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Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.263.
Today we are talking about obi and kimono. Ichiro left to attend two kimono auc
tions-monthly kimono auction date are set and auctions are held no matter what
day it is, so this Sunday and next Sunday, he is attending auctions.
I have a great book all about obi (called `Obi musubi zensho`)which is filled w
ith all kinds of information about obi, but I am not going to translate the boo
k, the book is so informative but receiving many e-mails from customers everyda
y, I feel what we need to offer is more like a nice `hint` or `a knack` to matc
h a kimono and an obi.
When I receive e-mails from customers who ask for help to find a matching obi f
or their kimono- I find many customers apologize about their ignorance about ob
i choice. There is no need to apologize at all and I really want to say, most o
f Japanese do not know about it either. My grandma was wearing kimono often, bu
t I think my mother wore kimono only at special occasion as New year's day, wed
dings, my entrance ceremony of elementary school and so on. I think most people
are like this here unless you are learning tea ceremony, Japanese dance or ins
trument like koto(harp) and so on.
So please do not feel awkward or anything! Most of the case you know more than
most young people here:-)
If you do not have much time but like to know a few hint, these are the point o
f this newsletter:
**We recommend hanhaba obi(half width obi) if you are trying wearing kimono for
the first time. No other accessories are needed.
**In general, Fukuro obi are most useful-can be used as formal or casual. Many
different obi bow can be made(with or without accessories).
For formal kimono, please choose an obi with gold or silver thread. Hexagonal p
attern, motif as pine tree, bamboo, plum blossom, cranes and turtles
are auspicious motif and good for formal kimono.
**Nagoya obi are less formal than Maru or Fukuro obi.
**If you like to wear fancy obi without anyone to help you, a pre-tied obi is a
vailable.
**If you like to try traditional way, we recommend the DVD(narration is in Engl
ish, you can see how to tie hanhaba, otaiko-square bow and also a fancy obi bow
for furisode) Click Here!
We hope the DVD can demystify kimono style.
******To see the idea of how to match a kimono and an obi, please see the charm
ing examples -- we are sure the actual combination will give you some idea!
Kimono full set corner:
Click Here!
A>
Our wonderful staff Sue(her real name is Suhama)was working in a major kimono c
ompany for a long time. She is making a lot of set of a kimono and a matching o
bi(with accessories)so we hope this page can be a nice reference for you!
*******************************************************************************
*************************************************************
We say `kimono ichimai ni obi sanbon`-it means for one kimono, have three obi.
In other words, you can enjoy wearing a kimono in completely different way by c
hanging obi.
Choosing the similar color with kimono or taking one color from kimono is a goo
d idea when you choose an obi too, but
KAKU(level)may be the key point of choosing an obi, which is considered to be q
uite important in traditional way.
Choosing the same or higher level obi is the advice we often receive from elder
people. Also choose a brighter color if you have problem choosing an obi.
Brighter color(sometimes opposite color) can give a nice accent to a kimono.
For example, if there are two obi for a certain formal kimono-one obi has excel
lent matching color with the kimono but casual obi, and the other obi, looks a
bit different coloration, but made as a formal obi with a lot of gold and silve
r, we definitely choose the latter.
You may find some obi choice quite different from what you would choose, but mo
st of the case, KAKU is the reason.
Once you get used to, I am sure you become to like the way of matching kimono a
nd obi.
For example, very decorative obi are usually worn with furisode(formal wear for
single women). You may feel it should be very (gochagocha)noisy, but it gives
unexpected effect- the two things which do not look to go together makes a gorg
eous harmony.
Seeing is believing, so please see the actual set!
Click Here!
Click Here!
I write the brief comment about major kind of obi here.
Maru obi--Fully patterned (so excellent for display too!), usually quite stiff
so difficult to tie.
Suitable for formal kimono. They are not made so many anymore, so most of maru
obi are from old age, so condition are not often good enough for wearing. If yo
u are choosing a maru obi for wearing purpose please ask us about the condition.
Most of the case fukuro obi may be better for wearing purpose.
Fukuro obi--Most flexible, many in numbers, can be worn with formal to casual k
imono depending on patterns and weaving. Partially patterned. Start tieing from
the end with the patterned part smaller.
Nagoya obi-- Created for practical purpose to make Otaiko(square bow) and not f
or other kind of bow- the starting part is already folded and sewn(some are ope
ned), so basically it is not for formal kimono.Need some accessories to complet
e the bow.
