Dear Ichiroya newsletter readers,
Last month, my family celebrated our second son's "Shichigosan", The Seven-Five-Three Festival, at the shrine in our neighboor. It is a traditional rite of passage and festival event in Japan for three- and seven-year-old girls and three- and five-year-old boys, held annually in November to celebrate the growth and well-being of young children. We dressed him in Kimono. He looked like a little Samurai!
He befaved very well. As usual, we took a "Happy jumping" picture.
I do JUMP even when I'm in Kimono!
Now, have you ever been to Kyoto? Yes, you have ;-) As you already know, Kyoto is one of the most popular tourists' destinations in the world. I live in Osaka, which is located right next to Kyoto. Still, visiting Kyoto makes me exited. This time, I went to Kyoto to attend a luncheon with Maiko.
There is a Japanese restaurant called "Ganko Takasegawa Nijoen" at the center of Kyoto. It is a renovated classic Japanese-style house which was built in 1611. They serve pretty good Japanese traditional cuisine.
Also, they can arrange a party with Maiko.
Me and my family had a great time with "Tomitsuyu", a Maiko from East Gion.
She danced first. Then, she greeted each table, and gave us a sticker which has her name on it. In Japan, Maiko stickers are believed in lucky charm. I keep it in my wallet for money to "Maikomu"(coming in).
She was such a great entertainer who made every one of us smile. Actually, she used to live in New Zealand. So, she speaks English. If you are interested in having a party with Maiko, ask to book "Tomitsuyu" when you make a reservation.
I highly recommend her!
You can check their Maiko Plan on their web site.
http://www.gankofood.co.jp/en/maikoplan/
After we were stuffed with Japanese full course dishes, we played traditional "Ozashiki Asobi" (games we play with Maiko and Geiko).
It was a popular game called "Konpira-funefune".
The following YouTube movie shows how to play the game well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv0y8asP-lM
Some of the attendees played with Tomitsuyu. Non of them won... Of course, Tomitsuyu was the winner! Well, she plays the game every night and day. There is no surprise that no one could beat her. However, it was a surprise that my 10 years old son was the best player among those gentlemen. He played for a couple of minutes until Tomitsuyu speeded up to win. Everyone at the party approesed him when he lost. That was the moment of the party!
While we were chatting with Tomitsuyu at our table, she explained us that her han-eri(decorative collar for juban) is white which is fully embroidered, because she is an elder Maiko. Maiko are 15 to 19 years old girls. When they are new commers, their han-eri is red with less embroidery works. As they get older, their han-eri become whiter with full of embroidery works. That also means they are getting
ready to be Geiko.
There are some Maiko han-eri at Ichiroya.
Once you take a close look at them, you will be amazed how much embroidery works are applied on them.
You can see more red on the followin han-eri which are for young Maiko.
We have more:
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/329063/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/347697/
These are the one like Tomitsuyu was wearing.
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/217094/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/310744/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/310745/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/328209/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/328210/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/328213/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/328214/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/328215/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/328208/
Also, Maiko wears special kimono called "Susohiki".
Susohiki literally means 'trail the skirt' and this particular kimono is much longer than other kimono. "Geiko", older geisha, also wear Susohiki. However, their Susohiki has shorter sleeves. Maiko's susohiki has longer sleeves. It also has "Kataage"(shoulder tucks) and "Sodeage"(sleeve tucks) to be look younger. Child kimono has
those tucks to be adjusted as they glow. Maiko's "Susohiki" still have them to be look young.
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/333596/
If you ever visit Kyoto, why don't you try to have a party with Maiko? or dress like Maiko?
Kimono #330298 Kimono Flea Market Ichiroya
Dear Ichiroya newsletter readers,
This is Nagisa from Ichiroya. Hi! There is only one month left this year, and Christmas is around the corner. The other day, I went to the Marimekko exhibition in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. As you know, Marimekko is a famous textile bland in Finland. (Santa Claus lives in Finland, right?) The lovely flower pattern named Unikko is designed in the motif of a poppy. Poppy design can be seen on kimonos and obis too, and they are also cute and charming! However, poppy is a spring flower, so it is too early to introduce these items. Instead of that, I'd like to talk about my friend Cica.
(Well, I think this Meisen Kimono #330298 on top of this page reminds us of Scandinavian design. The kimono is considered to be from around mid Showa-1920-30). It also reminds us of European Christmas
OK then, Cica is my friend from high school days, and she loves Hokuo (Scandinavia) too much. She is a full time office worker(She working at a large enterprise known throughout Japan.), and a manager of her own online shop 'Dill+' which sells daily goods of Scandinavian brand names. Also, she works at a cafe as a waitress every other Saturday to make her dreams come true. (She aims to open a store in Scandinavia. Sushi bar, Japanese style cafe, tourist home, etc...Anyways, she has lots of dreams!) Furthermore, she is a blogger, and she suggests Scandinavian lifestyle in the name of 'Shumatsu Hokuoubu' (Scandinavian Weekend). She hosts Scandinavian events once a month. 'KALSARIKÄNNIT' is one of them. Do you know what does the word means? It means that to drink alone in only underwear. She did it with some girls who were influenced by her blog. (Most of them were strangers to each other at that time.)
Here is a photo of her Halloween party. How mysterious! I want to join the party someday! Then, she will take a part of Scandinavian fair at one of the famous department stores in Osaka. I'm proud of her! I think it is wonderful thing to spread other culture. I wish I could do it through this newsletter...
So, I'd like to talk about Japanese casual wear brand name 'Uniqlo'. Have you ever bought something at Uniqlo in Japan or your own country? I depend on Uniqlo's underwear through the year. That's why I couldn't live without Uniqlo. In this July, a new Uniqlo store opened at Disney Springs in Florida. Lots of typical Japanese items are sold at the store. Yukata, fan, paper craft kit of Japanese armor, and so on. Not only shopping, you can enjoy various trial classes or events of Japanese culture. I hear that a couple of kimonos are displayed in the store. One is a Furisode style for women, and the other is Hakama style for men.
You can see the photo here.
http://www.hokkoku.co.jp/subpage/K20160803304.htm
Yes, they are look like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse! (The web page says that the kimonos are scheduled to be displayed for 6 month. So, they should be still there!)
These Kimonos were designed by Hitoshi Maida, a Kaga Yuzen dyer. Kaga Yuzen is a traditional dyeing technique. Bird, grass and flower are dyed realistically with five colors called Kaga Gosai. Beautiful ombre dyeing and warm-eaten leaves are feature of kaga Yuzen. Some are here!
< Irotomesode Kimono >
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/324439/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/290887/
< Houmongi Kimono >
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/302196/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/309293/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/264566/
In Japan, Irotomesode and Houmongi are worn at formal occasions. Please enjoy these formal Kimonos on Christmas, new year's day or your special days!
Thank you for reading to the end. There is just one more thing. Recently, I watched the movie 'Inferno', and I wonder if I should buy a mickey design watch which is worn by professor Langdon. I wish Santa Claus gives me the watch!