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Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA'Heres News Letter No.731

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by Naomi Matsuo

Hello from Yuka. Today I would like to introduce my new friend Naomi san, who is a katazome (stencil) dyer.

 

I met her at Akemi san's vintage kimono collection exhibition last year in Nagasaki.

Akemi san is now a shop owner of vintage kimono! She made her dream come true and her store has opened last December.) The name of the store is Beppin (which means very special one!).

You should visit her store if you come to Nagasaki-her store is the only one vintage kimono shop in Nagasaki and her kimono collection is superb! I am sure you enjoy visiting her store. 

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(Here is the past newsletter about her exhibition:

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Now back to Naomisan.

Naomi san was helping Akemisan at the exhibition. She was wearing an elegant blue kimono at that time. I wish I had a photo of her in kimono but I do not. Anyway, she was so elegant and to my surprise, she said she dyed her kimono, obi and also zori !

She was busy helping Akemisan's presentation of the exhibited kimono, so I could not talk that much with her.

As we already mentioning many times, we are going to NY for the exhibition of haori lining collection in this coming March:

Haori’s Hidden Haura

I was thinking what to wear (Ichiro has a nice set of kimono and hakama now!)and I was at a loss. I remembered the obi Akemisan was wearing a lovely obi with her store logo.

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Akemisan kindly contacted Naomisan for me and I could meet Naomi san again.

She is humble and never show off her work but Akemisan told me she won a prize from the mayor of Nagasaki for her dye work. The kimono on top of this article is her work which won the prize.

 

She is an artist and also having many classes teaching katazome. `Dyer may sound very special' she says but she just likes katazome and wish people to know it is so much fun.

She says `I like to dye anything, not only kimono but ANYTHING!'. She says she is not like an artisan in Kyoto. I asked her to dye Ichiroya logo ( I imitated Akemi san)on my obi.

You can see Akemi san wearing a black obi with the logo of her store `Beppin'.

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It is their (Akemi san and Naomi san) idea to use black obi. Many people have funeral black obi at home and not used in many case. By applying katazome, the obi becomes another obi, not funeral obi!

Here are her other work:

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This is Naomi san(she is shy!)

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She is adding dye work to old kimono or obi with stains to make them wearable again.

Take a look at her wonderful work!

 

Before and after----can you see the moon?

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Before and after----

 

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Before 

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After

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See? She has made many obi and kimono beautiful to be worn again!

I am so looking forward to see my obi ! It will be finished in February. I will be happy to show the obi in our future newsletter.

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.730

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Konnichiwa! everyone!
This is Yoko writing this week's Newsletter. Ogenki desuka?
How is your start of the New Year? So far, mine seems great! Haha!
As Nagisa mentioned, it is the year of the dog! Yes, my beagle Marin gets the spot light this year. :)

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Today, I would like to write about Omikuji.
Omikuji is a fortune telling paper, and you can purchase it at any shrine or temple for 100yen or 200yen.
So, every year after our Hatsumoude, visit to a shrine, we test our luck for the New Year by purchasing 'Omikuji'.
After you pay, you shake a large wooden container, inside there are long thin sticks with a number written.
One stick comes out from a tiny hole at top of the container, and you read a number to Miko san, female attendant.
She takes out a long strip of paper....... from a drawer with the number written....
OK this is a part you get so nervous.....
You hope for a good fortune, but purchasing Omikuji also means it may result bad!
You do not want to check the fortune right there in front of Miko san, what IF it is bad....
that would be quite odd... to see the face on Miko san... so, I recommend that you quietly fold the paper and walk away....
I tell you what mine was later on....

