tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76916805796162068162024-03-12T17:28:45.923-05:00The Kimono LadyLearn, enjoy, shop! Learn about kimono, geisha, samurai and other traditional parts of Japanese culture and history. Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.comBlogger405125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-48398363381224127062016-04-10T18:46:00.002-05:002016-04-10T18:46:13.133-05:00Relaxing Kimono Dyeing Video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Long time, no post! I've been busy at work, but going back through my info to help someone out with some questions, I ran across this video again and wanted to share it here.<br />
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It's a lovely start-to-finish video (about ten minutes) of the traditional yuzen paste-resist process, one of the ways kimono are dyed and decorated. Get something warm to drink, relax and watch all of the incredible work that goes into making a classic yuzen kimono!<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-2147710970428935092015-10-28T21:52:00.001-05:002015-10-28T21:52:31.922-05:00Rakuten Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hey everyone,<br />
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After years of recommending the Japanese online shopping mall <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=BwE9WOE3CkY&offerid=362290.10000106&type=3&subid=0" target="new">Rakuten</a><img border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=BwE9WOE3CkY&bids=362290.10000106&type=3&subid=0" height="1" width="1" /> to others for free, because I've had a lot of great experiences shopping there and, for my readers, they ship internationally and in English, I will start getting a fixed $1 commission today if someone buys something there through one of my links.<br />
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This won't change my policy or honesty in things I find on Rakuten, but I want to be completely transparent. Thanks for reading and your support!</div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-63954822034713798412015-10-27T21:38:00.001-05:002015-10-27T21:38:32.999-05:00Kickstarter Kimono Fashion Show Goodies!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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These are my goodies I got for donating to a Kickstarter-funded kimono fashion show that will happen during New York Fashion Week 2016. The pieces of fabric are kimono textile fabric, and the postcards were made for backers by a paper-cutting artist. I especially love the little sparrows sitting in the bamboo!</div>
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Led by Hiromi Asai, a Japanese kimono stylist that lives and works in New York, the show will “bring real kimono to New York Fashion Week next February”.</div>
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From the Face<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">book page:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kimononyfw" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/kimononyfw</a></span></div>
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“Though Kimono is a popular word in the world, most people don’t know what really kimono is and how beautiful kimono is.The first aim of our project is to demonstrate authentic kimono beauty and elegance at one of the biggest world fashion venues. We will acquire much more kimono lovers who put kimono in their wardrobes and wear kimono on various occasions. We believe that people may rediscover and wonder that “old-fashioned” kimono is really a “modern” dress with huge capacity of variation.”</div>
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“The second aim of our project is to encourage kimono artisans though our world-wide show, and make the kimono industry re-flourish through making bigger market of kimono in the world. We believe that kimono artisans watch the show using their created fabrics and be more proud of their art of kimono creation. We also want to evolve the art of kimono creation to real fashion. Thus, this project is not for our promotion. We believe this project is for the future of kimono and kimono fashion.”</div>
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Good luck to everyone involved!</div>
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-47442067742167814902015-09-17T21:27:00.003-05:002015-09-17T21:27:47.831-05:00Going Back to Blog Posts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hey everyone,</div>
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I've had my kimono blog for almost six years now, and I've done everything from posting there to doing live educational seminars at conventions to this latest experiment, regular Youtube videos. Thank you for your support through all of it! <i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_d580ab" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -170px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">grin emotico</u></i></div>
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I've really enjoyed making these videos the last couple of months, but to be completely honest they've taken a lot longer than I thought they would and between them and my job (I'm a teacher and school is back in session) they are taking up just about all of my free time.</div>
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So while it's been fun, I'm going to go back to blog posts and such for now when I can, and possibly return to video making next summer break. This will also give me a chance to work on some more in-depth translations that I haven't been able to get around to finishing.</div>
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Thanks again for being awesome, and as always please let me know if you ever have any kimono questions. I'll be happy to help if I can.</div>
