The Miniari: Geisha in advanced training

At this status, the students are now allowed to go out and interact in full regalia. Wearing their colourful kimonos they walk around town. Their obi, a strap that supports the kimono at this time is still short to indicate their low rank. This is their first time to model their alabaster faces in public. Their costume also requires them to carry a handbag which contains a fan, a hand towel, lipstick, a comb, and small cushion.

Traditional dance lessons and playing instruments are incorporated in this stage. The shamisen, a Japanese guitar, is the most common instrument introduced to the student.

After six months of seclusion in the okiya, the miniari is then brought out of the house to be introduced to social gatherings. During these expeditions they are supposed to learn by observation. With their eyes and ears they absorb fine details of how a geisha conducts her custom with clients, the processes in these gatherings which a geisha is expected to perform and excel in, how they master the required skills and turn them into an art. There are no verbal instructions on this aspect the miniari is left with her own devices to capture her lessons.

All of these, the miniari must learn in one year.