Hanhaba obi--half width obi, EASY to tie. When we learn obi tie, we always star
t with this hanhaba obi. If you are wearing a kimono for the first time, we def
initely recommend hanhaba obi.
Heko obi-- Soft sash usually for Yukata. Children and men wear heko obi for kim
ono also.
*Except hanhaba obi, fold obi into half width and start wrapping around(nagoya
obi are made that way). The end part can be folded or pleated and become wings-
the start part usually is pulled out and becomes the center part of the bow co
vering the middle part of the bow.
In general, the combination becomes like this:
Kurotomesode, furisode, iromuji, houmongi, Tsukesage-------Maru obi/Fukuro obi
Tsumugi, komon----Fukuro obi/Nagoya obi/hanhaba obi
`Gorgeous` and `colorful` may be the image and one aspect of kimono but kimono
has trend too and choosing similar color and making more `chic` and subtle comb
ination are also loved by kimono wearers too.
`Scent of flower` `Dance of joy` `Flower raft` `Sunrise` `Hope`--these are all
names of obi bow. You can create a nice obi bow yourself too!
Thank you very much for reading our newsletter.
We are adding kimono, obiage, bobbin and fabric and also interesting antique it
ems as lacquerware, vase, carved wood and yatate at our antique website.
Please check the kimono full set corner too!
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
::::::::::::::::
Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.262.
Recently I read a book and was very touched - the book is not about kimono or J
apanese textile, but we would like to introduce the true story to you.
It is the story about an APPLE - title of the book is ' Miracle Apple - record
of Akinori Kimura, a farmer who implemented absolute impossibility
His apple is said to be incredibly sweet, doesn't go bad for a long time. It is
because he can grow his apple trees without any agrichemical and in very natur
al environment - and it was thought to be impossible.
Modern apple was born by cultivar improvement in United States, and in early Me
iji period(1868-1912), large portion of sweet modern apples came to Japan, and
many farmers began to cultivate the apple trees all over Japan. Apple trees gre
w well and brought the hard cash. However, as gardeners and farmers know well,
such sweet apples were the perfect food for destructive insects, and adventive
destructive insects increased explosively. The damage was very serious, and mos
t farmers abandoned apples except in Aomori prefecture. In Aomori prefecture, s
ilk worms couldn't be grown, so they sticked to the apples. They were said to t
ake an endless number of insects off by their hands elaborately, and came out o
f the crisis. Agrichemical was not invented yet.
It was the time, when people in Aomori district made koginzashi for their work
wear( Click Here! ). We
knew wives of farmers stitched incredibly fine sashiko pattern on their husban
d's noragi during winter, agricultural off-season. Main reason why only they c
ame out of destructive insects had to be silkworms, but we feel another reason
had to be because they were exceptionally enduring. We can feel their spirit wh
ich can be seen on sashiko stitches made it possible on apples.
However, serious epiphytotic came next after the destructive insects, and apple
trees of Aomori farmers were also dying. End of Meiji period, agrichemical for
apple trees was invented and imported, and it let the trees survive.
So modern apple is a very artificial breed, and it can't yield fruits without a
grichemical. Farmers hundred years ago knew well about it already, but, Akinori
Kimura didn't think so.
He was born in 1949 in Aomori prefecture as a son of farmer. When he was young,
he loved machines and cars, and used to take apart and check how and why they
work. Especially he loved to engine tune-up. He went out to big city Kawasaki f
or a year and 6 month, but was called back by his parents, and followed in the
footsteps of their parents.
It was approx 30 years ago, around 1978, when he began farming apples without a
gricultural chemicals.
At first, his family's apple trees were grown with agrichemical same as neighbo
rs He got enough harvest with traditional farming method (using agrichemical),
but he said that he came across a book, which introduce a kind of natural farmi
ng, and he began to think strongly about his farming.
He used to spray lots of strong agrichemical many times for a season. He wonder
ed that there might be better way to grow apples - more natural way had to be b
etter for apples. In addition, his wife was weak to the agrichemical, and agric
hemical led to deconditioning to her.
He tried to grow rice and some vegetables without any use of pesticides , and s
ucceeded. Everyone said it was impossible for apples, but he believed HE could.
