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Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.798

Konnichiwa! How are you doing? This time Iori is writing.
June has started. It is getting humid and we had some rainy days. I hear frogs singing in the rice fields at night. June is the only month that does not have any holidays in Japan. We need to work work work! 
Speaking of work, we have a meeting every morning. These days we speak about "my favorite pattern or design on kimono". A person in charge of the day talks about the pattern and its origin. I like to know colleagues' favorite designs and its origins beacause it is just interesting to hear and my knowledge of kimono becomes wider and deeper.
I like the 'children' design on kimono or obi. Have you ever seen the chubby face children designs on kimono?? They are sooooooo cute and adorable! The two classical designs of children are called 'Karako' and 'Gosho-Ningyo(Gosho-doll)'.
'Karako' is one of the popular children design. It is a motif of Chinese children in Toh era(618-907). They are in Chinese style costume and have unique shaved head leaving small hair on top and both sides of the head. It is called 'Karako-mage'(Karako-hair).This 'Karako' is an old design used from Nara era(8th century) and appears in lots of things such as kimono, obi, earthenwares, books and so on. Surprisingly, this design was made by Japanese. It has a meaning of prosperity of descendants.

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'Gosho-Ningyo'(Gosho-doll) is another popular design. This doll was made in Kyoto in middle of Edo period(1603-1867). It is made of wood and painted in white skin. Imperial family or court nobles had sent this dolls to daimyos(feudal lord) in return for presents from them. It became popular generally in the end of Edo period.

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Both 'Karako' and 'Gosho-ningyo' are so cute, aren't they?? Many people like children design and usually these items are sold soon in our shop.Some people loves collecting them or using as handicraft materials. Please check this lovely design sometimes. 
and here we also have 'child' motif obi on our Kimonotte side project

www.ichiroya.com

 
We are making the unique and eye-catching obis more and more!
 
Thank you for reading till the end.
Hope you all have wonderful weekend!

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.797

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Hello, this is Mari writing.
It will be rainy season in Japan soon.
Japanese summer has been getting hotter and more humid 
just like Southeast Asia. In summer, I feel like I'm living 
in Thailand or Vietnam. Actually, I love those countries so much! 
I love their cuisine! I think those spicy dishes taste better when I 
eat them in hot and humid weather with sweat like a waterfall!
 
As you know, we had 10 days long Golden week in the beginning of 
May. I visited Hanoi, Vietnam to see world heritages such as 
Halong Bay and Chang'an. Both areas are beautiful! The top photo is 
sunset at Halong Bay. I highly recommend you to visit there when you 
have a chance to visit northern Vietnam.
 
Again, I love Vietnamese food so much! I even make Vietnamese spring roll 
and Pho(rice noodle soup) at home because there is no Vietnamese restaurant in my area. 
So, my another main purpose to visit Vietnam was EATING VIETNAMESE CUISINE!
Me and my husband eat pretty much anything. We love local foods we can taste 
at the markets, on the streets and so on. 
 

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In the morning, we walked down the streets, and ate a bowl of tasty 
pho on the roadside.

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In the evening, we ate chicken hot pot, again, on the roadside.
 

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Yummy for our tummy! 
Our kids were a little bit nervous when they saw the feet and heads of chicken.
Believe it or not, they asked another round after they tasted the hot pot!
At the end, we didn't leave a piece of meat on the dish. It was so tasty!
 
Now, I have to tell you about my husband's true purpose to visit Southeast Asia.
This is it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_(food)
 
He loves to eat developing bird embryo! 
He eats it whenever he finds it. 
 

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Well, he said the one he ate in Hanoi was just a couple of days too young 
for him. He prefer to have already developed beaks, bones and feathers. 
Believe me. I respect any eating habit. I really do! 
However, this egg thing isn't for me. Every time he eats the egg, he offers 
me a spoon full of the part where used to be yolk. That is so nice of him 
because he loves the part. I really appreciate it, but you don't have to do that anymore.
Thanks anyways.
He said that the one he tasted in Ho Chi Minh City was the best one he has 
ever tasted. Here is the picture of it.
 

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You see feathers, right? This is what he is talking about.
 
I'm not sure if it is appropriate to introduce this item after talking about 
the egg thing though. I just remembered this obi when I was writing about 
the egg.
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/400157/
 
I also remembered these obi after I saw the sunset of Halong Bay.
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/431686/
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/448463/
 
These fruits pattern obi remind me tropical fruites I tasted in Vietnum.
https://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/820073/
 
Thank you for reading until the end!
See you next time!
 

