This kimono was my mother’s favorite and I think it is my favourite too. It is mud oshima dyeing and the pattern is mandarin ducks. They are a symbol of lasting love. This kimono is the same as one worn by my mother’s favourite actress. I know she saved up a long time for this….

My daughters are both interested in kimono, especially the younger one, but the older one likes to wear yukata too. However they don’t try and learn it. They ask me to put it on for them. It won’t continue to the next generation like that. If you go to a hair salon and have hair…

My mother was an ordinary housewife who liked kimono. I don’t remember her wearing them much, she didn’t have the opportunity, but she liked looking at them. I have a memory of my grandmother doing arai hari. It is amazing to think that they used to take everything apart and paste it on boards and…

Mayo was born and brought up in Saitama, moved to Tokyo when she was 41 and now lives in Kanagawa. When she was a child she wore kimono for shichi, go, san and she wore it most years, at New Year. She wore it for the first visit to the shrine. Her mother was a…

This kimono is the first kimono that I bought myself. I was in my 40s, I think. The technique is called sumi nagashi. I was in a department store with my mother, in Kichijoji. I just thought it would really suit me. Then one day I wore it to a party and I had soup…

This is my mother’s wedding furisode. In this old photograph you can see it in black and white. It appeared from the very bottom of the kimono chest. I thought it was a really fantastic furisode, so bright and colourful, so I wanted to take my photograph in it. I got a photographer and I…

I have too many kimono and they take up room, so I would like to get rid of some of them. However, I don’t really know what they are, so I wanted to check that first before I decide which ones to keep and which ones not to keep. I want to wear each one…

A year and a half ago, I was influenced by a photo book that a kimono stylist published. I have never been inspired by conventional kimono magazines, but after seeing this book, I got out my mother’s kimono and began to look at them. I went to a few 500 yen lessons and then I…

Chihoko is in the over 65 age group. She was born and grew up in Tokyo and lives with her husband. Her two children are now grown up and independent. She is a housewife and sold dance wear from home for about 10 years until her husband retired. She wore kimono when she was 7…

This kimono was chosen and bought from a dyeing artisan. It is a plain pink iromuji. I had it made up for my daughter. She wore it for her university graduation and she can also wear it for tea ceremony. My grand-daughter used it for high school graduation. このピンク色無地は染めの作家から購入して、娘のために仕立てました。娘は大学の卒業式に着ました。お茶の時にも着ています。また、孫が高校の卒業式にも着てくれました。

The second furisode is a green one. My daughter wore this one for her coming-of-age. My grand-daughter has worn it too. This kimono also has a lot of memories. この緑の振袖は娘の成人式の着物です。そのあとに、孫も着ています。この着物にも思い出がたくさんあります。

This furisode was bought from a kimono sale. It is white [and light blue] with a lot of colourful embroidered flowers and leaves on it. My daughter and my grand-daughter have worn it. My daughter wore it for her engagement ceremony. Then my grand-daughter wore it for her coming-of-age. I always say that when you…