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The Omikuji ranks in 12 scales. (from Wikipedia)

Great blessing (dai-kichi, 大吉)
Middle blessing (cho-kichi, 中吉)
Small blessing (sho-kichi, 小吉)
Blessing (kichi, 吉)
Half-blessing (han-kichi, 半吉)
Ending blessing (sue-kichi, 末吉)
Ending small blessing (sue-sho-kichi, 末小吉)
Curse (kyo, 凶)
Small curse (sho-kyo, 小凶)
Half-curse (han-kyo, 半凶)
Ending curse (sue-kyo, 末凶)
Great curse (dai-kyo, 大凶)

You do not find many curse ones, I think Omikuji are mainly Daikichi to Curse. Curse.... that is an uncomfortable word...
On each paper, it lists fortunes regarding specific aspects of one's life in below categories.

方角 (hogaku) - auspicious/inauspicious directions (like feng shui)
願事 (negaigoto) one's wish or desire
待人 (machibito) a person being waited for
失せ物 (usemono) lost article(s)
旅立ち (tabidachi) travel
商い (akinai) business dealings
学問 (gakumon) studies or learning
相場 (souba) market speculation
争事 (arasoigoto) disputes
恋愛 (renai) romantic relationships
転居 (tenkyo) moving or changing residence
出産 (shussan) childbirth, delivery
病気 (byoki) illness
縁談 (endan) marriage proposal or engagement

I think most people only read Gakumon and Machibito or Endan. Hahaha
It is funny because the result can be really straight forward and says 'it never come true stop waiting' or 'what you lost will be kept lost' and so on.
Please try Omikuji if you have a chance to visit a shrine or temple in Japan. It may be fun translating it to English.

Well, for me, this year's fortune is Daikichi!!! yaaaayyy!
You see that is why I am having a great start of the New Year!

Minasan, may the new year bring a lot of happiness and smiles!
Here are some items with auspicious motifs which might bring a good luck!!!


Sho-chiku-bai

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Lobster

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Takasago

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Thanks for reading!

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Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.729

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(newly listed antique reprint obi `bird & peony')

Dear Ichiroya newsletter readers,

Hi! This is Nagisa from Ichiroya. This is my first newsletter in 2018. Happy New Year! This year is the year of the Dog in "Eto" which is the 12 zodiac sign. Today, I'd like to introduce you wonderful dog design items! U^ェ^U

<< Kimono >>

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<< Obi >>

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<< Kimonotte Original Han-Eri >>

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"Eto" is originally Chinese astrology to indicate time or direction. It was connected with 12 animals, and was spread to many countries in Asia through the Silk Road. However, these 12 animals are different in each countries. Japanese "Eto" animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Cock, Dog and Boar. OK, OK, you have a question, right? Why isn't a cat here? Even though they're so cute! There is an interesting episode.

Once upon a time, God said to animals 'Let's race guys, come here on the New Year's Day. I do the thing which came by the twelfth from the first to the general of the animal by turns for one year' However, a Cat didn't know when is the date, so the Cat asked a Rat 'When should I go?' Then, the Rat lied to the Cat 'The second day of the year.' In this way, the Cat was deceived by the Rat, and couldn't reach the top 12 of the race. So that, cat has been left out Japanese "Eto" animals. Also, that's why cat chasing mouse like Tom and Jerry.

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By the way, I went to the university I graduated from to watch Christmas illumination last month after a long absence. My university was designed by William Merrell Vories with Spanish Mission Style, and it's famous for its beautifulness. Especially, the Clock Tower is our school's symbol. Look! The college mascot 'Soraran' also has the Clock Tower on his head! Anyway, there are always lots of students, professors and neighbors during the daytime, but it was silent and the air was cold and fresh at that night. The Christmas illumination was also so fascinating! I was really impressed with calm atmosphere which I can never find in the city. Incidentally, everyone calls the illumination 'the shining school fees'.

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Thank you for reading till the end! See you next time!