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-18109634848414552452015-09-10T21:47:00.001-05:002015-09-10T21:47:40.785-05:00Video: Japanese Family Crests and Kimono<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A quick introduction to Japanese family crests and their use in kimono, with special guest star Cat! He is very bad at being quiet when he wants your attention, and shutting him out of the room will just make him grab the bottom of the door with his paws and bang it in its frame. lol So I decided to try to have some fun with him being in the background. Thanks for watching!<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-37606971985203113212015-09-03T22:15:00.001-05:002015-09-03T22:15:34.610-05:0015 Classic Japanese Kimono Motifs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I had a lot of fun making last week's seasonal motif video, so this week's video is 15 classic Japanese motifs that are typically year-round ones.<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-25557396214696778582015-08-27T21:46:00.001-05:002015-08-27T21:46:37.071-05:00A Year of Japanese Kimono Motifs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This video was inspired by <a href="http://www.thekimonolady.com/2013/09/kimono-seasonal-motifs-colors-and.html" target="_blank">the month-to-month motif translation project</a> I did for this blog!<br />
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Make a cup of tea or coffee, get comfortable, and relax for a six-minute journey through a year's worth of seasonal Japanese kimono and obi motifs, set to the classic piece "Waltz of the Flowers". </div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-50135653500405272182015-08-20T22:02:00.000-05:002015-08-20T22:02:12.345-05:00Japanese Kimono and Obi Sewing Details: Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Here is Part 2, the last part, of my video on kimono and obi sewing details, meant to give a quick close up look at general Japanese kimono pieces that most sewers don’t have a chance to look at in real life.</span></div>
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In Part 2 I show authentic examples of men’s and women’s obi, accessories, tabi (socks) and even footwear just to round it all out. Part 1 was men and women’s kimono, looking at sleeves, collars, and seams.</div>
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(Apologies for the noise of the AC, but it was too hot out to try to film with it off!)</div>
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-11353137284007689492015-08-13T20:01:00.001-05:002015-08-13T20:01:11.430-05:00Video - Kimono and Obi Sewing Details: Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This week's video is up, a popular reader/home sewer/costumer request for a closer look at the details of a kimono and related accessories. Part 1 covers kimono, and Part 2 next week will be obi and accessories. Please pardon our cats playing in the background!<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-39336587956763282512015-08-06T13:06:00.003-05:002015-08-06T13:06:48.623-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Part 2 of my video for costumers and cosplayers is up! I include sewing advice and general tips for wearing your costume well. Have a great weekend and thanks for all your support on the newly revamped channel!<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-35319708354738515892015-08-06T11:38:00.000-05:002015-08-06T11:38:03.737-05:00How To Sew Kimono: Construction Details for Sleeves and Body<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is an old tutorial I made a long time ago, but I don't think I ever added it here. Feel free to download it and use it as a reference sheet, and good luck with your sewing!</div>
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<b>Important note: </b>When I say the exact middle of the blue seam, I mean that in a horizontal sense: if you drew a line down your shoulder into your arm, the midpoint of that blue seam will be on that invisible line (as seen in the reference photo). Not that the seam itself should sit on top of your shoulder.</div>
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Also, the top inside corners of panels 5 and 6, the front overlap pieces, will get folded in and eaten up by the collar.</div>
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-36555974144861206782015-07-23T18:31:00.002-05:002015-07-23T18:31:50.334-05:00How To Build a Smart Kimono Wardrobe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is my video, a reader request on how to build a smart kimono wardrobe. Let me know if you have any questions or ideas for future videos, and thanks for watching!</div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-33857359177006473962015-07-20T21:47:00.002-05:002015-07-20T21:56:15.216-05:00Youtube Channel Revamp, and New Video Every Thursday!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Exciting news! I’ve decided to revamp my Youtube channel and move to a more conventional (and much easier to create) Youtube talking-at-the-camera format, which will let me move to a weekly posting schedule. I’ll cover your questions, requests, and interesting info about kimono and traditional Japanese culture every Thursday.<br />
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Wish me luck, and let me know if you have any questions or requests!</div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-46345077611862953392015-07-02T21:44:00.002-05:002015-07-03T08:22:35.723-05:00How to Put on Hakama for Men and Women<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here are two helpful videos for complete kimono and hakama (pants) outfits. Even if you don't speak Japanese, this rental company visually walks you through the entire process step by step.<br />
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Costumers, cosplayers, history buffs, and artists might find these videos useful. There's nothing like seeing a garment in three dimensions to help you understand how it's made. :)<br />
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<b>Women's graduation outfit</b>: This outfit is worn by girls graduating high school or college. The mid-length-sleeve furisode (young women's kimono) in this demonstration has a much shorter hem than a normal kimono of this type because it is only meant to be worn under hakama. It would never be worn alone like a regular kimono.<br />
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Regular women don't wear hakama in the modern day outside of graduation and certain traditional sports.<br />