He had 800 apple trees, and quit to spray all agrichemical. Many destructive in
sects came, and his family - he, his wife and daughter removed them by their ha
nd. Epiphytotic spread, but he never used agrichemical, tried lots of natural r
epellents. Repellents had to be natural ones, and he tried various food - and
finally he found acetic acid worked better.
However, apple trees never bloomed, and leaves were lost till because of destru
ctive insects and epiphytotic. In its fourth year, fifth year, situation becam
e worse and worse, and he couldn't harvest any apples - he lost his income, and
his family was in extreme distress. Nearby apple farmers thought that he went
stark raving crazy, and complained that destructive insects and epiphytotic cam
e from his trees. However, his daughter and wife supported him.
He said that he addressed to his trees, 'I am very sorry for giving you trouble.
You don't have to bloom and bear, but please not die.'
In 1985, he made up his mind to suicide. He gave up his plan. He had a thick ro
pe, and began to climb the mountain in the mid night. After two hours' climbing,
he found a good tree for his hang. He threw the rope, and noticed magical scen
e.
Apples were bore fruits and glow under the full moon!
It was deep in the mountains, apples could not bear in that place. Because as h
e tried and gave up, apples need agrichemical to bear such fruits. There had n
ot to be given a drop of agrichemical.
He run up to the tree, and found that it was not apple - it was acorn tree.
Its leaves were vivid and beautiful even if some leaves were eaten by insects.
He noticed that the acorn tree grew very health without agrichemical, because i
t was the part of real nature. And he noticed that ground was covered with gras
ses naturally, and ground had very soft touch. He picked up the soil and notice
d that soil was very fertile - he put it in his mouth and tasted the really nat
ural soil, which the forest made. He understood that he had to care not only th
e appeared parts on the ground, but also under the ground. This acorn tree had
to have very long and thick roots in this soft natural soils.
He came back to his apple trees and quit pulling out the weeds and let them gro
w. In addition, he planted soybeans. His apple fields became like a forest, and
various animals, birds and insects came. However, certain destructive insects
never increase - his apple fields seemed to reach the natural equilibrium situa
tion. He also tried various method, and his trees became better and better.
2 years later, leaves of trees remained till autumn.
In the next year, seven tree bloomed.
And in the next year, it was 1989, and 9 years passed by without harvest, most
his apple trees bloomed! And in the autumn, trees bore lots of apples! They wer
e very small like ping pong ball, but they were the really apples, which were c
ultivated without agrichemical!
Now, his apples have enough sizes, and VERY popular This his story was broadcas
ted by NHK, and many farmers ask him to share his know-how. He seems not to eag
er to make money, and he never put higher prices at his apples, and he is provi
ding his know-how for free. He says his dream is to make apples-without-agriche
mical usual ones, and let the prices lower similar to ordinarily apples
He says ' Be crazy to a thing, and you must find the answer'.
Here is the amazon page of this book, and you can see the photo of Akinori Kimu
ra.
Click Here!
Very sorry again for not kimono-connected theme again. However, we think above
story is very moving. Don't you think so?
Today we will list three supreme uchikake- two rare Taisho uchikake and a uchik
ake from ending Edo period. Please don't miss these three items! We also list s
ome furisode, haori, kimono, bolt and antique items. We are very happy if you c
ould find your favorite among them!
Thank you again for reading to the end. Have a nice weekend.
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
::::::::::::::::::::
Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.261.
You may already know, Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his resignation
a couple of days ago. Former Prime Minister Abe also resigned suddenly a year a
go, so we Japanese are shocked by their irresponsibility. As both Prime Ministe
r told, opposition parties are controlling the upper house, and they never pass
ed the important bills, and in addition, ruling alliance Komeito also demanded
to realize their agenda and dangled separation.
We all knew it well, but we are very sad to have such chinless leaders as our c
ountry. We are facing lots of serious problems - business downturn, national pe
nsion issue, the gap issue, corruption of officials, budget deficit, decrease i
n population, abduction issue and so on.
Especially now, We need a strong leadership of Prime Minister, even if the road
to the goal may be more laboring than we imagine.
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party(LDP) is going to have presidential election, an
d just after the election, they are said to have a plan to dissolve the lower h
ouse and hold a snap election. They aims to command attention to their presiden
tial election, and hold the a snap election in the advantage of air of the exci
tement. Now, more than five candidates expressed to stand in the election, and
trying to collect 20 presenters (to become the candidate, more than 20 presente
rs of LDP's lawmakers, and it is not easy especially for younger candidates).