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.727

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Hello, this is Mitsue.
2018 has started!! And we are already back from new year holidays. How was your holidays? I spent my holidays cleaning my house, washing clothes, and cooking and cooking... Every year, I prepare "Osechi Ryori" for New year's day to eat with family. It is a special time to eat traditional food all together.
"Osechi Ryori" is an assemble of colorful dishes packed together in special boxes called "Jubako". Since New Year holiday is a time for rest in Japan (according to tradition, nothing should be cooked on New Year’s Day), eating prepared Osechi Ryori is typical Japanese traditional custom. So I have to finish cooking during the New Year's eve. Many dishes containing a lot of sugar, soy source or vinegar are cooked in each house on this day.
Each foods of Osechi ryori are the most important meal of the year, as a symbol or wish for the coming year. The foods are eaten by using chopsticks that are rounded on both ends; one side for humans to use, one side for the gods. Let me introduce you the meanings behind some of the traditional osechi ryori.

*Kuromame (black soy beans)
In Japanese, “mame” also sounds like the word for “hard work and good health.” Eating this food during New Year's day is a symbol of good health for the coming year.

*Tai(sea bream) & Unagi(eel)
Eating grilled sea bream is a wish for happiness and eating grilled eel is a prayer for the success of rapid promotion.

*Ebi(shrimp)
Because of their long antennae and curved body, shrimp are a symbol of longevity. Shrimp is also a symbol of renewing life because they molt their skin.

*Kazunoko(herring roe)
Herring roe contains many tiny eggs in a tight. So it is eaten as a wish for an abundant harvest and fertility.

*Renkon(Lotus root)
Lotus root, with its many holes, is a symbol of an unobstructed view of the future.

*Gobo (burdock root)
Because the roots of the burdock plant grow deep into the ground and also represent a crane (the symbol of a fruitful year), burdock is eaten as a wish for good health and an abundant harvest.

*Kuwai(arrow head)
Sprout arrow head is a symbol of success, and it is often cut into hexagon and octagon like 'kikko' (tortoise shell) having a meaning of longevity.

*Kobu Maki (fish wrapped in seaweed)
The word, “kobu,” sounds like "yorokobu" meaning, “to be happy.” And rolled shape symbolizes a wish for scholarship and culture.

*Kamaboko (boiled fish‐paste)
The shape of Kamaboko is said to resemble the first sunrise of the New Year. In addition, the pink/red and white color of kamaboko is a good symbol because the color red is believed to be a talisman against evil and white signifies purity.

How do you like it? Would you like to eat some?

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We also eat Ozoni(soup containing rice cakes and vegetables) on New Year's day. Soup is cooked in various ways according to regional custom. So the soup differ depending on which region the mother is from. My mother is from Ishikawa prefecture, and she usually cooked with white Miso.
We wish your new year will be happy, peaceful and healthy. Hope you enjoy Kimono life with ICHIROYA. Thank you!

We have some pieces with Osechi food design.
vegetable obi

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fish & shrimp
 furoshiki

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 fukusa

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men's juban

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nagoya obi

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We wish you a happy new year from Ichiroya

 

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We like to thank you for shopping with us at Ichiroya.

 

dozo minasama yoi otoshio-we wish you a wonderful new year!

 


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

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.726

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Hello!  This is Nanae writing again.  Well, um it's the holiday season.
Santa’s been checking his list to see who’s been naughty or nice and I'm kinda feeling guilty, so I wrote my last newsletter.
It’s freezing cold and was snowing two weeks ago in our city.  My beloved dog cherishes a mini fan heater at my house.  She finally started licking it.  She is sleeping under the kotatsu (table w/ electric heater) right now.  The photo above is taken at Ruri Koin and Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto two weeks ago as well.  Ruri Koin is open for public only certain periods in spring and autumn. They still had beautiful red leaves there!

rurikoin.komyoji.com

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Actually I would like to introduce ‘Otsuka Museum of Art’ today.
The Otsuka Museum of Art is a "Ceramic board masterpiece art museum" with the largest exhibition space in Japan, built in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture. Inside, there are more than 1,000 replicas of priceless masterpieces of Western art, and collection from more than 190 art museums in 25 countries worldwide. These masterpieces are reproduced to their original size.  The ceramic reproductions can maintain their color and shape for over 2,000 years!

