracefully over her shoulders. The textile is patterned with delicate, scattered maple leaves (momiji) and stylized geometric crests, introducing a beautiful, seasonal motif that floats weightlessly above her features. Her formal attire is a breathtaking showcase of classical textile choreography, layered with meticulous precision. She wears an exquisite kimono adorned with an all-over seasonal pattern of blooming cherry blossoms (sakura) and cascading weeping willow or blade-like leaves, draped over a dark, textured under-collar. Wrapping her waist is a wide, formal obi (sash) that features large, scalloped wave or cloud-like medallions. Securing the sash is a light-colored, neatly knotted obijime cord arranged into a perfect bow across the front, while a traditional wooden folding fan (sensu) peeks out from the upper folds of her breast. The dense floral patterning of the kimono sleeves interacts beautifully with the stark, unpatterned white of the head covering, creating a wonderful rhythmic play of texture and form. The framing relies on a tightly cropped, intimate portrait format that completely eliminates any distracting background elements, enveloping the scene in a soft, atmospheric haze.
June 13, 2026 at 4:01 AM
Paranormal folklore: Winter Yokai, The Oshiroi Baba/ white powder woman. ❄️🗻

#japan #paranormal #yokai #supernatural #cryptids #folklore #OshiroiBaba #winter

theparanormal411.blogspot.com/2023/12/wint...
Winter Yokai: Oshiroi babā
❄️Oshiroi babā❄️ The white face powder hag. This Yokai can be traced back at least as far as 1537. Oshiroi babā are yokai that take the fo...
theparanormal411.blogspot.com
November 9, 2024 at 6:19 AM
roger1952.bsky.social
An Osaka Maiko in Ceremonial Dress, 1910′s, Japan
Turned completely away from the lens, the young maiko presents her back in a striking study of formal geometry and sartorial precision. At the center of the composition, the exposed skin at the nape of her neck is sculpted into three sharp, pale prongs (sanbon-eri) using white oshiroi makeup, creating a stark contrast against her deeply dipped, dark collar and the intricate folds of her nihongami coiffure. Her hair is bound with crisp white mizuhiki paper cords and topped with delicate floral kanzashi ornaments. Dominating her silhouette is a broad, stiffly woven obi sash adorned with sweeping wave patterns, geometric blocks, and a circular family crest (kamon) near its base, while the heavy trailing hem of her formal furisode pools gracefully on the floor beside a shadowy studio column. Photographed in the 1910s during the late Meiji or early Taishō era, this portrait captures an apprentice geisha from Osaka’s historic entertainment districts, such as Minami or Namba. While Kyoto’s hanamachi often dominate popular consciousness, Osaka developed its own distinct tradition of karyūkai culture, marked by subtle regional variations in hairstyle, obi wrapping techniques, and textile design favored by the wealthy merchant elite. The three-pronged sanbon-eri nape pattern seen here is a rare, highly specialized convention reserved exclusively for formal ceremonial occasions—such as the New Year festivities or official debuts—rather than daily engagements. Produced during a golden age of early 20th-century Japanese studio photography, this image reflects the refined monozukuri (artisanal mastery) of master weavers, hairdressers, and studio portraitists who documented the evolving material culture of the demimonde.
September 21, 2026 at 10:11 PM
sarahnour.bsky.social
Oshiroi Baba, or Face Powder Hag, is a Japanese mountain spirit in the form of a hunched old woman with a wrinkled face smeared in makeup, carrying a sake bottle. She appears to those lost in the mountains during blizzards and gives them hot sake. #LegendaryWednesday
December 3, 2025 at 2:28 AM
katsushikahokusai.bsky.social
Japanese Grosbeak and Marvel of Peru (Ikaru, oshiroi no hana), from an untitled series of flowers and birds https://www.artic.edu/artworks/87027/
Clarence Buckingham Collection
September 18, 2026 at 6:10 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
Japanese ritual dancers performing the sacred Yasaka Dance, heavily associated with historical festivals such as Kyoto's famous Gion Matsuri. Photography by Sam Ryan on Flickr.
Lowering their heads beneath wide-brimmed, black-lacquered hats (kasa), two ritual dancers fold into a synchronized posture of reverent repose. Deep shadows cast by the steep brims obscure the upper contours of their faces, highlighting the stark alabaster of their oshiroi makeup and the vivid crimson accent of their lips. Before them, open paper fans (mai-ōgi) extend like pale, ribbed wings, held by white-gloved hands to shield their lower features in a silent, geometry-driven gesture. Their ivory silk robes, woven with subtle diamond damask patterns (hishi-mon), catch the soft, diffuse top-light, while a high-key, muted background casts their dark-hatted silhouettes into dramatic, sculptural relief. Photographed by Sam Ryan, this moment captures the sacred performative tradition of the Yasaka Dance (Yasaka-odori), historically interwoven with Kyoto's venerable Gion Matsuri and the ritual calendar of Yasaka Shrine. Originating in the Heian period as goryō-e—purification rites performed to appease vengeful spirits and banish seasonal plagues—the festival developed an intricate tapestry of sacred dance (kagura) and civic devotion. During processions such as the Hanagasa Junko (Flower Umbrella Parade), dancers dressed in classical Heian- and Edo-period ritual attire perform ancient choreographies to entertain the kami (deities) and purify the urban space. The dancers' attire reflects the exquisite lineage of Japanese textile and accessory monozukuri (artisanal mastery), combining hand-pleated bamboo-and-paper fans with specialized headwear designed to transform mortal performers into sacred vessels.
September 18, 2026 at 3:46 AM
roger1952.bsky.social
The photograph is part of Jodi Cobb's iconic National Geographic coverage on the hidden world of Japan's geisha.
