TOMOKO’S STORY 2 着物物語 2 This kimono was dyed by my mother when I was in my 40’s. I wanted a dark blue kimono and asked her for it. But she suggested making a purple kimono because the blue dye tends to fade away over time. My mother was in her 70’s at that time….
Tag: tradition
Tomoko’s Kimono Story (Part 1)
TOMOKO’S STORY 1 着物物語 1 This kimono was designed and dyed by my mother. This is the first kimono made by my mother which reflected my taste 100 percent. Until this, she dyed some of my kimono, but all of them reflected her own taste. In my 30’s, I came to enjoy my job and…
Tomoko – Problems
TOMOKO’S PROBLEMS 困っていること I feel troubled about storage. We use many items when we wear kimono and they take a lot of space. Also the items are small, so I would like to tidy them up so I can find them easily when I wear kimono. Another problem is what I should do with them…
Tomoko – Influences
TOMOKO’S INFLUENCES影響 I go to the kimono school once or twice a month. At first, I went there to have my own time and space while caring for my mother. Seeing beautiful kimono made me feel fresh; the teachers were beautiful and looking like them came be my goal as I aged. I was surrounded…
Tomoko (Kanagawa)
TOMOKO’S PROFILE プロフィール Tomoko belongs to the 55-64 year old age group, was born in Tokyo and lives Kanagawa now. After retiring from the international company where she worked as a director of the personnel section, she works now as a freelance human affairs consultant and interpretation guide. When she was a child, she liked…
Kikuko’s Kimono Story (Part 3)
KIKUKO’S STORY 3 着物物語 3 The dyer from Fukushima made two kimono and several obi which were ordered by my mother. One is a homongi that has these typically Okinawan design of irises in it. I wore it at a friend’s wedding. But finally, I had the resources to order my own kimono from the…
Kikuko’s Kimono Story (Part 2)
KIKUKO’S STORY 2 着物物語2 This summer joufu originally belonged to my grandmother’s housekeeper. She wore it a lot, but had no relatives to give it to, so she gave it to my grandmother. It came to me from my grandmother. This kimono joined people in the same generation and across generations, and came to me….
Kikuko’s Kimono Story (Part 1)
KIKUKO’S STORY 1 着物物語1 The one furisode that I have in my collection is my mother’s bridal dress. Because my grandfather worked at a printing business, he saw a lot of Japanese art. He especially liked screens. He ordered this design specially for the wedding. I am not sure which of these two obi were…
Kikuko – Problems
KIKUKO’S PROBLEMS 問題 Kimono are special for me and so I don’t want to work in them. I feel that they are not practical for that. I want to wear them on special occasions but I think that clearing up and folding everything after wearing the kimono is a little bit tiresome. 着物は私にとって特別な物なので働く時に着たくはないし、実用的だとは思っていません。特別な時に着たいです。ただ、干したり畳んだり、後始末は少し面倒だと思います。
Kikuko – Influences
KIKUKO’S INFLUENCES 影響 My grandmother was more of an influence on me than my own mother because she wore kimono all the time. Also, sometimes my mother and father were away when my father was transferred to another office, so I stayed at home with my grandparents during those times. The local kimono dyer from…
Kikuko (Tokyo)
KIKUKO’S PROFILE プロフィール Kikuko grew up in the Shinjuku area as her grandfather worked for a very big printing company and her family all lived together. She remembers that her grandmother always wore kimono, her mother wore it on special occasions and they dressed her in yukata for matsuri in the summer and in kimono for…
Kazuko’s Kimono Story (Part 2)
KAZUKO’S STORY 2 着物物語 2 I tailored this shibori kimono after I got this as a tanmono (bolt) from my relative. When I was given this, the fabric had shrunk just from taking away the threads that bound the fabric into tie-dyed patterns. I could see and experience each process, like making the fabric wider…
The Kimono Closet 