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<b>Men's formal outfit:</b> The most formal outfit for men includes hakama, along with a jacket called a haori (haori can be worn by men or women in general, as a note) and a distinctive puffball tie that closes the jacket. One note is that if you want to do a men's kimono outfit without hakama (which is ok, of course), you wouldn't tie this particular bow tie knot in the middle of the back but rather one of several different types of knots off-center on the back. This specific one in the video is meant to help support the back of the hakama.<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-58342812422799582362015-04-06T20:19:00.001-05:002015-04-06T20:20:04.160-05:00How to Put On a Furisode Kimono<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Long time, no post!<br />
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I ran across this video today, and while I might make my own English-language one in the future, thought those looking for instructions for how to wear a furisode would find this helpful visually.<br />
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Auto-translate isn't working at all, but it's no loss anyway as Mom and daughter are just chatting about random stuff and not explaining anything about what Mom is doing as she dresses her.<br />
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If you have questions, please direct them to me on Facebook or Tumblr, as I don't check in here that often anymore. Thank you!</div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-51376854792049222902014-11-16T17:46:00.000-06:002014-11-16T17:47:14.050-06:00Maiko, Oiran, Geisha: What is the Difference?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy Holidays, everyone!<br />
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I've made a video version of one of the most popular posts on this blog, the basic visual differences between a geisha, maiko, and oiran. Hope y'all enjoy!<br />
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</div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-78869450831852943882014-06-24T17:05:00.003-05:002014-06-24T17:05:43.623-05:00Real or Fake? Tips for Buying or Making Japanese Kimono<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's time for another video!<br />
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Back when I was in the States I presented educational kimono panels over a dozen times, and this is the 10-minute condensed version of them, focusing on what I found people didn't really know about Japanese kimono.<br />
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There are a ton of fakes out there, and these clear, simple tips will help you sort out which is which. If you or someone you know is traveling to Japan or shopping online, this might save them some money, and embarrassment!<br />
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It's also a handy guide for costumers and cosplayers making Japanese kimono outfits.<br />
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As a note, this is aimed at total beginners who don't know any kimono terminology, and I've left out extremely rare modern and historical exceptions. I hope you like it, and thanks for watching!<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-1993883263914683202014-05-27T08:55:00.002-05:002014-05-27T08:58:27.430-05:00Kyoto Geisha Dance Performance - The Miyako Odori<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Kyoto Miyako Odori is the biggest and most famous geisha dance in Japan, and this year I finally had the chance to go!
I made a mini-review featuring a bit of the optional Japanese tea ceremony with a real geisha and maiko beforehand, souvenirs I got, and a couple of tips for tourists who will be in Kyoto in April.<br />
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I really enjoyed this: the geisha and maiko were beautiful and elegant, the sets were amazing, and it's easy to see why this is so famous. I feel it would be a true highlight of any April Kyoto trip, not only for kimono or geisha fans but anyone who wants to see traditional Japanese culture.<br />
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For more about geisha, check out these other articles:</div>
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<a href="http://www.thekimonolady.com/2014/05/what-is-geisha-short-introduction.html" target="_blank">What is a Geisha?</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thekimonolady.com/2010/06/geisha-timeline.html" target="_blank"><span id="goog_2036789095"></span>A Geisha Timeline<span id="goog_2036789096"></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thekimonolady.com/2010/01/geisha-vs-maiko-vs-oiran.html" target="_blank">Geisha vs. Maiko vs. Oiran</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.thekimonolady.com/search/label/geisha" target="_blank">More posts about geisha!</a></div>
</div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-38156183612806875132014-05-23T08:40:00.003-05:002014-05-23T08:46:33.307-05:00What is a Geisha? A Short Introduction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Hello, my readers! I'm back! I recently had the idea to do a series of posts on geisha, so that'll be the theme for the coming months. Let me know if there's anything in particular you'd like to know about, and if I can find the information I'll add it to the list.</i></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><b>So, what is a geisha?</b></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joi/2041467737/" target="_blank"><img alt="Geisha in Niigata" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYXyVW83Xvs/U39DhGEa4qI/AAAAAAAABnM/Cq2qp9kF3nc/s1600/geisha2.jpg" height="305" title="Geisha in Niigata" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joi/2041467737/" target="_blank">Photo by Joi Ito.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The simple answer is
that a geisha is a non-sexual entertainer who is prized for witty conversation,
musical or dancing skill, and protects traditional Japanese heritage through
the learning of classical traditions, like dance and tea ceremony.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The complicated answer
is best framed in another question: “When are you asking about?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What is a geisha?