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.796

 
 

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Konnichiwa everyone! Ogenki desuka?  Hope minasan is having a relaxing weekend. :)
Soon in Japan, it will be Tsuyu (rainy season) and Taue (rice planting) time of the year.  I find my neighbors getting ready to draw water into their rice patties.  The funny thing is, as soon as the water is drawn, frogs come back and so as the mosquito.  Then those frogs jump out of the patties, and make their ways to my garden.  Do you think they have the homing instinct?  I am sure these are not the same frogs, but... every year, I find one green amagaeru kun returns to my front gate and sitting at the very top.  My son when he was a little, threw him far back to the patty, yet one somehow managed to return a few days later. ( I swear it is true! ) Another cute amagaeru kun returns to a paper bag which I keep packs of plastic bags outside for gardening, and it surprises me every time I put my hand in it.  Sometimes, at early Spring when the weather is still a bit cold, I accidentally wakes up a Gamagaeru, a huge toad, while gardening.  I am starting to think I am the predator and needing to live quietly on their property?  fufufu My beagle Marin does not seem to mind their company at all as she enjoys chasing frogs, geckos and grasshoppers in summer.  
Here are some items with frog motif which is perfect for Summer! Can you find the frogs?
Oh by the way, the past Sunday was Mother's day in Japan. My two children and I went to an Italian restaurant and we had a really nice time.  I cannot believe my daughter is turning hatachi, 20, next week! and my son is in second year at high school. They have friends and busy with their activities( of course iphones and instragrams), yet they remember to shower me with the wishes every year.  I cannot be a happier mom.  Urshi desu! Some years ago, my daughter made me a small picture book for Mother's day.   I was truly impressed with its quality and care she had put into it.  Here I attach some photos for you to see. If you are curios how the story goes, email me and I can send pictures of rest of the story. hahaha, cute isn't it!
 

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Here are some items with Rose motifs! 
You can wear rose motif all year long!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend everyone! Thank you for always visiting Ichiroya and reading our newsletters.
Also, by the way, I am having a bit of trouble with a particular plant in my garden. It is Houttuynia, we called it Dokudami, and their vitality and production speed is very strong!!   I try plainting some nice flowers, but they are outgrown by Dokudami very quickly, and before I knew it, they contain a good part of my garden!!! Do you have any ideas what to do with it!!!!??? Help!!!
 

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.795

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Dear Ichiroya Newsletter readers, How are you doing? This is Mitsue writing.
A week has passed since we backed from the golden week. During the long holiday, I did various things at home which I usually can't do such as washing winter clothes and blanket, gardening and exchanging the strings of musical instruments. I also went to the Manyo Botanical museum to see full blooming 'Fuji' (wisteria), and art museum to enjoy Vermeer's paintings in Osaka. It was an exciting holiday.
Actually, I traveled to Holland and Belgium before the golden week. It was my first trip to Europe. Is there anybody who is reading this in Holland or Belgium? I enjoyed so much there, and these 2 countries became my favorite places! Everything was so amazing, so I can't choose what to write. The main purpose was enjoying flower parade. I enjoyed festival cars full of lots of flowers such as tulip, hyacinth, narcissus and carnation. To my surprise, I also could enjoy 'Sakura'(cherry blossom) on streets.
 
 

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The second purpose was enjoying art paintings. There are many famous ones at museums and churches. I wanted to appreciate paintings of such as Gogh, Rembrandt, Rubens and Vermeer. The two paintings at Antwerp Cathedral were the most impressive for me. The "Elevation" and the "Descent of the Cross" were the ones that Nero (a poor boy of 'Dog of Flanders') wanted to see. The story is very famous in Japan, because the animation was broadcasted when I was a child.
Delft, a hometown of Vermeer was also attractive to me. It is a canal town where is known to blue ceramics and old buildings. I could feel how he spent his life painting the people's daily life there. Needless to say, I enjoyed Belgium beer, chocolate and waffles. I would like to visit again and walk slowly around the town.

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Today, I would like to introduce some items with tulip design. I hope you enjoy these charming design.
kimonotte factory nagoya obi

www.ichiroya.com

www.ichiroya.com

(We have more other colors.)
 
 
bolt 
 
fukuro obi 

www.ichiroya.com

nagoya obi
Bride's Furisode
obidome
 
 
 

We are back from Golden Week holiday (Ichiroya)

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Mt Fuji and me

Having a nice day? We hope you are genki (fine).