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The good point is we can view Picasso’s Guernica, Scrovegni Chapel and Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper (before and after restoration), which can no longer be moved,
And also we can take pictures and even touch them like this,

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This,

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And this!

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Some people say that Japan’s most expensive museum is full of fake art but it’s worth visiting it for both art lovers and beginners.  I enjoyed doing what we cannot do with real paintings.  My friends enjoyed finding paintings they know and tried to read a story from a ceiling picture of a chapel.  I guess they love art much more than I! I'm a beginner :)

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Photogenic!!  Just at parking the area of the museum.
I still have many topics to share with you and lots of places to introduce but unfortunately this will be my last newsletter because I’m leaving Ichiroya.
Thank you for reading my limited newsletters.  See you when I see you somewhere!
Best wishes for your happy kimono life with Ichiroya!

 

Today’s keyword, ‘ART’

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Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.724

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Dear Newsletter readers,

Hello, this is Mari. It's my turn to write our weekly
newsletter. How are you doing?
YES, it is December! 2017 will be over soon. Every year,
we have last minutes Christmas shoppers at Ichiroya.
Please note that it is the busiest time at post offices all over the world. So, often times, even EMS can't be delivered on time.
Please understand we can't guarantee your Christmas gift will be delivered to you or your beloved on time. If you still want to take a chance, then go ahead to place order as soon as possible! DON'T FORGET TO CHOOSE EXPRESS SHIPPING!

The top picture was taken in the morning of my first day of the elementary school. In Japan, there is a entrance ceremony when you enter schools such as pre-school, elementary school, junior high, high school and University. It is common to dress up, and attend with parents to the ceremonies. My mother is wearing her Tsukesage kimono which she brought when she got married with my father. (I'm wearing a yellow suit. Believe it or not, my mother sewed it!)

It was common to wear Tsukesage or Houmongi and black haori for school events like entrance and graduation ceremony until 80's. Back then, kimono was more popular and close to our daily life than nowadays. I remember my mother was wearing wool kimono as her daily clothes when I was a child.

I wear my mother's kimono. However, the Tsukesage was not in my taste. Actually, none of her daughters wanted to wear it.
So, she decided to transform it to saruel pants!
Can you recognize that my mother is wearing pants which were made from the Tsukesage kimono?

 

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She has been making saruel pants for herself and her daughters. I have some. All of them were made from her old kimono, our childfood kimono, haori and kimono fabric bolt. The wide and loose silk saruel pants are very comfortable!

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She wears the kimono saruel pants as her daily clothes. Also, she wears the pants at yoga lessons. Actually, she is a laughter yoga instructor. Those who have not heard about the unique kind of yoga, check Wikipedia out! It is very relaxing style of yoga which makes your daily life brighter, and your mind healthier.

Laughter yoga - Wikipedia

She mainly teaches seniors. Many of them have not have a hearty laugh for long time. They even hesitate to laugh out loud in public. My mother says her Kimono pants are very useful to warm them up. They stair at her pants first. Then, start asking about them like, "Where did you get them?" " Well, are those made from Kimono?", "Did you make them by yourself?" etc. After they found out that she made them from her old kimono, they start talking about their kimono stories! Japanese seniors at their 60's and up used to wear kimono often when they are young. It was common to bring a huge chest of drawers full of kimono and obi when they got married. So, they talk about their kimono which have been avandoned in their chests for long time, just like my mother's Tsukesage kimono. By then, those seniors start laughing naturally. My mother said, if she wore just regular saruel pants, they wouldn't warm up like that. That's a power of kimono!

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As we get used to wear Western clothes, we no longer wear kimono as we used to. Ichiroya encourage more people to wear kimono! We hope our reasonable price and easy access to kimono and obi help those kimono lovers and new to kimono people to wear kimono. At the same time, it sounds good to make something out of Kimono or kimono silk bolt! Wearing silk always make ladies feel special! Right?


My mother said it is easier to make the pants from bolt than kimono. It takes a lot time to unpick kimono. If you are thinking about making the pants, how about
the following bolts?

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