Under the Tuscan Sun with Kimono

I traveled Toscany Italy. My tale of Genji sash and the tower of Colle di Val d'Elsa didn't mismatch, did they? Since both of them were born in Middle Ages.

I rode a bike in Kimono in Italy! This was my first time to try. If my grandma had seen me biking, she might have been so scared out!

A love poem from 1000years ago

My new summer sash has just arrived. Sent by freehand Yuzen dyeing artist, Yogestu Ozaki.
The motif of this sash comes from a classic literature in 11th century,
The Tale of Genji ( Genji Monogatari =>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji ), the story of a prince Genji and tons of princesses he loved. The tale has 54 chapters, each chapter title is coming from each princess's name.

This sash's motif is Yugao (Twilight Beauty), the princess sent a fan to the prince Genji. On the fan, there were a love poem she wrote and beautiful white glories.

Now It's the summer kimono season!

We wear lined kimono with winter sash until the end of May and are permitted to wear single kimono and summer sash in June and in September. July and August is a season for silk gauze kimonos with summer sash.
This is severe Kimono regulation and no matter how hot in May (especially these global warming days!), if you wore single kimono with summer sash, a member of committee of Kimono discipline (usually old nagging ladies) walk to you and warn.

Now June starts. This is my June style. Do you like them?
Single silk komon(dyeing) kimono
Gauze silk summer sash with fan and dragonfly motif
Violet cotton and hemp kimono under
Violet collar
Rose and orange silk sash scarf
Violet sash belt

Thanks for your comment, Satoai-san. I found this gray/white lattice kimono at a famous antique kimono collector Ms. Shigeko Ikeda's shop in Tokyo. This is the only one she praised me although I had tried tons of kimonos!

Princess Violet is me

Somebody asked me about my Kanji character meaning for my name.
My name Shino 紫乃 is coming from a classic literature in 11th century, Genji Monogatari. The story of the prince Genji and princesses he loved. 紫乃上 Princess Violet is the youngest princess he loved because she was look alike his step mother, Emperor's 2nd (or 3rd?) wife. It’s a complicated story to explain all because the literature is very long! and the Prince Genji loved so many princesses. In 11th century, there was no monogamy regulation in Japan.
OK from now on, please call me princess Shino or princess Violet. And tell me the meaning of your name!

Kimono requires non gorgeous, non-sexy body

In Japan, April is the beginning of the new academic year for schools. My Kimono class also started in april. I STUDYed how to wear Kimono. I confess I could not wear Kimono by myself. Please don't laugh.... Because how to wear Kimono is very difficult, Japanese do not wear them so often and become to forget how to wear.

Another reason of the declining the usage of the kimono is... Kimoto fits the waist-less, flat-chested body. If you have contoured glamorous body, it is better to wear in western style.

I have a nice body for Kimono. Now I have got to know how to wear kimono. But still I can’t tighten Obi Sash by myself. It is the most difficult part. I want double length arms and soft shoulder joint to tighten Sash on my back!

Summer Kimonos in Sept. in Europe

I traveled Mediterranean with 5 kimonos. Kimono regulations do not permit to wear Summer Kimono in September. If you wear summer cotton kimono or hemp kimono after September 1st, old strict Japanese lady walk straight up to you and warn you.
But who knows it in Europe!!? The temperature was around 75F-90F, 25C-30C in early September. I enjoyed summer Kimonos. Guys who met me around Mediterranean, thank you for telling my kimono was beautiful.

with a Russian couple on Mediterranean with Silk Komon Kimono and Silver Obi

Hemp50% and Cotton50% Kimono and Okinawa Minsa Obi and my birthday cake!

In Palermo with dragon fly motif Cotton Kimono and pink Hakata Obi

Graduated Kimono Class

I finished my kimono class. Now I can wear Kimono full set in 15 minutes.　Please don't think 15 minutes is too long. We must wear two kimonos at once, tight one kimono with 2 ropes.
Additionally, Obi sash and sash belt, sash ribbon should be tighten. If you bind ropes or sashes too tight, you can not eat anything!

And in the summer season, Tokyo has become really hot and muggy because of town heat, wearing kimono is a kind of a torture. Recently in Tokyo, the temperature become over 33C (90F) everyday!

Attached picture is my Kimono Class Union. Please see beautiful summer Kimono collection!