It was the similar strategy, when Prime Minister Koizumi got sweeping victory i
n 2005. Prime Minister Koizumi dissolved the lower house after his plans to pri
vatize Japan's postal service were rejected in the upper house. At that time, m
any Ruling LDP lawmakers rejected the bill with opposition parties, and Koizumi
disaffiliated them and recruited challengers against them.
The battle in the LDP attracted public attention, and opposition party's presen
ce declined. As a result, Koizumi achieved a great victory like magic.
However, the same points are only the sequence(process) and surface, and people
's mind is completely different. Candidates are expressing their agenda, but th
eir assertings are not so different, and we can't feel they really have the pre
parations to break bureaucratic domination and principle to rebuild the future.
Even if they try to anesthetize public from the anger by the drama of the presi
dential election, it must not work well.
Many people seem to think - let Democratic Party take over the reins of governm
ent. We don't know whether they may be able to do better than LDP, but let them
try if they say they can. Many people must feel Democratic Party's affirmation
s are more intrepid and pertinent - it may be so only because they are out of t
he government
Of course, also we Japanese have great interest get interested in U.S. presiden
tial election. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's speech was broadcast on TV news also h
ere, and we are very impressed by her. Just now, Democratic Party of US seems t
o have an advantage, but its advantage seems not to be stiff as Democratic Part
y of Japan.
We don't know how much US people want 'change', but we really need 'change' and
I would like to predict LDP will go into opposition at the next snap election
regardless of who becomes the president. (Possibly!)
We are very sorry for the not-kimono-connected theme. However, we would like to
convey our main interest is also politics now.
Today we will list some rare men's kimono, haori, bolt and antique items. We ar
e very happy if you could find your favorite items among them! Have a nice week
end!
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
::::::::::::::::::::::
Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.260.
Today, we would like to write about a kind of silk thread, which is named 'Kois
himaru'.
As we wrote in the past news letters, now, most silk threads are imported from
China and Brazil, and domestic sericultural industry is almost dying. From Meij
i period(1868-1912) to early Showa period(1926-1989), sericultural industry was
the largest export industry, and in the early Showa period, 2,200,000 farmers
engaged it. However, recently, quantity of silk-raising farmers is only 1,100,
and their average age is around 70. Government subsidizes silk-raising farmers,
and if bounty is cut, their silk is said to have to be put triple price compar
ed to imported silk. And this bounty is planed to cut three years later.
'Koisimaru' is a breed of native silkworm of Japan. Around Meiji 35(1903), 'Koi
simaru' was the most common silkworms, but later, industrialization replaced it
more efficient breed. Silk thread of Koishimaru has worse yield (when taking s
ilk threads from cocoon).
However, thread of Koisimaru is very thin( 1/2- 1/3 compared to usual silk), an
d it is dyed well evenly. Quality of kimono and cloth is basically determined b
y its 'THREADS', and kimono made of Koishimaru is said to have the best of best
quality of silk kimono - it's light, delicate and soft touch and beautiful bri
lliance are said to be completely different.
However, as same as other products, most user didn't mind and notice the differ
ence, and liked cheaper silk, and silk-raising farmers also quit to grow Koishi
maru.
Koisimaru would have died out, if Empress Michiko didn't insist to leave it.
After Meiji period, successive Empresses have a long history to raise silkworms.
Koisimaru and other silkworms are bred, but Koisimaru requires great care and
product less yield, and Koisimaru was considered to quit breeding. However, Emp
ress Michiko insisted to continue breeding Koishimaru, because Koisimaru is the
most traditional silkworm of Japan.
Later, when treasures of Shousouin(they are from Nara and Heian period - approx
1000 years ago) was planned to reproduct, they needed way thinner silk thread
s compared to usual threads, and finally they found similar one - it was Koisim
aru's, which was bred by Empress Michiko!
This case became an epoch, and Koisimaru was rediscovered, and began to be bree
d again in many places.
Of course, Koisimaru is very expensive, and said to be ten times to twentyfold
expensive, but some people recognize its value and it is expected as the key of
survive of Japanese sericultural industry.
Contemporary Koisimaru is very expensive, but as we wrote, around Meiji period,
Koisimaru was the most usual silkworms. We often sell kimono from Meiji period,
and their silk textile is very delicate and soft. It is highly possible that t
hey were made of Koisimaru's silk threads!