Around 1750… Street musicians and sometimes more.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7276470@N03/2607392735/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C52IfYpL8FM/U39HIhsZqMI/AAAAAAAABno/qIJrxR58oTo/s1600/399px-Nikko_Edo-Mura_9.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oiran, an extremely high-class courtesan. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7276470@N03/2607392735/" target="_blank">Photo by Gene Jackson.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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When geisha first
appeared (they were male, by the way!) around the 1750s, they were the
equivalent of street buskers and musicians you see on street corners and
subways today. While male customers were relaxing at parties or waiting in line at high-end brothels for the famed oiran or other prostitutes, the geisha would come in off the street to tell a few
jokes or play some songs.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Eventually the
profession was taken over by women, and this began raising carefully painted
eyebrows around the sanctioned red-light districts as the geisha began throwing
their own unlicensed parties. The courtesans and prostitutes didn’t appreciate
the idea of these wandering musicians stealing customers from them, and so a
law was passed that geisha were forbidden from engaging in sexual acts with
customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Geisha didn’t mind.
They were fun and engaging entertainers, able to banter in high-brow ways one
minute and play bawdy songs the next, and unlike the oiran (high class
courtesans) of the time, you didn’t need ungodly amounts of money or an
introduction by exactly the right handful of people to party with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ironically, the fate
of the oiran would be the ultimate fate of the geisha themselves, but we’ll get
to that later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><b>What is a geisha?
Around 1850… The “It” girls of society. But no sex, please!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFg5Yy9QNGA/U39FXuJEbUI/AAAAAAAABnY/whJEPcn5KgM/s1600/429px-Tokyo_Geisha_with_Shamisen_c1870s,.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFg5Yy9QNGA/U39FXuJEbUI/AAAAAAAABnY/whJEPcn5KgM/s1600/429px-Tokyo_Geisha_with_Shamisen_c1870s,.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geisha posing with a shamisen, 1870s.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">By this time the oiran
were out of favor, seen as stuffy and out-of-date by the party people. They’d survive, in severely reduced numbers, but it was the geisha's time to shine. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">There were still prostitutes, of course, but the
best parties always had a geisha or four in attendance to sing, dance, tell
jokes, and strike up interesting conversations with guests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This was the heyday of
the geisha: painters and illustrators put them all over both fine works and the
popular “trading cards” of the day (cheap, mass-printed posters), every nobleman worth his salt clamored to have them at his parties, and they hung out with the superstars of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">What geisha wore set
trends. One of the most classic obi (sash) knots worn by normal women in kimono
today is the “otaiko”, the boxy-looking square. What many don’t know is this is
a knot invented by some geisha to celebrate the opening of a bridge with the
same name. Townswomen soon copied them and it spread from there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><b>What is a geisha? Early
1900s… The awkward phase.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://sakuhindb.com/pj/HARIKYU/20110222.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vN0MLFB7d-w/U39Oln9ZGoI/AAAAAAAABn8/sVKgfWqP3TM/s1600/moga.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sakuhindb.com/pj/HARIKYU/20110222.html" target="_blank"> The trendy "modern girl" style.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Remember the oiran
from earlier? They fell out of favor because their world was seen as too
old-fashioned and formal compared to the fun and relaxing times geisha offered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">By 1920 geisha found
themselves being boxed into the less than coveted spot of stuffy, snobby
entertainers. Why? The mad rush to Westernization begun by Emperor Meiji had
started all sorts of interesting new trends, one of which was the café hostess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Geisha houses, while
less ritualized than oiran brothels, still required introductions and a good
amount of money from customers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The hostesses,
charming and simple in their cutting-edge "modern girl" styles, only required
you to buy a drink to sit in the café and chat with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">As far as being trendy
entertainers went, the geisha collectively knew they were toast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">And they were right:
to this day the hostesses and their brethren hosts still exist and have taken
over the geisha spot as non-sexual entertainers who specialize in conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">A few geisha houses had
initially experimented with things like putting geisha in full-on Victorian
corseted dresses and even having line-dancing geisha, but in the end the geisha realized they had two choices: give up and become café hostesses or reinvent
themselves as symbols and protectors of tradition. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">They went with the second choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Which brings us to…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><b>What is a geisha now?
