Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.665

Hello, ICHIROYA News Letter Readers!

It's my turn (ツ)_/¯ YEAH! This is Mei (ツ)_/¯ Doumo! Guess what, why my name is "MEI". I'm sorry for bringing this subject all of sudden. I'll give you an answer later! hehe Anyway, how have you been? Thank you for some reply to my Karaage T-shirt. Your message and reply make us motivate. Thank you! Arigatou! Ookini!

The other day, I went to the university which I graduated to join events with my friends. (Acutualy, the events are for high school students to visit and experience college life. And we pretended to be one of them. But... uh-oh. Some staff who are university students have sharp eyes. haha Anyway, we have experienced some manufacturings. Making Washi(Japanese paper) with acting, 3D figure of own face by using 3D printer with plaster, and making eco-bag with own painting by using silk screen machine. Those were really interesting and exciting experiences. My face of 3D is so realistic but just weird. Do you want it insted of me? Just kidding! I was especially impressed by Washi making. So I searched about Washi for using to Kimono and Obi. There are two kinds of using Wahi to Kimono. One is "Kamiko", the other one is "Shifu". Kamiko is made from just Washi. It is used for such as Kabuki or traditional some events. On the other hand, Shifu is made from threads which are made from Washi. It is still used for summer Kimono now. Both of them have really interesting and long histories. And today, I wanna introduce how to make Washi at your home! You can do it with your children easily, with items at your home. And it takes just about 1 hour.

【 Materials 】
Paper milk pack(tear in two and soak in water in advance)/ Plastic pack of tofu(x2)/ Net for kitchen drain port (can be stockings)/ Mixer/ Chopsticks/ Bucket/ Pushpin/ Towl/ Water

【 How to make 】
1) Cut the net as the shape of the bottom of the tofu pack.(x2)
2) Make some holes with a pushpin to the bottom of the tofu pack.
3) Tear off pulps of the surface of the milk pack with chopsticks.
4) Put the pulps and water into the mixer and mix them.
5) Put the cut net (or stocking) on the tofu pack, and pore the mixed pulp.
6) Put the other net(or stocking) on (5), and put the other tofu pack on it to drain.
7) Take it out from the tofu pack with the net together.
8) Wrap it up with the towl and dry it.

and... DONE! It's so easy and intersting, isn't it? After making your own washi, you can decorate and arrange it. If you put some origami or some motifed paper on it before drying, washi becomes more lovely! Or, you fold the washi over and over, then soak the corners in the colored water. You can make "shibori" like pattern on the paper. When you make some, please show us! :D By the way, there are many museums of paper in Japan. Have you heard about that? We also have many spots where you can experience to make Washi. Why don't you experience our Japanese traditional "Washi" making? If you are interested in Washi, please search these words, "washi" or "shifu". You can find some items. Some are here.

[ Washi ]
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/339007/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/233305/

[ Shifu ]
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/306440/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/260402/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/260041/

Well, autumn makes me go to art museums! Don't you feel so? I'm planning to go to some art festivals with my friends in this autumn. For example, "Rokko Meets Art" at Mt.Rokko of Kobe in Hyogo. Another one is "Setouchi Triennale" at some islands of Seto Inland Sea. I have been to Setouchi Triennale twice before, I really really want recommend you there! Do you know Yayoi Kusama? Her famous dots pumpkin is in one of those islands, Naoshima. Especially I was so impressed by Teshima Museum in Teshima. It's my favorite. Just amazing! I can't explain with only my words. Just go and feel(not see) it with your heart. You will forget the time passing. And your tears may fall. Oh, now you have many places to visit! hahaha Autumn is the best season to sightseeing, but winter is also nice, and spring... Yeah I know every season is nice to visit! Someday please come to visit and enjoy Japanese life with ICHIROYA's Kimono!

Now... it's time to say see you (NEXT TIME!). Thank you for always reading until the end. Have a wonderful days, October!
Mei (I was named after my birthmonth, "May"! Did you get the right answer?)

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.664

tonko43

Dear ICHIROYA Newsletter Readers,

Konnichiwa from ICHIROYA. This is Mitsue. Ogenki desuka?

In Osaka, it is getting cooler day by day and I'm enjoying the best season of a year! Yes, autumn is the harvest season with full of delicious foods. Can you guess what's the most favorite autumn food in Japan? Surely, most Japanese will answer it is

Matsutake, a kind of mushroom. It smells soooo good!! The domestic one is so expensive. Matsutake dishes show up on the dining table only once or twice a year at my

house. We still have other delicious foods such as pears, grapes, sweet potatoes, new rice and so on. Oh, I have to be careful not to be overweight...

