It is not an ordinary job. Maiko is an apprentice who wish to be full hedge entertainer.
2. The age must be between 15 and 17It is too late to start the training period when you finish high school (18 years old). The best timing is 15 years old.
3. The height should be shorter than 160 cmA maiko should not be too tall. When you wear okobo (high wooden shoes), it will add another 10 cm on your height.
4. The weight must be over 43 kgBecause the maiko costume is really heavy, you have to be over 43 kg.
5. Parent's consentBecause you are under 20, you need the permission from your parents to be a maiko.
6. Fondness to traditional Japanese entertainmentYou don't have to have an experience, but it is important that you have a sense of sound.
7. Fondness to Japanese life styleEverything is Japanese style: kimono, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, ozashiki (Japanese room) manner and you have to use high wooden pillow when you go to bed. Therefore you must love Japanese style living.
8. Overwhelming patienceWhile you are in shikomi period (pre-training before maiko), everything must be learned: manners, washing, cleaning, shopping, other trivial things in the life and what is the most important is to learn how to speak Kyoto dialect.
9. No monthly tuition fee requiredYou don't have to pay for anything. Everything including living expense, lesson fee, etc. are responsible for okiya.
10. Training periodIncluding shikomi (pre-training before maiko) and disciple period, you have to expect to spend 4-5 years as a maiko.