Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.671
Hello, ICHIROYA News Letter Readers!
This is Mei again :D How have you been? I'm fine, and still enormous appetite since autumn.( it's for cold winter! haha)
Last week, I went to one art festival in Mt.Rokko, Kobe, Hyogo. That is "Rokko Meets Art 2016".
Well...it was extreme cold! I went there with my usual trip friends. Last trip, it was heavy raining. Other time, it was storm. May be each of us have special power. Noooo! I want another special power like Harry Potter! haha
Here are some photos of the art festival.
Today's top photo is one of them. Do you know "UFO yakisoba"? It is an instant noodles of Nissin Food Products Company (I am sure you know `Cup Noodle' that is their product!)in Japan. Look at that! UFO fallen down in the lake! ... Did you notice? UFO of yakisoba, and of Unidentified Flying Object. We really liked it and took many photos. Finally, we danced "UFO" of "Pink Lady" in front of that. If you are interested in UFO dance, and UFO yakisoba, please check at You Tube or Google.
https://youtu.be/NgmXvr2BWb8
Anyway, it was really fun festival. We rode cable cars and met many unique arts. Look at the 4th photo.
It is me and my favorite animal. That animal is made by Atsuhiko Misawa, a famous sculptor. When I saw it, I was just surprised. Because I met his animals before at Takamatsu Art Museum in Kagawa. So I tried to take a same photo like before. That is the 5th photo.
There were many foreign tourists at Mt.Rokko. If you wanna come to there, please check the more information in their HP. Because it is only in autumn. Day time is of course interesting. But night time is also amazing! You can see many photos of their HP, Instagram, and so on.
So, today I wanna introduce some items with "animals" and "mountain" design!
At first, "animals" like by Mr.Misawa.
(1) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/339803/ : Tsumugi Nagoya Obi
(2) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/321534/ : Shioze Nagoya Obi
(3) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/347015/ : Tsumugi Fukuro Obi
(4) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/265987/ : Komon Kimono
(5) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/324248/ : Tsumugi Kimono
Next, "mountain" like from Mt.Rokko.
(1) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346881/ : Fukuro Obi
(2) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346267/ : Tsume-Tsuzure Nagoya Obi
(3) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/337902/ : Full-Shibori Haori
(4) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345536/ : Houmongi Kimono
(5) http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344003/ : Houmongi Kimono
Did you find your favorite item? If you did, I'm so glad :D <3
Thank you for always reading until the end. See you next time!
Mei
Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.670
Hello, this is Mitsue. How are you? It is getting cooler and cooler, and we feel autumn sky which is clear and serene. But auntum sky is easy to change, so it is often compare to a woman's heart. Do you agree to it?
The other day, I enjoyed orange picking with friends in Taishicho. Actually orange means mandarine orange generally in Japan. Taishicho is located just about 30 min by car or train from our company. This year oranges are full harvest, and many kindergarten or nursery school children were enjoying on an excursion. After picking oranges, we visited Taima-dera and ate Kamameshi (boiled pot rice) for lunch. Taima-dera is famous for 'Botan'(peony) in spring, and the garden scenery is so beautiful. On the way home, we ate delicious zenzai (sweet red beans soup with mochi). It was so fun going outdoor with friend on a beautiful day. We go to orange picking every year in this season, and I hope to go there as possible as I can climb the hill. Training! training!
Mikan trees
The view of Tondabayashi from Mikan hill
Taoima dera temple
Kamameshi rice
Zenzai with mochi
Well, what do you imagine from the number of 7,5 and 3?
In Japan, 7-5-3(Shichi-go-san) is an annual event to celebrate healthy growth and wish longevity for three and seven-year-old girls, and three and five-year-old boys.
It is said the ceremony started in Muromachi era(1338-1573), and spread among samurai family and strong merchants in Edo era(1603-1867), and became common to people in Meiji era(1868-1912). It used to be celebrate on November 15th, but nowadays it is often celebrate on weekends or holidays in November.
Children usually dress up in kimono or hakama and go to shrines or temples to pray for their healthy growth and longevity with their parents. They also take commemorative pictures at a photo studio.