 

We had Golden Week holiday-from April 27th to May 6th and are happy to come back fully recharged. 

We (Ichiro and Yuka) spent some days at the foot of Mt Fuji. Love enjoyed the long drive by Ichiro's car.

Look, Love is fully refreshed and very genki, she is saying `taking a break is great!'.

We too are really refreshed.

We are so excited, two of our staff are expecting their babies-we will be soon hearing the good news. They will be Reiwa(our new era name) babies!

As you may knokw, the new Emperor, Naruhito has ascended on May 1st.

He is 59 years old(the same age with me), and we were so glad Empress Masako looked better (as you may know she was suffering stress-related disorder for many years). I think everyone is wishing her well, and hoping she will not feel too much stress about her future life. The former Emperor and Empress had strong bond and looked very happy to be together all the time. The Emperor Naruhito told that he would be doing his best for Masako, so we are sure they will be helping each other and making new royal family which is open to everyone. This is the news in Japanese but I hope you enjoy the photos.

 

www.fnn.jp

 

We add new arrivals soon, early morning of May 7th (Japan time).

Hope you enjoy browsing our website and new arrivals!

 

dozo yoi ichinichio, we wish you a wonderful day.

 

Ichiro and Yuka (and Love)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.793

 
Dear Ichiroya newsletter readers
 
Hi, how are you doing? This is Azusa writing.
 
In Japan, it is much warmer and more comfortable. Spring has come!
I visited the Ueno park in Tokyo in the middle of last month. The Ueno park has very beautiful sakura(cherry blossoms).  I couldn't see them in bloom then, but a lot of people are enjoying sakura in full bloom now.
 
By the way, I went to the Ueno zoo to see pandas. I like pandas because their color is cute. I can't believe there are animals that have such strange colors.
In the Ueno zoo, a baby panda was born in 2017. Her name is Xiang Xiang. People were very exciting at the news in Japan then. 
 
I could only see her for a minute. There was a very long line to see pandas and the waiting time was 30 minutes though it's been two years since the news of her birth.  Pandas are loved by a lot of people.
The only thing is that she kept still. I tried taking a video, but I found there was no meaning.
I'm glad to see her growing well anyway. I think the pandas know that they are cute and loved even if they do nothing.
 
 

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The other animals were active and cute. There were beautiful flamingos!
 

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Speaking of flamingos, we make obis with pretty animals such as flamingos, zebras, leopards and penguins.
I hope you enjoy the unique items!
 
Even it has SOLD mark, obi can be available if you could wait for 1-2 weeks. Contact us if you are interested in purchasing this obi.
 

Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.792

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Derral Chen | Flickr

Dear Ichiroya news letter readers How are you doing?
This time Iori is writing.
 
'Sakura'(cherry blossoms) is in full bloom in Japan.
I hear lots of songs including 'sakura' phrase from the radio these days.
I went to Hanami(Sakura viewing) the other night.
In this season, sakura trees are illuminated by lanterns beautifully at night.
People are sitting down under the trees and have a party after work.
That is a well-known scene in Japan.
I watched the TV and it said many foreigners enjoy Hanami in late years.
Beautiful sakura with yummy Japanese foods and drinks! Sounds nice, doesn't it?
I recommend you to come and enjoy viewing sakura in Japan.
 
 

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Zengame | Flickr

 

We don't enjoy only seeing sakura but also eating the flowers.  I use salted sakura flower for cooking salad, baking cakes and breads or making soda as an accent. The pink color is beautiful to the eye and also it has good slight flower smell.
Now you know how much Japanese love sakura!
 
 

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By the way, this Heisei era is ending in this April 2019 in Japan, and that means the Emperor withdraws from the Throne. The name of new era name was announced the other day. 'Reiwa' is the name. It comes from 'Manyoshu'(Japanese poems). 'Reiwa' is '令和’in Kanji character. '令’means 'order', 'command', 'auspicious' and so on. '和' means 'peace', 'harmony' and so on. I think it is a beautiful name and new era will be better one for all of us.
In Japan, we have about a week long holiday called "Golden week" every year at the end of April through beginning of May. This time it will be a little bit longer due to changing the era. Our office will be closed from April 27th through May 6th. During this holiday, no new items will be listed, and we won't be able to reply to any emails or process shipments. 
Thank you so much for your understanding.
 
After sakura season, roses, 'hanamizuki'(flowering dogwood), carnations, poppies, 'fuji' (wisteria)... many fowers bigin to bloom one after another.  I will introduce Kimonos & Obis with flower motif.