Thank you for reading to the end. Today we will list some fabric sample book, a
ntique kimono, rare men's haori, haori, katazome, bolt and antique items. We ar
e very happy if you could find your favorite among them!
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
:::::::::::::::::::::::
Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News letter No259.
We came to live in this town two years ago, and this year, we had to be one of
hancho(leader) of this community association. There are 8 groups in this area,
each group has about 20 houses
The houses started to be built about 16 years ago, and in the past 10 years, th
ey had kept this summer bon odori festival.
The festival needs quite a lot of preparation, so there was a log of discussion
but since small kids are looking forward to this event and in this summer holi
day season, many families come back
to meet their parents taking their kids, so grandpa and grandma living in this
area can take their grandchildren to the festival, so we have decide do continu
e this event.
This year it was supposed to be held on oater August 23rd, but we had to postpo
ne to Sunday because of rain, and we had to set to the earlier time instead of
night.
Usually many danders in yukata comes, but because of the postpone, many women d
ancing group could not come, so it became more like game event for children, bu
t we found many adults were having fun
too.
We were in charge of darts, and the darts was made by Oya san in our area. He m
ade this darts board
some years ago, and since then darts became the most popular game among the eve
nt. More than 200 people come to play. Of course many of them come repeatedly.
There is a senior citizens home in our area and some older people in wheel char
e came to play too. They enjoyed to play darts and also picking up the prize.
Please enjoy the photos of the event:
Click Here!
The booth are darts, ring toss, scooping rubber balls and there are food like T
AKOYAKI(octopus balls-must food in the any event in Osaka), sausage, YAKITORI,
Senbei(thin crackers with sauce), Kakigori(shaved ice), onigiri(rice ball), jui
ce and beer.
One of the booth by people who are in charge of community disaster prevention a
ctivity showed emergency goods and offered emergency food to try.
The climax was winning prize. We won `ziplock` but the 1st winner won a digital
camera!
Both older people and younger people live in this area so it was hard to find o
ut the time to work together but the event made us get closer each other. Young
er people think the event requires too much work and should make it simpler so
there is not too much work. The older people think this is important to work to
gether and have this event keep continuing, so we get closer and can cooperate
when some emergency happen.
Each year, there are a lot of discussion, but we think the event will continue.
After seeing so many children were looking forward to this event and enjoying,
the work might be worth doing.
In many area, this type of event by residents are becoming less and less and pe
ople sometimes do not know who lives next door. We are lucky there are many old
er but energetic people living in this area who are willing to work for neighbo
rs. Without their work, we could never make it possible to have such event.
We just wished the festival had been held at night- most of the prize we prepar
ed were `glowing` items!
The small park was filled with good smells and laughters. We put things away an
d went home, saying,
OTSUKARESAMA to each other. It is hard to translate this word, but we use this
word very often, it means, `Good work today`.
Next big job for members are to walk at night in winter, shouting ` Beware of f
ire`. It is traditional way to arise people's attention to fire during the tim
e when people use heater.
Hyoshiki (beating clappers) are used and group of people walk around the area s
houting `Hino Yojin'.
It was a typical day of a summer event day- we grew up having a lot of fun in o
ur neigborhood, so we hope the children grow with this fun memories.
Thank you very much for reading our newsletter.
We were in charge of darts
We are listing furisode, kimono, obi and interesting antique items tomorrow.
We hope you enjoy checking our new
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News letter No.258.
We have returned from summer holiday now. We are very sorry for inconvenience d
uring our holiday.
Due to circumstances, we couldn't plan the trip until just before the holiday.
In addition, we have a Labrador retriever, and we didn't want to leave her in a
pet hotel. Also in Japan, not few hotels allow hotel guests with large dogs,
but such hotels were already full during this high holiday season 'obon'.
Our family drove to Shinshu ( Nagano prefecture) for six hours. Instead of Kimo
no packages, we loaded Lab and her cage on our van. In Shinshu, we met lots of
travelers with dogs, and could find the restaurants who allows pets. We could h
ave fun time with Lab, but at night Yuka, Shouko and Mugi stayed at hotels, and
I(Ichiro) had to pass the nights in the van with Lab.
However, it was very delightful trip!
We(Ichiro & Yuka) also went to Tokyo to see the exhibition titled,
'KOSODE'( HAUTE COUTURE KIMONOS OF THE EDO PERIOD )
Click Here!
This exhibition is FABULOUS!