Three-year-old children have a ceremony called Kamioki, which means“to let down one's hair.” The children start to grow longer hair. In Edo era, there was a custom to shave children's hair until three years old.
Five-year-old sons have a ceremony called Hakamagi. Hakamagi means“ to wear hakama“. Hakama is a formal divided skirt worn by men. Boys start wearing hakama when they became five years old.
Seven-year-old daughters have a ceremony called Himo-otoshi or Obi-toki. Until the age of seven, girls use strings to tie their kimono, but they start to use obi.
On 7-5-3(Shichi-go-san), children eat Chitose Ame, thin and long red and white candies. They symbolize healthy growth and longevity.
Red and white are considered to auspicious colors in Japan.
Chitose Ame is in a big long bag with drawings of cranes and turtles as a symbol of longevity, or pine tree, bamboo and plum as symbols of auspice.
When I was a child, I wore kimono on 7-5-3 with my sister. Also I used to wear kimono on New Year's Day, and go for greetings to relatives with my family. It is a good memories of my childhood.
I found a cute photo of a boy holding chitoseame.
You cannot see the colors from this photo but children are holding long bag of chitoseame like this boy! (The photo is probably from the time when I was a little child!) Look at his happy face!
How about letting children wear kimono on New Year's Day?
ICHIROYA has lots of cute and charming kimono for boys and girls.
We hope children will enjoy wearing kimono on special days.
For 3 year's girl (7-5-3 set)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/339078/
For 5 year's boy (7-5-3 set)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/339081/
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/339083/
Vintage kimono for girls
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345945/ (vibrant seasonal flowers)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344406/ (shell matching & flowers)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/318434/ (flower cart & flower ball)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/320840/ (large ume)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/302012/ (butterfly, hand drum, flower)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/334686/ (Japanese instrument, flower)
Kimono Vest for 3 year's girl-small girls look cute with those vest and kimono!
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/291150/
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/291151/
Vintage kimono for boys
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345025/ (Kintaro & toy)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/281208/ (horse race)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/296946/ (treasure boat, summer)
http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/283971/ (matsu & crane, hitoe)
As for boy's vintage kimono, mostly they have war pattern and some prominent flaws such as stains and patinas. I think most of them are not suitable for wearing. They are usually used for materials or collections.
Hope you enjoy our newsletter every week! Thank you for reading till the end.
Have a nice day!
Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.669
Hello from Yuka. Ogenki desuka? How are you? I am very happy to write this newsletter this time. The past newsletters written by our young staff are so interesting, and this time it is my turn, I am writing this newsletter as one grandmother(Ichiro and I are now grandparents of three grandchildren).
I like to talk about Okuizome today.
Okuizome is a ceremony held after around 100 to 120 days after a new baby's birth.
In this ceremony, the special meal is prepared and the baby is made to pretend to eat the meal with parents' hope that this baby will never need to worry about food during a lifetime.
Our younger daughter Mugi got married to Norihiro(they were junior high school class mates!) and their baby boy, Jin had this ceremony the other day.
Norihiro's grandmother, Teru san flew from Kagoshima to meet her family and today we all got together to celebrate her 88th birthday & Jin's Okuizome!
BEIJU - 88 years of age is called BEIJU and we celebrate this age especially because of the Kanji.
Bei, the Kanji character for rice is written using the characters for eight, ten, eight and is often referred to as the "rice birthday". Ju means longevity. So 88th birthday is considered to be blissful and special.
We had these two special event together at a Japanese food restaurant near our house.
Look at the meal(the top photo)-- you can see dishes and also a stone on the small dish in the middle. The stone was from a shrine where Jin had his first time visit (it is like Christening in Shinto). The stone is served wishing the baby had strong teeth(as we wrote, the food are served to the baby to make him pretend to eat, so is the stone too).
Teru san, Jin's great grandmother touched each food and stone with chopsticks and touched Jin's lips.
Norihiro's parents, sisters and the families including Jin's cousin Kasumi and us (Ichiro and me)had this celebration together, enjoyed the lunch, talked and saw the family album together. It was such a lovely moment to see the four generations(Jin, Norihiro, Norihiro's mother-Yoko san and Terusan-Yoko san's mother).
