7/27/08

Torture? No, summer kimonos

Who makes Tokyo so hot? Everyday, the temperature is over 30 degree Celsius, 90 Fahrenheit.
Wearing kimono in Tokyo is now a kind of torture. Because of obi sash. You must wind up your waist with 3-4m long sash and tie! Man’s sash is easy because it’s only 9cm wide. Woman’s is about 15cm.
I won’t give up though. It’s a season of light, thin and sheer kimonos made of cotton, linen and hemp. They look so cool. I love them.


Tamasaburo and Ebizo play together on July Kabuki. Don't miss it!
I wore light colored kimono to Kabuki-za. It was Natsu Oshima. Very light weaved silk, shari-shari (please imagine) touch. Obi is my summer best (but only for early-summer because the motif is the morning glory) Genji Monogatari.

 
Cotton kimono with silk fukuro obi (left), hemp kimono and hemp obi(right)
Hemp is cooler than cotton yukata and much sophisticated I think.

2 comments:

Misuchi said...

Tamasaburo and Ebizo together in a Kabuki... You are so lucky! I hope when I visit Japan I can go and see kabuki ones too. I saw Ebizo in 2006 in Amsterdam, I thought he was great! I love your light coloured kimono, did you wear it to the kabuki za? Your cotton and hemp kimono are gorgeous too, I especially like the hemp, is it really (a bit) cooler? You must be so hot in kimono. Luky for me the temp here rarely passes the 25 degrees C.

shino said...

Hi misuchi,
Thanks for your comment. Yes. Ebizo is a young star. I think Tamasaburo is a national treasure.
I wore light colored kimono to Kabuki-za. It was Natsu Oshima. Very light weaved silk, shari-shari (please imagine) touch. Hemp is cooler than cotton yukata. I think Natsu Oshima is the coolest and I like this touch, shari-shari. I envy you live in cool place. You can wear kimonos all day and everyday!