Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu from Yoko at Ichiroya!
Kotoshimo dozo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
May the new year bring peace, happiness and laughter to you and yours.
Today, I would like to tell you about my Oshogatsu routine.
I spend every Oomisoka(New Near's Eve) and Gantan(New Year's Day) at my parents' place in Nara.
We have Toshikoshi Soba and watch Kohaku Utagassen on Oomisoka, and enjoy Osechi (traditional Japanese New Year's food) on Gantan which my mom prepares.
Here is a photo of Osechi my mom prepared this year. She makes the best Osechi that we could all enjoy.
My dad writes our names on bags of chopsticks and we sit where assinged by the each bag.
We greet the new year by Osechi, a cup of Sake, and Otoshidama(money bag). Of course, I am too old to receive Otoshidama....
After breakfast, we go Hatsumoude, visit to a shrine to make wishes for the year.
Every year we visit Kashihara Jingu shrine, which is only about 30minutes from my parents' place.
Kashigara jingu is always packed with Hatumoude crowds. Since this Gantan was warm and sunny, there seemed more people visiting.
Here are some photos of our Hatsumoude at Kashihara Jingu this year. Can you see the heads of people!!??
We pass by tempting food and fun game stalls on our way to the main shrine. If we stop at one stall, we know we never get to the main gate, so we are determined to have fun on our way back.
We wash hands and clear throat by water before entering the gate of the main Jingu.
It is the year of the Rooster, and you see a huge Ema plate at the main entrance? People are lined to take a picture!
okiyome.jpg ( 191 KB )
We bow, give a small offering and clap hands before wishing for the year. Of course, you keep the wishes to yourself...shhhhh
Ok now, it is Omikuji time. Omikuji is a New Year fortune telling paper. It grades from unlucky to lucky in 12 levels.
This is the biggest event for Hatsumoude, well at least to my kids!
As always, my luck starts low in the beginning, but which should mean it will end good. (right?)
After Omikuji, here comes the fun part, temptations we ignored on Sando, path to the Shrine, my kids were running to the stalls they had their eyes on.
We had Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, and etc. Even after my mom's yummy Osechi, I could eat alot more!!!
Sadly, I did not find many people dressed in Kimono at Hatsumoude....
People may think that dressing in Kimono on Gantan is too dressy. No! that is not true!
To Hatsumoude, you do not need to dress up, you can just wear a casual Kimono, such as Komon, Tsumugi, or even cotton or wool Kimono for a change. It is better that motifs include winter related or winter flower motifs, but no strict rules.
If you are attending a rather formal celebration, you can upgrade to Iromuji or Houmongi as well.
What about these charming Kimono which is perfect for a daily wear but also to Hatsumoude?
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/307202/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/343061/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/340651/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/322805/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/351200/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/309572/
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/308928/
Dewa mata!
arigato gozaimasu for reading til the end.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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!