Jin smiled to Teru san a lot, he seemed to know Teru san was his great grandmother!
You may have noticed, Teru san's vest is made of kimono fabric (It is Oshima tsumugi, very fine woven pattern fabric - Oshima tsumugi is very strong and can be taken apart and tailor repeatedly).
The urushi bowls used above were given from my grandmother when I had Okuizome, so the set is very old, but Mugi wanted to use the urushi bowls instead of new bowls. The bowls are 56 years old! Norihiro's mother prepared the food (cooked vegetables, sekihan rice and noodles). It was a big family day celebrating special moment of Jin and Teru san together!
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We have more Christmas gift ideas from Ichiroya this week!
How about light and comfortable home wear-`HANTEN'. Those type of home jacket is very popular in Japan.
Hanten is quite light like down jacket and so roomy and SOOOO relaxing!
See, Ichiroya staff also enjoy wearing Hanten:
We have
These are reversible-both sides have charming patterns.Hanten are `UNISEX' item and you can wear over your usual clothing.
It is washable, just be careful the colors may come out a little at the beginning, so please wash hanten separately at first.
They are basically free-size - this time we have size M and L and size L is quite big!
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/347273/
We have cool design hanten - perfect for your men friend!
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/347296/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/347304/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/347302/
They are light and the shipping cost is reasonable(registered Standard shipping to USA or Europe is US $12.60.
However if you do not need the registration, we can ship without it to save on your shipping cost!
We have this option of `non-register SAL' for hanten shipping, and you can reduce US $3.70 for the shipping.
(Some countries do not have SAL shipping option, please ask us if you have questions about shipping)
Please let us know by email if you do not need registered shipping. We can give you another payment link to complete.
You can enter `hanten' as keyword to see more hanten we have.
If you have kimono lover friends, how about cute hair accssories as Christmas gift?
Enchanting kanzashi:
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346616/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346618/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346617/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346619/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345920/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345921/
(you can check more by using keyword `kanzashi' at our search corner)
If your friend (men) wear haori, how about these cool haori ties for Christmas gift?
They are magnet type. Who can tell they are magnet????
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346612/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346613/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/346614/
We have chirimen eyeglasses case - many of them were sold, we only have 4 left now:
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345913/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345914/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345908/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345909/
At our accessories section, there are obijime tie, various elegant collars and many other cute stuff. Obiage sash are used as scarf too. You may get inspiration for Christmas gift there! Of course we have all kinds of kimono and obi too and adding new arrivals as usual.
Domo arigato gozaimasu, thank you very much for reading our newsletter.
We wish you a wonderful new week!
Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.668
Special Price! Charming 5 Beaded Bag Set
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344529/
Dear Ichiroya newsletter readers,
This is Mari. I can't believe that October is almost over! We have only two more month to go. Did you already started Christmas shopping? We always have last minutes
shoppers at Ichiroya in December. Please note that post offices all over the
world will be extreamely busy around the time. We can't guarantee to deliver our items on time if we ship them in December. Express shipping (EMS) is highly recommended for Christmas gift. Just keep it in your mind please.
For those who haven't come up with any good Christmas gift ideas yet,
followings are Ichiroya's recommended items. All of them are cute, small, light and
reasonable price items which don't cost much shipping fee.
We hope you will find something you can make your loved ones smile with.
Enjoy your holiday season!
Eyeglasses case
another color:
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345914/
"Kanzashi" (hair accessory)
Lovely Traditional Pattern 2 Pouch Set
There are more, please check them!
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345068/
Charming Chirimen Yuzen Pochette
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345074/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/345083/
Special Price! Charming 5 Beaded Bag Set
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344529/
Enjoy your holiday season!
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Today, I would like to show you guys a case of using Kimono or kimono fabric for interior design. One of our customers sent us pictures of her kichen.
She put kimono fabric on the wall. Followings are the pictures of her kichen.