We always wait for opportunity to see kimonos from Edo period(1603-1867), but w
e seldom can see them at a time. This exhibition was divided to three periods,
and we can see more than 300 hundreds. This collection was collected by Matsuza
kaya department store around Showa 10(1936), who was one of the most fashionabl
e kimono sellers. Matsuzakaya department store was a kimono store in Edo period,
and later they changed their store as department store same as other major kim
ono sellers. ( Recently Matsuzakaya merged with Daimaru Department Store, who w
as also a famous kimono seller in Edo period.)
It was the time of Taisho Roman, when kimono became stylish and fashionable str
ongly affected by Western fashion ( Art Nouveau & Art Deco ), and Matsuzakaya w
as also demanded lots of new designs by customers. They accepted new kimono des
igns from the general public, and later they recognized that supreme kimono des
ign and technique samples existed in kimonos from Edo period, and if they colle
cted them, such collection had to act as an excellent catalysts to kimono desig
ners and artistans.
Because of aim of collection, lots of kimonos with artistic design and unique t
echnique were included even if their conditions were not excellent.
Their collection is said to be one of Best Edo Kosode Collection.
Fist period ended 11th August. If you have chance to come to Tokyo till 21 Sept
ember, we highly recommend to visit Suntory Museum. This exhibition is due to b
e held in Kyoto next spring.
This exhibition also has 'hinagata bon' collection from Edo period, and there a
re several kosode pieces, which have the very similar design to hammiest pictur
es.
Kosode was the expensive HAUTE COUTURE KIMONOS, and every pieces were ordered -
rich customers selected white silk fabrics, and ordered design, technique and
size. To imagine the designs, hammiest bon were used, and customers ordered the
design and technique based on hammiest pictures.
We also have two hammiest bon from Edo period. Approx 200 kinds of hammiest bon
are said to be published( woodblock printed ones), and approx 140 books are co
llected by them.
Click Here!
Click Here!
At the exhibition, I had couple of new understandings
*As we wrote in previous mail, 'ko-sode' means ' Small Sleeves'. However, it do
esn't mean 'short sleeves'. Most usual kimono sellers also misunderstand it, an
d when they see a 'long sleeve kosode', they are puzzled why 'long sleeve kimon
o' can be called 'ko-sode'. Exactly, 'ko-sode' means 'width of cuff is narrow,
and 'opposite word' is 'oo-sode', which means 'kimono with wide cuffs'. In olde
n times, gentility wore such 'oo-sode' kimono. We don't have 'oo-sode' kimono a
t our site, but there is a similar shape uchikake here.
Click Here!
This uchikake's sleeves have colorful hems, and cuffs are opened widely(not clo
sed, and both side hems are fully opened). Same as this uchikake, people enjoye
d to layer and show the colorful layered hems. However, if they wore only this
kind of kimono, full arms had to be exposed from its wide cuffs. To avoid it, p
eople wore 'ko-sode'( narrow cuff kimono) as undergarment.
This is the origin of 'ko-sode'. Later, 'ko-sode' which was undergarment became
to be worn as an outer kimono, and 'ko-sode' became the main stream of kimono.
So all kimono we can see can be said as 'ko-sode' considering its primary mean
ing, but by tradition, when we say 'kosode, it indicates 'kimono from Edo perio
d or earlier'.
*Kosode of summer season were mainly made of asa( Japanese hemp), and it is cal
led 'Katabira'.
And female of samurai families, wore 'koshi-maki' on 'katabira' when they had t
o dress officially 'Koshi-maki' means 'wrapping around hips' - it is very uniqu
e fashion - you can see the picture of 'Koshimaki' style here.
Click Here!
Inside of wings like sleeves, narrow obi with stiff core are tied and expanded.
'Koshimaki' ordinarily had like black uchikake shape, and auspicious motifs we
re embroidered finely all over it. We could see at the exhibition had more luxu
rious and fine embroidery work all over it.
Especially this 'koshiamaki' kimono and style was impressive for us. Some peopl
e may notice koshimaki somoetimes means bottom underwear (also called as `okosh
i`)which was like wrapping skirt worn under kimono, but it is different.
This Koshimaki kimono looks like carrying a huge butterfly around the wearer's
hips. Japanese summer is so hot and humid(actually we are in the middle of this
summer now!)so to add something to make the fashion more formal, this weird st
yle must have been created.
