Every year on December 13, the geiko and maiko of Gion in Kyoto walk in a line to the teachers of their arts and to the teahouses that look after them. They bring kagami mochi, round rice cakes, and thank them for the year. The custom is called kotohajime.
On August 1, called hassaku, they make another round in black formal kimono. Bowing, they say otanomōshimasu, we ask for your favor.