(ApplianceArea)
(StoveArea)
(SinkArea)
(FaucetArea)
Isn't it cool? We never imagine that we can use kimono fabric
as a wall paper. It looks like she used "Kurotomesode" fabric.
As you know, "Kurotomesode" is the most formal kimono for married women. The continuous pattern is very gorgeous yet elegant. The pattern can decor your home, office or any space very well with exotic taste.
Followings are the "Karinui"(kimono fabric cut into Kurotomesode shape and stitched roughly) of kurotomesode which you can use as hand craft or interior decolation
material.
and there are more!
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/342804/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/342806/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/342662/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/338980/
Why don't you try to use them with your creativity?
kimonotte キモノッテ新着！コウモリと音楽♫
こちらから在庫あり（即納！）商品が一挙公開！ 一度にご覧いただけます。
↓
kimonotte factory（キモノッテファクトリー）by ICHIROYA
↑
京袋帯と半幅帯のお作りがあるものについては、それぞれ「京袋帯」か「半幅帯」を選んでクリックしてください。
♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫ こちらほやほやの↓こちら新着 即納品でーす♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.667
Dear Ichiroya Newsletter Readers,
Hello everyone! This is Yoko again. Minasan ogenki desuka?
In this newsletter, I would like to talk about the Matsuri event we had over the weekend and also my must-have winter heating device, Kotatsu!
The past weekend, Danjiri Matsuri was held in our town.
It is held once a year in autumn, and it is unlike any other Matsuri with little food stands and Odori dance with Yagura.
This Aki(autumn) Matsuri involves huge wooden floats with lantern illuminations. Mabushii!
Each small section of our town has its own Danjiri float and team, and members pull their float around the town singing and dancing.
Friends, families, and audiences follow and walk behind each float. This continues for three days!!!! Ah-shindoi
A few members sit inside the float with a couple of guys on top of the roof!
One of the men inside sings local folk songs and the others play Matsuri instruments, such as a flute, drum, and bells.
The guys on the roof cheer and instruct the float's direction. (at least I think so...)
Younger members on the ground pull the float and group of girls dance and cheer around it.
These girls are called 'Ledi-su(ladies)' and my daughter is one of the Ledi-su in our section of town.
They wear matched Happi, Momohiki pants, Haramaki and Jika tabi. They work really hard to look very Kawaii together.
Danjiri floats do not look anything similar to Gion floats of Kyoto.
We are more decorative and LOUDER with singing, dancing and cheers.
I am not originally from this area and where I am from, Nara, we do not have the same type of dashy Matsuri...
So to be honest, I do not get the point of enjoyment as much as the locals.
My daughter, on the other hand, 'LOVES' I mean madly in LOVE with the Aki Matsuri.
She starts counting down right after one ends!, like she can't wait for the next one to begin!
She dresses up like a little queen with heavy make up and mass volume hair!!!
I enjoy watching my daughter enjoy the Matsuri, and if I were young like my daughter, I am sure I would make the most of it. (maybe)
Above all, I think it is a good thing to have something in life that can be really enjoyed!! (right?)
Enough about Danjiri!
Now that it is almost end of October, weather is definitely shifting to fall(almost winter?) and it is getting colder by the day!
If you are planning a trip to Japan soon, make sure to bring a jacket! You will definitely need it!
Leaves are changing color beautifully now, and leaves of Kaki(persimmon) and Mikan(orange) trees in my garden are falling.
Kaki are turning orange and getting ready to be pricked soon. Can't wait!
My beagle dog Marin just loves Kaki, and whenever a bad Kaki falls, she runs to it.
I sometimes find her looking up the Kaki tree staring, sniffing and just waiting... so cute. :)
As I am really a Samugari person, sensitive to cold, before the cold winter starts, I am thinking about taking out my Kotatsu table.
Kotatsu is my favorite heating device, but it does not heat up the whole room like central heating system.
It is a wide low table with a heating device inside which is covered by a Futon or heavy blanket.
Once you put your legs inside this table, you will never want to come out!
Almost every household in Japan has Kotatsu, and in my house, Kotatsu becomes where we eat, watch TV, kids study, kids and Marin naps in winter.