Reading books is one of my favorite spare time, and autumn is the best season for reading. The other day I read an amazing book about a daily life of people in Edo (present Tokyo) in Edo period(1603-1867), and I found an interesting article.

"The best 3 guys who were stylish and good looking in Edo."

(1) Hikeshi-a fire fighter

(2) Rikishi-a sumo wrestler

(3) Yoriki-a government official of the town

(1) Hikeshi-a fire fighter

Fire fighters had leadership to settle down the troubles in the town not only fires. They do not talk too much, and they were stoic and courageous. Edo firefighters were equipped with heavy, multi-layer jackets for their protection. The jackets got wet before a

fire-fighting mission. Often splendid decorations and characters were applied to identify the brigade of its owner. By and by, the decorations went beyond the practical use and became more artistic. Another indispensable equipment was the standard, called "matoi". Each brigade had a different shape of matoi for identification. It also served as a meaning of communication like flags on a ship.

Apart from jobs, they willingly wore the kimono with solid or tiny pattern to be looked older than their true age.

(2) Rikishi-a sumo wrestler

During that age, physical strength was an important skill for warriors, and samurai families began to employ sumo wrestlers. It has been written that the warlord Oda Nobunaga was such a devotee of the sport that he gathered wrestlers together to hold tournaments every year.

Sumo wrestlers also had disposition of a gambler and a dynamic mind. Further more, they were strong and gentle at the same time. They wore the kimono with large pattern which shows his existence.

(3) Yoriki-a government official of the town

Yoriki provided administrative assistance at governmental offices. The ones called machikata yoriki were in charge of police under the command of the machi bugyo (town magistrate). In Edo city, there were about 25 yorikis working each for the two machi bugyo.

They wore kimono stylishly with large Kataginu (sleeveless robe) and Hakama walking around the town to patrol.

According to the sensitivities of Edo people, these best three ones were very popular among ladies.

We can see kimono, juban(undergarment) and obi with the pattern of them.

Unfortunately, they are all sold out, so please check our new items sometimes.

In addition, believe it or not, 90% of pet in Edo was CATS according to the book.

I am also one of cat lovers, and a kitten became a member of my family 5 months ago. A stray cat gave a birth to five kitten in my friend's garden, so I took one of them back to my house.

I named him 'Hatch' and now he became a part of my life.

Hatch playing with Godzilla.

Cat design is very popular among kimono lovers. As soon as the items with cat design on sale, most of them are sold out. Here are still some amazing items on sale at Ichiroya!

*Kimono

http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/341989/

http://japan.ichiroya.com/item/list2/340624/

*Obi

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/341295/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/340450/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/238484/

This one is so cute!

www.ichiroya.com

*Juban

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/234804/

There's something special in cats, don't you think so? So, they are believed to invite good fortune from old times. If you wear cat designed items, cats will surely bring you

happiness.

Thank you so much for reading. arigato gozaimasu!

キモノッテ 在庫ありの商品です（第2弾）

＊＊＊京袋帯　

モチーフ：鳥とチューリップ　カラー：黒　　大人の香り！

鳥とチューリップ　カラー：ピンク　甘く優しい香り！

 

そのほか　元気のでるキュートなイエロー！や、大人の紺色　（アンティークの世界へ用こそ！）もございます！

＊＊＊半幅帯　

フルーツ　カラー：ピンク　他のカラーもそろっております！

＊＊＊帯揚げ

ぼかしと蝶02　カラー：薄紫　たくさん見せたい！そんな帯揚げサッシュ！

＊＊＊半襟

モチーフ：縞にりんご　カラー：白　小さなアップルを襟元に！

幾何学にりんご　カラー：紫　なんといってもアップルな気分！

モチーフ：水玉に蝶と桜　カラー：白　水玉も蝶も！はずせないんです

モチーフ：縞に鳥とバラ　カラー：茶色　秋色ストライプにも鳥とバラ！

モチーフ：縞に蝶と桜　カラー：紺色　ストライプにも　蝶！

 

モチーフ：鳥とバラ　カラー：赤　クリスマス？いえいえレッドはいつでも！

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.663

Hi, newsletter readers. This is Mari.
I say summer is over in Osaka. I put all my Yukata and
summer kimono away for this season. Although summer is
short, I enjoy wearing them so much.
I received emails from some of readers who tried the
"Fusen-Otaiko" obi tying style after they read my last
newsletter. I'm glad that I helped them to try new
look of summer!

I visited Tomioka Silk Mill on the other day.
It is located north east of Tokyo. It takes 1hour and half
by Shinkansen(Bulit train) from Tokyo.
It is a world heritage and national treasure.
Silk was the best exported item of Japan in
Meiji period(1868-1912). Believe it or not, Japan was the largest exporter of silk at that time. When Edo period(1603-1867) ended, Japanese government promoted modernization of industries and technologies to achieve equal status with Western countries.

