I found this kimono as a tanmono, (roll of cloth) about seven years ago, in a kimono shop and I bought it and had it sewn. This kimono is made with a very complex technique. Firstly it is Edo komon, but then some parts of it are hand painted. The Edo komon parts are a mandarin duck in water. the hand painted parts show a kagura dance. I used to enjoy kabuki, dance and I was very interested in kagura in those days, and I went to see it in the Takachiho area of Miyazaki, Kyushu which is famous for kagura performances.  At that time I came across this kimono. It’s a very special point about kimono that one can find such designs as this. I was learning and coming to understand a lot about dyeing techniques at that time, and I was captivated by the elaborate technique used on this kimono.

２枚目の着物は、７年ほど前に呉服屋で反物で見つけて仕立てた着物です。江戸小紋で染めた後、一部の柄を抜き、そこに手差しで絵付けをした、非常に凝った技法の１枚です。江戸小紋の柄はおしどりと流水、手差しの模様は神楽です。私はもともと歌舞伎や舞台、ダンス等を観に行くのが好きで、このころは神楽に興味を持ち、神楽で有名な宮崎県の高千穂に観に行きました。その頃に出会った着物です。こういう題材で楽しむことができるのも着物の魅力だと思います。またこの頃、染めの技法の知識も増えてきた頃で、この着物の凝った技法にも魅せられました。