So pretty much, it keeps us not just warm but together in cold winter. :)
Do you have a similar place or item as Kotatsu in your country?
The Kotatsu I have is electric and it is really easy to use, just turn on the switch and it heats up quickly inside the table.
But what did people do to stay warm in winter when they did not have electricity or Kotasu?
I found that Kotatsu-like device? has been around in Japan for a very long time, and the very first Kotatsu was invented in Muromachi (Muromachi Period (1392-1573)!
First it was just a small Irori 'fireplace' with a wooden framing around it and put Futon over it.
The fireplace was not like what you are imagining with flaming fire. Nono!
Back then, people mainly used coals, so used coals were placed in an Irori bowl, and supposedly it was at a very comfortable temperature.
No wonder we are fond of Kotatsu! It has been around and keeping us warm and together for centuries!
It is our nature to love Kotatsu! ne?
But on colder days, just the Kotatsu is not warm enough! so, I wear my Dotera with my legs in Kotatsu, then I will be perfect! hahaha
Here are some items you can use in winter, such as Dotera and velvet shawls, to keep you warm and comfortable.
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344453/ Kimono Coat
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344455/ Kimono Coat
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344457/ Kimono Coat
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344143/ Michiyuki Coat
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/343380/ Michiyuki & Shawl Set
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/321019/ Kimono Shawl
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/319415/ Kimono Shawl
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/254996/ Kimono Shawl
Hope you enjoyed my newsletter! Arigato gozaimasu for reading till the end. :)
Wishing you a lovely new week!
Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.666
Dear Ichiroya Newsletter readers,
Hi! This is Nagisa from Ichiroya. I was also named after my birth month. I was born in midsummer. So, I was named "Nagisa" which means an ocean or beach in Japanese. To tell the truth, I don't like summer very much. However, summer has gone and Football season has come! I like winter the best of all seasons, because Football season reaches its climax. Oh well, unfortunately American Football is a minor sport in Japan. (even through it is a lot of fun!) Two or three times a week, I wake up at 5 a.m. to watch the games before I go to work. Sleepiness never bothered me anyway!
By the way, I have an older brother and he also loves winter and winter sports especially snowboarding. During the winter, he moves to snowy region in Japan. Nagano, Fukushima, and now he is in Hokkaido. He lives and works there since last year. Have you ever heard of Hokkaido? Hokkaido is located in the northernmost in Japan, so you can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and some other winter sports there with good snows. Not only winter, the other seasons are also nice. Mother Nature still remains there, so you can see a magnificent view wherever you are. Untouched nature of Shiretoko, lavender field of Furano, unkai (a sea of clouds) of Tomamu, blue pond of Biei, and there are some more spots I want you to visit! I asked my brother to send photos which shows great nature of Hokkaido for this newsletter. He certainly sent some photos to me, but he is also in these almost photos. Though I didn't mean to introduce my brother to you, apparently he wanted to say hello to the world. Sorry but my charming brother blending in with beautiful scenery of the top photo.
I'll show you one more photo instead.
Here it is. I took the photo last Monday at Umami park in Nara. (located next to Osaka) There are various autumn flowers such as cosmos, dahlia, salvia, and so on. As you know, autumn flowers or grasses design is used for lots of Kimono and Obi. Some are here.
[ Obi ]
1) Phoenix & Autumn Flowers Pattern Fukuro Obi
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344256/
2) Autumn Flowers on Cloud Pattern Fukuro Obi
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/325197/
3) Silhouette of Lush Autumn Hill Pattern Fukuro Obi
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/344277/
[ Kimono ]
4) Autumn Flowers in Mist Design Houmongi Kimono
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/343034/
5) Vibrant Autumn Grasses Pattern Komon Kimono
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/341622/
6) Butterfly & Autumn Flowers Pattern Vintage Kimono
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/341609/
Umami park is a large park with lots of nature. So I sent a couple of photos which I took there to my brother while he is saying 'I'm in Hokkaido!' However the lie came out soon. He says that there is no one else in short sleeve T-shirt. In Hokkaido, winter has already come! Please take care of yourself in preparation for coming season. See you next time!
