A boat obi on the ship in Hawaii

I brought some hitoe kimonos to my cruise trip around Hawaii islands. Because air conditioning was sometimes too strong for me, (hei it's waste of energy, America!) not yukata but hitoe was perfect to wear in the ship.

Boat design hakata obi sash, Ginza musubi knot
Kimono is 50% cotton, 50% hemp hitoe Ojiya chijimi

Sakura with Sakura color haori

Sakura blooms only for a week in a year. This is the reason we all long for it almost a year, and once it blooms, we are intoxicated around the tree!

New kimono kitsuke session

Although kimono has become special occasional clothes, someone still wear it daily. We asked her to show us how she wore kimono, and she did! At previous kimono kitsuke class, I was taught to use two Korin belts -elastic with plastic clips on both ends to hold collar not loosen. So I used to clip kimono and juban in total 4 clips inside kimono. But she totally denied the belt with clips and told us how to tie chest strap between kimono and obi sash. Big surprise! The strap holds collars gently, and keeps them for a long time.

She also taught us, if we use 3 different colors in total kimono coordination, it look chic and sophisticated (=iki). Not too many colors, not monotone. She also said, we need to be careful for black sash because it easily seemed “nighttime entertainment business women’s” fashion…

Next time, I will ask her how to remake kimonos which became a bit girlish for my age. She may tell us how to re-dye them or how to change the liners. How exciting!

My Shamisen teacher is on January Kabuki

I think this is a big opportunity for who wants to study Samisen, Japanese banjo, and a big crisis for this traditional instrument.
You can study from a national theater level teacher with $30 per lesson at local small class! Class mates are always less than 10. If you would like to study how to play piano or violin from national theater level teacher in their original country, how much it would cost!?



My shamisen teacher was on January Kabuki. I couldn't get the ticket so watched him on TV. He was just behind Tomijyuro!!!

My obi met her mother

Freehand Yuzen dyeing artist, Yogestu Ozaki (originally from Kyoto and now in Hyogo).had an exhibition in Tokyo.
I visited her exhibition with her obi. She was so pleased to meet me and my obi, saying ‘like I meet my daughter again!’ Although she has so gentle and sensitive look, her works yokai ghost series are creative and impressive.
If I would wear her ghost obi sash, where should I visit!?

My kimono tansu (chest of drawers) is from a prison

Kiri / paulownia chest of drawers is the best for kimono. Good kiri woods make inside vacuum and keep kimono from humid. Even it would be fired, inside kimono wouldn’t be burned. (I just heard. I haven’t tried it though).
But it is expensive! Usually it is inherited but my mother is still using hers. And hers is too big for my small tatami room. So I ordered it to a jail where trains prisoners to be a traditional craftsmen.
It is a small chest of drawers so I can keep half of my stocks. In winter, it keeps my summer kimonos. In summer, winter’s. A bit annoying but it urges my koromogae seasonal cloth changes like a mother!
I put nioi bukuro sachet Japanese incense in it. It keeps kimono from worm eaten. Especially silk and wool are risky.

Two ways of tying a sash to show different front designs

From Nagamochiya, --Nagamochiya is a kind of commission based kimono shop. Tons of unused nice kimonos offered from non-professional individuals. If they wouldn’t be sold in 3-6 month, they would be returned to the owner. So every time you visit, you can see new ones, --I bought Edo bingata dyeing on zenmai tsumugi weave Nagoya obi. It still has tacking on it. Why your ex-owner didn't use you? Although you have such a special weave and dyeing!
Front designs are, one-side mostly plain violet and the other side pretty flowery pattern. So I tried to show both designs with different kimonos. Although I always tie obi sash as anti-clockwise.
To tie sash with clockwise is called Kansai (western Japanese) maki. Tying anti-clock wise is called Kanto maki (eastern Japanese). I don’t know why we call so. Kyoto women are tying clock-wise?

With nice assistance by my kitsuke helper, I could complete my first Kansai maki trial. Thanks god we didn’t have quarrel!

Kanto maki
One layer komon kimono
Violet gauze cotton-linen kimono under
Violet gauze collar (same cloth with kimono under)
Violet sash scarf
Violet-silver sash belt


Kansai maki
One layer Zenmai tsumugi kimono
Violet gauze cotton-linen kimono under
Violet gauze collar (same cloth with kimono under)
Violet sash scarf
Violet-silver sash belt

MMM other than kimono, all the same. I need more creativity…
Gray grid pattern komon kimono was from an antique kimono shop Ikeda. The sleeve is too long as you see. At the next kimono laundry, I will ask to make kimono unfasten and re-sew for my size. Yellow zenmai tsumugi was originally tailored lined. But because of its color and Tokyo’ s town heat, I remade it one layer. I am sure this was a nice idea!

Japanese style party in Asakusa

We had a party in Asakusa at traditional Japanese inn Sadachiyo.


Shamisen player and Hokan comedian showed their performance just in front of us. Although we had to give lots of wrapped offerings (of money)to them, it was a great fun! Hokan comedian is also called Male-Geisha. But his performance was totally different from ladies-geisha’s. Everything was blue joke. Mmm…

Shamisen Yukata Zarai, three-stringed Japanese guitar recital with Yukata

All pupils played by rotation on the red carpeted stage to show what we studied for this year. Professional singers sung with our play. How honor it was.
Lots of fun to see all of us wearing yukata. This red obi lady’s yukata was awesome. Both side printed indigo dyed cotton cloth. Each side had different pattern. She said she custom ordered it to a wholesale in Ningyo cho near Asakusa.
I think this is the Edo (=Tokyo) Iki chic which is in contrast with Kyoto Hannari gorgeous.