Exporting silk was the best way to gain foreign currency at that time. It was necessary to build a modern, western style silk-reeling factory to produce high quality silk which fulfill the Western countries requests.

There were five reasons why Tomioka was chosen to build the
government management huge silk mill. There were five reasons why Tomioka was chosen to build the mill.

1) Sericulture was already prospered in Tomioka.
So that, there were good quality cocoon there.
2) A large land was available to build the mill.
3) There was enough clean water which was necessary for
producing silk from a nearby river.
4) Coals and power steam engines were available in the
nearby towns.
5) Local residents agreed to the construction of a factory
directed by foreigners.

The guide who gave us a tour of the facility said that the #5 was the most difficult condition which Japanese government had hard time to fulfill. Japanese people were not used to see foreigners back then. So, people afraid to have foreigners in their town. Tomioka, a very small town, was the only one site which fulfilled all the condition among other candidate sites.

Japanese government built the mill, and hired a French director and engineers.
Even after they built the huge mill, then the government had hard time to gather young ladies who work at the site. Again, they afraid to work with French leaders.

Later, a couple of hundreds girls worked at the mill.
They came from all over Japan. After they worked hard and
learned how to reeling silk, they went back to their home and
taught their technique to others. That movement supported to produce high quality
silk, and make Japan wealthy and strong.

We, Japanese people, were wearing Kimono at that time. As you already know, most of kimono and obi are made from silk. Japanese people used to grow silk warm, spin yarn, weave silk, then sew kimono at home. Silk and kimono were very close to our life. Visiting Tomioka Silk Mill reminds me how close silk was to our life back then. I need to put my cell phone away and spend more quality time in kimono!

The tour was very interesting and educational. I learned a lot about history of Japanese silk. Although the mill is no longer in function, Tomioka is still one of the major produce centers of silk in Japan.
Why don't you stop by the mill if you ever have a chance to visit Japan with Japan Rail Pass!

Official web site of Tomioka Silk Mill
http://www.tomioka-silk.jp.e.wv.hp.transer.com/tomioka-silk-mill/

******************************

(There is a short note about Junko- who made cute umbrella, bags and dress from one piece of yukata. Her sister is a jewelry artist and her exhibition is held in KYOTO SAGA UNIVERSITY OF ARTS.

If you happen to be near Arashiyama, Kyoto and if you are interested in handmade jewlry, Junko's sister, Ryoko Hayashi will be there showing her work!) from Sep 24 to Oct 30.

「林遼子ジュエリー 祈りの形象」｜イベント｜学校法人 大覚寺学園 京都嵯峨芸術大学 京都嵯峨芸術大学短期大学部

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.662

 A.Davey

Dear Ichiroya Newsletter Readers,

Konnichiwa from Yoko again! Ogenki desuka?
Hope everyone had a nice summer! (for those in the southern hemisphere, enjoyed your winter?)
Well, it is very difficult to write a newsletter after Nagisa's story about Junko's amazing crafts work.
See, I live a very low profile life.... I am just an ordinary working mom!!! (sigh)
Demo.., here I go.

As you know, Ichiroya takes two long holidays a year at Obon and Oshogatsu.
The past month, our office was closed for Obon for one whole week!
During every Obon holiday, I go to my parents' place in Nara and meet up with my brother's family to visit our family grave together.
For those who does not know Obon, Obon is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating ancestors. .
It is believed that each year during Obon, the ancestors' spirits return to this world in order to visit their relatives.
Sounds rather scary, but it is pretty much a family get together time(dead or alive?) of the year.
I am fortunate to still have a Furusato(home) so close, with families to meet at every Obon. Kansha!
Oh, and of course, I brought Marin(my beagle) to my parents' place as she is a part of our family.
There used to be a Shiba dog named 'Hello' at my parents' place, but he passed away last summer, so I am sure Marin enjoyed 'Hello' again on this past Obon.

Did I ever mentioned that my grandfather used to have an antique store in Osaka?
Antique for him when he was young must have been things from Meiji Period(1868-1912) or earlier.
When I went to see him at his place when I was a child, I remember he had many old clocks, furniture, etc..
I was only a child, so I did not know what those old things meant, but if I see those things now, I am sure I would scream!