Thank you for reading to the end! Today, we will list uchikake, furisode, haori
kairnui pack, fabric, bolts and antique items. We are very happy if you could
find your favorite among them!
*We are sorry but we must close our office on this karen Our town have 'bon-odo
ri'( obon dance and party) and this year we must be a group leader and we have
too many works on the day. We are very sorry again for inconvenience.
We will be so happy to `meeting` you on the net! We wish you a lovely new week.
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News letter No.257.
Couple of days ago, we had PL fireworks event in our town and lots of visitors
came to our small town. Our town Tondabayashi always becomes full of visitors o
nly once a year at this time.
This year, organizer ( Church of Perfect Liberty ) announced the quantity of fi
reworks as 20,000, which was way less than last year's announce 100,000.
Recently, every fireworks events had too much visitors, and costs of policing(s
ecurity) seems to become heavy for organizers. Many magazines feature fireworks
events, and places the charts of fireworks' quantity of each events. Some orga
nizers want to make the visitors less, and changed their announcements about th
e quantity of fireworks.
Church of Perfect Liberty said that they only changed the counting way - till l
ast year, they count EACH fireworks, but this year, they count a series of mult
iple fireworks as one. So the total quantity of fireworks is same as usual. The
y said they received more than 100 inquiries about the scale of fireworks.
However, approx 170,000 visitors came, which was little bit more than last year.
Both our office and house are close to the PL golf club ( fireworks are fired i
n golf course), and we had to close our office earlier than usual. Because road
s around PL and Tondabayashi station becomes car-free malls in the evening, and
roads around the car-free malls are jammed.
Yuka left the car and came home on foot. I attended a kimono auction in Higashi
-Osaka, and I gave up coming home, and went to my parents house.
Here is a movie of PL fireworks.
Click Here!
Today we would like to introduce our summer dish. During weekdays, I(Yuka) cann
ot take a long time cooking but I love cooking and cooking is one of my big ref
reshing time. Today I went grocery shopping and found very good fresh sanma, so
I bought sanma for our supper.
Cold noodles are very often served during summer- not only at restaurants but a
t home too, we eat cold noodles very often during summer. If you do questionnai
re and ask what you eat for lunch,, I think more than half of Japanese people w
ould say they have cold noodle. Cold noodles are often given as summer gift to
friends or relatives. We had nice somen noodle in a wooden box(it was given by
our friend the other day).
Tonight we had:
*boiled green soybeans (EDAMAME)
*somen noodle with some relish and topping
*grilled sanma with grated radish
Please enjoy our supper with us! This is the supper we made about 5 hours ago.
Clic
k Here!
Somen is summer food and sanma is actually autumn dish but the sanma I found to
day was fat and very good. During Autumn, a lot of sanma will be sold and the p
rice is around $1-2 for one sanma. Grilled salted sanma is typical autumn dish.
I hope the price will keep the same this autumn too.
The examples of relish for somen are chopped negi(leek), grated shoga(ginger),
chopped myoga(Japanese ginger), siso(Japanese basil) or grated sesami, and we u
sually have grated shoga.
I love chopped myoga but we say eating too much myoga makes you forgetful. (I e
at too much myoga, that is why I am so forgetful). Today I added cooked egg(cut
into long strips), cooked mushrooms(cooked with sweet sake and soy sauce), and
fresh cucumber. (usually we only have somen and grated
ginger). Mano san (our neighbor) often brings us some fresh vegetables from her
yard. So some of the vegetables are from her yard.
If you notice I am missing something on sanma dish, you must know Japanese dish
very well- I should have kabosu(Japanese citrus) to squeeze for sanma, but kab
osu was not sold, so I bought a small bottle of kabosu juice instead. I prefer
to have fresh kabosu. Sanma will appear many times on our
supper table from now on. With sanma, cooked white rice is the best. Tonight we
were a bit greedy and enjoyed both summer taste(somen) and autumn taste (sanma
no shioyaki).
Ichiro loves atsuage, fried tofu. Many kinds of atsuage are sold at supermarket.
Atsuage:
Click Here!
I heard tofu is sold worldwide but how about Atsuage? I am just curious. We usu
ally eat atsuage with
grated ginger and soysause.
I hope you enjoyed our supper, this is the type of food we have at home during
this season.
Today we will list some contemporary uchikake, furisode, haori, kimono fabric,
bolts and antique items. We are very happy if you could find your favorite amon
g them!
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.256.
