Traditional female entertainers in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto have exchanged early New Year greetings.

In Kyoto's Gion district, December 13 is designated as the day for starting preparations for the coming year. Professional female entertainers known as "geiko," and their apprentices known as "maiko," offer greetings to their teachers every year on this day.

A group of geiko and maiko wearing colorful kimono visited their dance teacher, Inoue Yachiyo, on Wednesday morning at her rehearsal room in Higashiyama Ward. Inoue is the leader of the Inoue school of Kyoto's traditional dance and is designated as a living national treasure.

The students, one by one, wished their teacher a happy new year and asked for her continued support. Inoue returned their greetings with encouragement, and gave them celebratory folding fans.

The room was decorated with about 60 sets of New Year rice cake decorations.

A first-year maiko named Honoka said she offered her greetings expressing her determination that she will continue to do her best. She noted that she will make her stage debut in April.