Classic entertainer, mystery, and symbol of Japan.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Geisha are still available
for hire today, if you have an introduction from a current client or friend of
the house and the right amount of money and prestige. Some houses have gone so
far as to start partnering with hotels or trusted agencies to even forego the
introduction and lower the cost, but geisha are still very expensive and a
rarity to see entertaining in person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">They have also become
symbols of the country’s traditions and history, continuing to participate in
cultural events like shrine ceremonies and used in Japanese ads whenever a
company wants to evoke the feeling of old Japan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Japanese don’t
know anything about them, however, beyond the white face and tall clogs of the
apprentice geisha and the association with Kyoto, where most of the remaining
ones live and work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Geisha, much as they
did in their earliest days, still entertain clients with wit and humor. While
geisha a hundred years ago was expected to be an expert in a wide variety of
traditional arts, today one will normally focus on a single talent like
dancing, singing, or playing one or two instruments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This is no doubt
partly due to the fact their training now begins years later than it used to,
as modern Japanese law requires all children to finish at least middle school
(9th grade in American schooling) before setting out into the working world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">All in all, a geisha
is a tough, hard-working woman dedicated to a traditional world rapidly fading
from the Japan of today.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightstars/5937609848/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SLmqy8q8qVM/U39BtLMAwfI/AAAAAAAABm8/e78SO7Of5uY/s1600/Kosen_3rd_day_after_erikae.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightstars/5937609848/" target="_blank">Photo by Elsie Lin.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Note 1: </b>If you’ve heard
about “mizuage”, the ceremony where an apprentice geisha’s virginity was sold
off as part of her debut as a fully fledged geisha, the truth is it’s not a clearly
understood topic even in Japan and Japanese historical accounts within Japan
itself debate the details of mizuage. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><i>There is one clear
point about mizuage, however. Does it happen today?</i></span><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>No. Since the 1950s
and the post-occupation outlawing of prostitution, mizuage no longer occurs
within the geisha world.</i></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i><b>Note 2: </b>Some people ask why I write "geisha" instead of "geishas" when I'm referring to the plural. The answer is personal preference, because once you learn enough Japanese the "s" just sounds wrong, as geisha in Japanese refers to both the singular and plural. It's like saying "sushis" to me.</i></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><i><b>Note 3: </b></i></span><i>These posts are geared at people who know little to nothing about the geisha world, so those who do know a lot will notice I'm summing up and glossing over certain things for the sake of creating a clean, brief intro to a very complex world.</i></div>
</div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-57656853593484175682013-09-30T07:16:00.000-05:002015-10-28T21:58:23.860-05:00Kimono Seasonal Motifs, Colors and Flowers: Finished! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here it is, my final post containing the text-only translations for August-February, plus links to the other months already done. (For why I'm stopping this blog, <a href="http://thekimonolady.blogspot.jp/2013/09/a-big-thank-you-and-farewell.html" target="_blank">please see here</a>.)</div>
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This has been a really intense, interesting project and I learned a lot from doing it. I hope it will be helpful to you and please let me know (on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kimono-Lady/128719443895129?sk=wall" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://thekimonolady.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>) if you have any questions about something in the translation.</div>
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The <a href="http://wabiji.web.fc2.com/learn/1.htm#0" target="_blank">source for this translation</a> is a tea ceremony website, as a note, and therefore the rules are much stricter than for everyday wear.<br />
<br />
(If you're looking to buy kimono, I recommend <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=BwE9WOE3CkY&offerid=362290.10000106&type=3&subid=0" target="new">Rakuten</a><img border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=BwE9WOE3CkY&bids=362290.10000106&type=3&subid=0" height="1" width="1" /> for new ones, especially casual wear, and <a href="http://www.ichiroya.com/">Ichiroya</a> for nice vintage ones!)</div>
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One last request: Please credit me if you copy and post this elsewhere. I've been working on this project for almost a year. Thank you!</div>
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<a href="http://thekimonolady.blogspot.jp/2013/03/kimono-seasonal-motifs-flowers-and.html" target="_blank">March</a></div>
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<a href="http://thekimonolady.blogspot.jp/2013/04/kimono-seasonal-motifs-flowers-and.html" target="_blank">April</a></div>
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<a href="http://thekimonolady.blogspot.jp/2013/04/kimono-seasonal-motifs-flowers-and_30.html" target="_blank">May</a></div>
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<a href="http://thekimonolady.blogspot.jp/2012/12/kimono-seasonal-flowers-motifs-and-more.html" target="_blank">June</a></div>