We are very sorry about our extra holiday of these Saturday. We will plan summe
r holiday in the middle of August, but we will open on every Saturday from this
week as usual.
Today, I read a novel titled 'Nishiki', whose theme is the life of Heizo Tatsum
ura. Author is Tomiko Miyao, and she said it took 25 years to complete this no
vel. 'Nishiki' means `brocade` in Japanese.
Most customers may know the name of Heizo Tatsumura.
He is the famous weaver who was active in Meiji period(1868-1912) and Taisho pe
riod(1912-1925), and the company 'Tatsumura Textile Co. LTD' he established is
well known as the best weaving company in Japan still now not only in Japan, b
ut also in the world.
Unfortunately it is Japanese only , but here is the official page of Tatsumura.
Click Here!
This page is written about Heizo Tatsumura, the founder.
Click Her
e!
Miyao's work is not written as 'nonfiction' but as 'novel'. Name of central ch
aracter is changed as 'Yoshizo' from 'Heizo', but her novel seems to convey wel
l about his spirit and character. She had to have care about his descendent and
concerned parties, and I think she wrote it as a novel to be able to write fre
ely from such consideration. Because Heizo had incredibly strong desire for wea
ving, and at a time, he had human trouble and desire.
He seemed to have a concubine, who was a geisha, and he had three children with
her. ( I don't know it was fact or not, but story about his wife and concubine
is also serious theme in Miyao's novel. )
From the page official pages,
-He was born in Meiji 9(1876) in a rich money changer family Hiranoya (Osaka ),
and grown up in cultural neighborhood. He was familiar with Sado(Tea Cult), K
ado(art of flower arrangement), 'Utai'(recitation in Noh) and Haiku. Especially
he was splendid at Haiku.
-His grandfather passed away when Heizo was 16 years old, and family business b
ecame not go well, and he quit school. He went to Kyoto Nishijin, and began to
sell obi.
- Not only selling, later, he devoted to study weaving technique. When he was o
nly 18 years old, he established his own weaving company.
- He had strong will to weave genuinely creative obi, and threw himself into st
udy. And his efforts bore fruit, and when he was 30s, he got several patents fo
r his original weaving techniques. His work stunned the world of weaving.
- His obi sold well, and his company grew.
- However, many weavers in Nishijin imitated his obi, and put way lower prices.
Such obis were piled in the stores, and sold well because of its lower prices.
It damaged his business.
- He began to study and restore(re-weave) the fabrics of ancient times. He re-w
ove and re-create various old fabrics, which were rag condition and stored more
than 1000 years. If he didn't do it, such valuable fabrics had to be lost fore
ver.
- After WWII, he made exertions to introduce Japanese textile to the world, an
d weave fabrics for famous designer like Christian Dior.
- He died when he was 86 years old ( 1962 ).
Miyao's novel lets us know how fanatic he worked. When he studied or tried new
weaving technique, he stayed in his workshop regardless of day or night for day
s. He planed new techniques, and ordered them weaving and dyeing artisans, but
most time, completed(woven) fabrics didn't meet his demand and he ranted and ra
ved, and also tore and cut the fabrics. When he re-woven the ancient fabrics, h
e looked for similar silk threads, and finally he obtained the mulberry leaves
from China and feed silkworms it and got stiff silk fabric like ancient ones. A
lso to get same colors, he had to look for various plant dyesutffs among incred
ibly massive amount of dyestuffs.
When he did study of ancient fabrics, he was too concentrated on it, and his co
mpany's obi products didn't sell well, and trusted chief controller run away wi
th company's money. And also his most old weaver betrayed him (he made imitatio
n obi and put Tatsumura brand and sold them to a third person).
His company was often in danger of bankruptcy.
In novels, he was described that he had mental breakdown because he was too con
centrated on his works and study, but it seemed to be fact.
You can see the ancient fabric patterns here, which ware revived by Tatsumura.
Click Here!
Click Here!
Click Here!
*You can see more by clicking the 'Next' button in the right lower corner, or t
humbnail photos in the left side.
However, I (and also Yuka) am strongly moved by his passion for weaving.
Why could he have such strong passion for revival of ancient fabrics?
Unfortunately, this novel seems not to translated in English, we hope you could
read it in future.
Thank you for reading to the end! Today we will list some fukusa, vintage Ise k
atagami, boy's kimono fabric, fabric, bolts and antique items. We are very happ
y if you could find your favorite among them!
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
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