Evacuate to Hokkaido

Since Tokyo is too hot because of the town heat, we escaped to Shiretoko Peninsula, the north-east of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Shiretoko is 16 degrees C. How comfortable…
Japanese inn serves yukatas (cotton casual kimono) for the guests but they are always too tired and too short. So I brought my own. Even mine was only a few thousand yen at Yahoo kimono auction, I like this design.
Violet dragonfly and white stripe yukata
Violet and blue Hakata Hanhaba obi

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.

New summer obi from yahoo japan auction

New obi just arrived. 100% silk, brand new, rasha tsumugi. The issue is, although I get this for my yellow Zenmai tsumugi, obi’s seasonality is just for mid-June to end of August. Tsumugi should be after Sept. they won’t match! Since obi texture is too summery. I found it when I received it. Pictures on auction didn’t tell it…
+ = I had thought perfect match

Kimono for the rainy season

It's rainy season in Tokyo now. I wear thin wool or cotton kimono in this season. No silk. I like these cotton / wool kimonos because these are easy to wear and washable. Any water drops are profitable for the silk. Even your sweat or drops of beers!



With Ama zori, rain sandals from Hasegawa in Asakusa and Ama coat, rain coat from Yahoo kimono auction.

Iromuji at sea

I wore Iromuji Kimono for the formal night of my cruise travel at Mediterranean Sea. I love cruise, ship and sea as well as kimono. So why don't I cruise wiht kimonos? This is my highest ranked kimono robe and obi sash for formal dress code. Iromuji with my family crest (kamon) on the back. Although nobody on the ship cares for the rank of my kimono, I put date eri (two-layer collar ) also since this is our traditional formal dress code.

this is my first trial of date eri (two-layer collar).
Today's Kimono
Iromuji (dyed up in one color) kimono with one family crest and two-layer collar
Traditional motif (flower?) sash with gold stitch work
White kimono under
Two layered collar with laced purple and yellow
Yellow sash scarf
Yellow sash belt

My master's model play Nagauta Shamisen Ayame Yukata

I can't play as quick like him though....
You can listen not only his play but also his lecture about this music at the end (in Japanese).

Mr. Kineya Yakichi, Shamisen Player and my teacher


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1357750743505175350

A happy new year!

My new year kimono (means my recent favorite)

Edo Komon (stencil dyeing) kimono
Yuzen dyeing Princess Violet sash
Pale pink silk kimono under
Lacy white collar
Violet sash scarf
Violet and silver sash belt

New Obi! Lovely but difficult to adjust...

My new Princess Violet obi sash 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.
Princess Violet is the youngest princess he loved. She was look alike his one-side lover, his step mother, Emperor's 2nd (or 3rd?) wife.
This sash's motif is the moment Prince met Princess Violet. She's just shown behind the blind chasing a bird.
Why Princess Violet? The reason is here. princess-violet-is-me

This sash is too wonderful to tie. Because it is very difficult to show the bird on the top and her hair at the bottom together. And also, Yogetsu kindly put GENJIKO mark on tare, at the end of the sash. It's easily misaligned!

Shamisen Japanese Banjo Live in a Traditional Red Light District

Every Friday night, my Shamisen masters perform at a bar in Arakicho Shinjuku. I and my Shamisen classmates enjoyed last Friday’s session together.

Arakicho used to be a kind of red light district. The street was narrow and winding. Around here, not only the bar they performed, you also can find a bunch of tiny and nice Japanese style dinners and bars. Do you wanna visit Arakicho? I will guide you!

The music charge of the Shamisen performance is 1500yen ($13) per person. She said her Japanese style hair-set costed 10,000yen... I am worrying how she can afford it.

My First Shamisen (Japanese Banjo) Recital

I started Shamisen Japanese Banjo class from this spring. I had expected to get mroe opportunity to wear Kimono with Shamisen class, but nobody wore Kimono at the class... I disappointed...
But please see! at the recital, we played as if we were National Orchestra!

Today's Kimono
Edo Komon (stencil dyeing) kimono
Shioze hand write dyeing sash with Japanese musical instrumentals motif
Pale pink silk kimono under
Pale pink collar
Violet sash scarf
Violet and silver sash belt

I made Edo Komon kimono which I had admired for a long time for this recital. And I coordinated musical instrumental motif sash for it. What a nice combination! I know I couldn't play Shamisen as nice as I looked. Please wait for until next year's recital. Oh, but what I shall wear next year!!!

The best performance in the world at Kabuki theater

Today is my birthday! I went to see Kabuki with the best seat in my life. 10th low from the stage!

Tamasaburo (Go Wikipedia.en ") acting geisha prostitute Akoya was really really wonderful. He danced, sung and played 3 instrumentals with Japanese style big band. Japanese harp Koto, Japanese guitar Shamisen and Chinese guitar Kokyu. As everybody admits, he is genius. Born to be Kabuki Oyama (actor of female roles).
















I think he is the best actor in the world because I have never heard about Broadway star who can dance and sing as well as play three different type of instrumentals (piano, violin and base...!?).

Get Tamasaburo Akoya DVD from amazon.co.jp. You can buy it in English when you click English button on the right of the top.



Today's Kimono
Gauze silk summer oshima tsumugi (pongee fabrics) kimono
Gauze silk summer sash with fan and dragonfly motif
Pale pink silk kimono under
Violet collar
Violet sash scarf
Violet sash belt

I was a bit disappointed to find few Kimono in Kabuki Theater. Not about the actors but the audiences...

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!