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<a href="http://thekimonolady.blogspot.jp/2013/01/kimono-seasonal-flowers-motifs-and.html" target="_blank">July</a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">August<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kimono<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Light-weight/sheer
materials like ro, sha, and hemp. The beginning of the month is still the
height of summer so hemp rather than silk is still predominant. With fabrics
like Echigo, Ojiya, and Noto, when they are dyed it gives a nice feeling of
coolness if a white background is used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">After the first
official day of autumn (around August 8), dark colors are desirable. Things
like ro and sha silks are the same: after the first day of autumn dark color
backgrounds are preferred to white, as they help create the sense of coming
fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns are mostly
autumn plants and flowers, as we want to express without delay the coming of
the season. The beauty of light-weight (sheer) kimono is in one who wears their
transparent beauty skillfully.(1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hemp obi are paired
with hemp (linen) kimono. Ro obi are paired with ro kimono, and sha fukuro obi
with sha kimono. Outside of fukuro obi, ones like ra (silk-gauze) Nagoya/fukuro
or dyed Nagoya ro obi can be used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi for this time are
lightweight as the aim is to endure the heat of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Choosing colors like
light beige, tea (brown), and light light blue (mizu-asagi) 70A19F that refresh
us and pairing them with patterns that look like plain colors from a distance
but show themselves to be small designs close up is beautiful. The most
important thing to remember about the color scheme is that it should create a
feeling of coolness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Komono<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obiage are ro or
mon-sha in plain colors or gradations, while thin kumihimo style obijime are
used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Use silk nagajuban
with silk kimono, and hemp nagajuban with hemp kimono.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Collars should also
match the nagajuban they are attached to in terms of fabric: a silk ro collar
for a silk nagajuban.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Footwear will be made
of things like vinyl or panama: any summer-like material that gives a sense of
coolness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dark blue (nou-kon),
white (shiro), light light blue, aster violet (shion-iro), off-white (kinari), tea,
crimson (aka or sha), transparent background material using dark colors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Japanese pampas grass
(susuki), pinks (nadeshiko), bush clover (hagi), Chinese bellflower (kikyou),
or any of the classical “seven fall plants” (nana-kusa), Asiatic dayflower
(tsuyukusa), flowing water or rivers (ryuusui), insects (mushi): anything that
invites the feeling of autumn is a good choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Flowers Associated
with August<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cotton rose (fuyou),
Asiatic dayflower, Joseph’s coat (hageitou), bush clover, Chinese bellflower,
Japanese pampas grass (obana), thoroughwort (fuji-bakama), Japanese arrowroot
(kuzu), morning glory (asagao), patrinia (ominaeshi), mizu-hiki-sou (no English
name), Job’s tears (ju-zu-dama).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns Associated
with August<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dragonflies (tombo),
Chinese lantern plant (houzuki), lightning (inazuma), swirls or whirlpools of
water (uzu-maki)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(1) You always
wear two layers under a kimono, one the underkimono and one a simple shift, so
in case you’re wondering no one’s running around in see-through kimono alone
during August. ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>September</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kimono: Sheer or
unlined. The first part of the month is the final days of summer, and sheer ro
is used. Sha, being lighter than ro, can be worn during middays on especially
hot days. Choose colors, materials, and patterns that are reminiscent of
autumn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">On September 9, which
is the traditional “Chrysanthemum Festival” in the old “Five Seasonal
Festivals” calendar, kimono change over to unlined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fabrics like hitokoshi
chirimen, kawari chirimen, and mon-ishou are suitable, but brilliant rinzu
silks are to be avoided.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors that harmonize
with nature at this time of year are good choices: deep blue, grey, scarlet,
yellow ochre, light tea, and colors that are tinged with yellow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns center around
things like autumn grasses, cages for insects, and flutes. Dyed patterns shift
from monochrome to color.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ro tapestry (tsuzure)
is best, because while sheer fabric weaves like ro and sha are used in fukuro
obi this month, just as they were in July and August, it’s good to suggest the
coming fall by using a slightly heavier material. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Unlined kimono (not
just sheer ones) can be tied with a ro tapestry obi. However, in the last third
of the month obi change over to fabrics like brocade (nishiki-ori), tapestry
weave (tsuzure), and pongee (tsumugi).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Calm colors in neutral
hues are appropriate. Create a stylish, high-end look by carefully balancing
the lights and darks of your outfit through your kimono and obi choices.