Speaking of antique things, have you ever heard of Boro? which also read as 'Ranru'?
It comes from a Japanese word 'Boroboro' which literary means ragged, battered or beat-up in Japanese.
In old times, people had put scraps of used fabrics and patch worked them together to make a cloth or clothes, and they were reused and repeated its process but cherished for generations.
When it is torn and become Boroboro, another ragged fabric was applied and stitched over to strengthen.
However, after many years passed, those retouched surfaces which appear smudged, raved, and look even more 'Boroboro', somehow are starting to look quite appealing to the modern eyes!
Nowadays, Boro are known as 'unintended' art or 'Mottainai' art and very much valued and admired by many designers and artists all over the world.
We are proud to say that Boro has become an universal word and a form of 'art'. Subarashii!!

na0905 | Flickr

[BORO]

I have seen a Boro become a wall hanging, couch cover, or even a modern stylish Jacket!
Once what was dirty with no value is now what everyone seeks as an art article.
My grandpa maybe had some Boro in his store, but I am sure it was not for sale.
They were probably covering the floor or used as a dust cover. Only if he knew what I know now!!!

Here are some amazing Boro we have at Ichiroya!

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/296742/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/312274/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/304629/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/315795/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/281462/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/329014/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/328985/

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/109883/

There are so many more!, just look up under 'Ranru' or 'Boro' as keywords.
Thank you so much for reading! arigato gozaimasu

キモノッテ 在庫ありの商品です！

＊＊＊半襟

モチーフ：よろけ縞　カラー：黒

モチーフ：犬の足跡　カラー：白

モチーフ：水玉に鳥とバラ　カラー：薄紫

 

モチーフ：ぼかしに鳥とバラ　カラー：水色

＊＊＊帯揚げ

モチーフ：幾何学に蝶　カラー：柿

 モチーフ：縞と蝶02　カラー：紺色

 

 

＊＊＊半幅帯

モチーフ：フルーツ　カラー：白

＊＊＊京袋帯

モチーフ：鳥とチューリップ　カラー：茶色

モチーフ：鳥とチューリップ　カラー：緑

＊＊＊小紋

モチーフ：車と時計　カラー：クリーム　　MサイズとLサイズ・在庫ございます

 

モチーフ：桜と蝶　カラー：黒　Lサイズ在庫ございます

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.661

Hi! This is Nagisa from Ichiroya. Guten Tag! (When I was a college student, I studied German.)
Unfortunately, I do not have any T-shirts funny enough to introduce you, but here are some wonderful items instead.
See the top image!
These are umbrella, fan, one-piece dress and two bags.
Did you notice something? Yes, they have the same pattern! Do you want to know why?
Because... they are made from one Yukata! Yes, one Yukata with sunflower pattern transformed into these original items!
Can you believe it? I'm so sorry but these are not for sale!
These are all handmade by Junko!!!

The bags are for herself and for her daughter, Tsumugi.

Did you recognize the white part? This is made of Hakata obi. This one is summer type and the part gives the summer atmosphere!

She made the embroidered sunflower (the petals are also made by her! )

Uchiwa, fan also was made from yukata fabric!

The cute summer dress for her daughter!

She is a homemaker, mother of a little girl and our coworker. How skillful! Besides, I wonder how can she afford her time to make them. However, she says they are easy to make. Surprisingly, you can make an umbrella comfortably with a kit for handmade umbrella. If you use a bolt, you don't need to unpick a Yukata.

[ Cute! ]
1) Penguin Pattern Cotton Bolt

www.ichiroya.com

2) Tsujigahana Pattern Silk Bolt

www.ichiroya.com

[ Chic! ]
3) Dots on Curvy Line Pattern Silk Bolt
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/335328/
4) Yatara-Jima Pattern Silk Bolt

www.ichiroya.com

[ Exotic! ]
5) Karabana Pattern Silk Bolt
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/320246/
6) Sarasa on Shell Pattern Silk Bolt

www.ichiroya.com

[ Unique! ]
7) Logo of Cosmo Oil Co. Pattern Cotton Bolt

www.ichiroya.com

8) Vegetable Pattern Silk Bolt

www.ichiroya.com

[ Vintage! ]
9) Children Pattern Silk Bolt

www.ichiroya.com

10) Kiku Pattern Silk Bolt

www.ichiroya.com

Did you find something you want? Oh, here is one more thing I want to introduce you.

This was a Nagoya Obi, but it is pre-tied Obi now. It is also Junko's handmade one. Does this pattern look familiar? She bought it at Ichiroya and remade it. The obi was not lined type, and she added blue cotton fabric to make the obi into pre-tied obi.

She is also active and has endless curiosity. A few weeks ago, she jointed a trial class of Bengara Dyeing with her little child named Tsumugi. (cute name, isn't it?) And she introduced us the experience and their original works. They are also so attractive!

Let's enjoy making your original items, and please show me your favorite one! Someday, I will. Someday...