Resting upon a colorful polka-dot towel, two young apprentices share an intimate, off-stage moment in their private dressing quarters, their heads leaning together over an open magazine. Their faces are freshly transformed by stark white oshiroi foundation, framed by sharp crimson accents at the eyelids and lips, while their hair is tightly bound in purple and ivory cloth wraps (katsura-shitaji) in preparation for their formal coiffures. The maiden above, clad in a red-and-black striped cotton yukata, drapes a supportive arm over her companion, who rests her cheek against her hand while leafing through the glossy pages. Casual interior details—a white paper shopping bag in the foreground, a vanity case, and the faint outline of a telephone in the shadowed background—anchor this tender interaction within the unadorned reality of daily life. Captured by photojournalist Jodi Cobb during her landmark project for National Geographic—later published in her seminal 1995 monograph Geisha: The Hidden World—this photograph offered global audiences unprecedented access to the strictly guarded privacy of Japan’s karyūkai ("flower and willow world"). Cobb was the first photographer granted extended permission to document the secluded interior quarters of Kyoto's okiya (geisha lodging houses). This singular image pierces the enigmatic facade of the geisha myth, catching young apprentices (maiko) in a candid, unscripted moment between rigorous daily training in classical arts and their evening banquets.
September 16, 2026 at 1:38 PM
onmyojiwiki-en.bsky.social
New Oshiroi Baba skin "Floral Essence" (食味百草). Can be obtained for free on an upcoming event. It is one of the winning entries from the 2024 skin design contest (made by 阳玉八)
Official post: weibo.com/5896401674/Q...
#Onmyoji #陰陽師本格幻想RPG
September 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
Maiko by Stéphane Barbery on Flickr.
Captured in extreme close-up by photographer Stéphane Barbery, this minimalist portrait isolates the iconic face of a maiko (apprentice geisha), turning traditional Japanese cosmetics into a stark, graphic study in contrast and form. The high-key exposure flattens the natural contours of her face, merging her skin into a luminous field of traditional oshiroi (white rice-powder makeup). This mask-like aesthetic strips away ambient context, focusing entirely on the three foundational colors of the karyūkai (flower and willow world) palette: pristine white, jet black, and saturated vermilion red (beni). Through this tight, intimate framing, her features recall the idealized, distilled elegance found in Edo-period ukiyo-e woodblock prints and early 20th-century bijinga (paintings of beautiful women). Detailing the precise artistry of her makeup, her eyes are lined in crisp black with subtle touches of red pigment brushed at the outer corners, a technique historically intended to ward off evil spirits that evolved into a quintessential marker of youthful refinement. Her eyebrows are defined with a soft underlayer of beni beneath dark charcoal, adding warmth and depth to her quiet, introspective expression. Her lips are painted in a deep, lustrous crimson, sculpted to highlight the heart-shaped curve of the cupid's bow as a jewel-like focal point against the porcelain skin. At the very base of the frame, a subtle glimpse of her white collar (eri) reveals a delicate self-patterned geometric weave, anchoring the ethereal portrait in the physical textures of formal silk dress. Barbery’s composition bridges centuries of ritual cosmetic art with modern high-contrast photography, capturing the timeless, suspended beauty of Kyoto’s living performance legacy.
August 20, 2026 at 7:07 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
Japanese artist Tatsuo Fujisawa artwork in “Complete Works of Contemporary Commercial Art (Volume 2) Practical Poster Designs” (Ars, 1928)
This vibrant commercial artwork by illustrator and graphic designer Tatsuo Fujisawa (藤沢龍雄) was featured in the milestone 1928 publication Gendai Shōgyō Bijutsu Zenshū (現代商業美術全集 — "Complete Works of Contemporary Commercial Art," Vol. 2: Practical Poster Designs), published by the avant-garde publishing house Ars (アルス). The composition serves as a mock advertisement for face powder, featuring a magenta vertical cartouche in the upper right that reads "Mikuni Oshiroi" (みくに白粉 — Mikuni Face Powder). The image beautifully epitomizes the Taishō–early Shōwa aesthetic transition, blending traditional Japanese bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) sensibilities with crisp, modern Art Deco commercial graphic techniques. A stylish woman with a dark, bobbed hairstyle tilts her head downward while holding a hand mirror (tegami), her delicate hand gently resting against her hair. She is clad in a vivid scarlet red outer garment contrasted by a rich peacock-blue inner collar (han'eri) and a muted brown obi. Fujisawa employs clean contour lines, flat geometric color blocking, and a subtle textured background, capturing the sophisticated, cosmopolitan moga ("modern girl") ideal that dominated Japanese urban advertising in the late 1920s.
July 29, 2026 at 9:47 AM
roger1952.bsky.social
Maiko Tanewaka of Miyagawa-cho. Text and photography by John Paul Foster. Published by John Paul Foster on December 1, 2013 on www.johnpaulfoster.com
Photographed by John Paul Foster in December 2013, this vibrant portrait showcases Maiko Tanewaka of Kyoto’s Miyagawa-chō district against a muted green backdrop. She is dressed in a rich, royal purple kimono featuring a subtle, woven geometric jacquard pattern (sayagata), paired with a light-colored, textured collar (eri) showing delicate embroidery. Her face is made up in classic oshiroi (traditional white base) accented by subtle pink shading around the eyes, red eyeliner, and crimson lips. Her elaborate wa-mage coiffure is adorned with seasonal floral kanzashi featuring bright yellow and orange blossoms on her left, along with a dangling silver metal comb (bira-bira kanzashi) on her right, showcasing the exquisite artistry of maiko dress and adornment.
July 25, 2026 at 9:22 PM