Consider also how the pattern of your obi will harmonize with the pattern of
your kimono.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Accessories:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi-age are ro,
obi-jime are slightly thin. Naga-juban (underlayer kimono) are ro, as well as
han-eri (collars). For footwear, summer zori in dark colors are beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Author’s
Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kimono fabrics are ro
in the first half of the month and solid, unlined ones (hitoe) starting
mid-month. While September usually sees ro used for naga-juban and han-eri,
they can be traded for heavier material if cold weather arrives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ro obi are worn with
ro kimono, and obi made of things like ro-tapestry and brocade are worn with
unlined kimono.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Deep navy (fukai kon)
1A4472, light ink grey (usuzumi) 939598, ochre (oudo-iro) BA8448, scarlet (ake)
ED1A3D, light tea (usu-cha) C5956B, grape (ebi-iro or budou-iro) 691C2A.
Starting at the beginning of the month, slowly add warmth (warm colors) to
monochrome outfits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wear ones like
combinations of the “seven grasses of fall”* (nanakusa) or insect cages
(mushi-kago) until mid-month. After that switch to chrysanthemums (kiku), the
moon (tsuki), flutes (fue), and gourds (hyoutan).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">*The seven all
together are: bush clover (hagi), Chinese bellflower (kikyou), arrowroot
(kuzu), thoroughwort (fujibakama), patrinia (ominaeshi), pampas grass (susuki),
and pinks (nadeshiko).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Flowers Associated
with September:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fields of flowers (hana-no)
filled with the “seven grasses of fall”, small chrysanthemums (ko-giku),
Asiatic dayflower (tsuyu-kusa), burnet (waremokou), mizubiki-gusa (no English
name, but the Latin is “Polygonum filiforme”).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns Associated
with September:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Pine crickets
(matsu-mushi), bell crickets (suzu-mushi), insect cages, the first wild geese
of the season (hatsu-kari), grass with dew (tsuyu-shiba), and flutes and taiko
drums due to autumn festivals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">More Original Author’s
Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Regarding wearing
unlined kimono in the first part of autumn:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">September is the same
as June in that technically sheer items should not be worn. However, given that
the weather can still be hot in the last lingering days of summer, summer
transparent fabrics can be worn during the first part of month if the kimono
gives a sense of the coming fall through its color and the obi matched with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Because the weaker
fall sunlight is tinged with yellow, kimono that are too white or too bright
will look dull.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">With sheer kimono in
sha, ro, or the like, choose a dark, deep color background over a white one.
Colors reference the colors seen blooming in fall fields, like the purple of
the bush clover (hagi), the yellow of the patrinia (ominaeshi), and the brown
of burnet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">A naga-juban’s color
should be similar or complementary to the kimono used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The 9<sup>th</sup> of
September is called “Chou-you”, and is the Chrysanthemum Festival, one of the
traditional Five Festivals (Sekku). The meaning of the name “Chou-you”
(literally “increase of days”) is that you have two 9s: the 9 of September and
the 9 of the day itself. So the two 9s pile up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This festival
originates in China, and during the Heian time it was called “chrysanthemum
season” in the imperial court. On that day poets and authors were invited to
write pieces and enjoy chrysanthemum sake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In addition to the
chrysanthemum sake, in a typical household there was the custom of the “cotton
cloth” (kisewata). A cloth would be covered with chrysanthemum petals, and once
the cloth was infused with the scent of the flowers you would cleanse yourself
with it. The belief was it would purify you and keep away illness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">October<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kimono:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The calendar switches
over to lined kimono as we enter the month we can call “The Chrysanthemum
Month.” Appropriately colored rinzu silks and beautifully lustrous fabric with
woven patterns are preferred. Since long ago the colors for this time have been
the many true ones of fall, such as calm reds, yellows, browns, black, and
red-brown (azuki-iro). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns are
overwhelmingly dominated by chrysanthemum. Next are dignified ones like scrolls
of sutras or religious writings (kyou-kan), scattered treasures
(takara-zukushi) or classical court patterns (yuu-soku).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">On plain kimono, it’s
nice to have the lining at the bottom hem feature a seasonal pattern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other than rinzu silk,
chirimen is also worn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">We could also call
October “Shioze Month,” as both dyed Nagoya and dyed fukuro obi are made of
shioze silk. For motifs, hand-drawn chrysanthemums are especially popular this
month so it’s fun to try creating interesting coordinates of kimono and obi
with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Woven Nagoya obi of
the same formality (light, casual) can be used as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">When it comes to
brocade fukuro obi, keep them as casual as possible. Stylish fukuro obi are
good, too. Patterns are dignified ones like “famous imported patterns”
(mei-butsu-gire) and patterns reminiscent of Noh theater costumes
(nou-shou-zoku).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Accessories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi-age are made of
things like winter-weight rinzu or chirimen in plain or shibori styles.
Obi-jime are flat style (hira-uchi, also known as hira-gumi) or yurugi style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Because yurugi-style
obi-jime can be worn throughout the year, they are very handy for tea ceremony
wear. Naga-juban feature the same lined sleeves as winter-weight ones, but are
unlined in the chest area. Collars are also fabric like shioze habutae silk or
chirimen. Footwear is “enamel”(vinyl) zouri.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Author’s
Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Regarding the color of
the lining of the skirt, if it matches the kimono itself in color that will
give the garment a high-class feel. Also, a monochrome pattern matched
according to your personal tastes works well, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">“Fallen leaf” warm
yellow-orange (kuchiba-iro), tea brown (cha-iro), yellow ochre (oudo-iro),
asa-murasaki (light purple), reddish-brown (azuki-iro), gold (kin), silver
(gin), ink black (sumi-iro)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chrysanthemums along a
wooden fence (magaki-giku), gingko (ichou), autumn leaves/fall colors (kouyou),
nuts/fruits/berries (ki-no-mi), scattered treasures (takara-zukushi), classical
court patterns (yuu-soku).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Flowers Associated
with October:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Large-bloom
chrysanthemums (tairin-no-kiku), spider mums (ran-giku), small chrysanthemums
(ko-giku), wild chrysanthemums (no-giku), fall colors, gingko, ivy (tsuta),
fallen leaves (ochi-ba).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns Associated
with October:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ears of rice (inaho),
grapes (budou), persimmon (kaki), flutes (fue) and drums (taiko) due to fall
festivals, and sparrows (suzume) and small clapper-style instruments (naruko)
due to rice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">More Original Author
Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Regarding the
beginning of wearing lined kimono during the “simple” (wabi) tea ceremony
season: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This month marks the
end of using the portable furnace for heating water during the tea ceremony.
It’s nice to have a tea room that feels old or worn-out, in the spirit of the
“remains” (nagori) of the season. This word, “remains”, comes from the tea
leaves used to make both thick and light tea. Chatsubo, the pot used to store a
year’s supply of tea leaves, runs out around now and always has a few leaves
left around the mouth of the pot after a year of use, and these are called
“remains” and honored with the “nagori-no-chaji” tea ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br />
October kimono should also reflect the “wabi” spirit and be subdued and
tasteful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">With tasteful, subdued
color kimono, wear an obi with fall scenery drawn in black, and an obijime in a
color like red or yellow to give the sense of autumn leaves and color. This way
we can truly match the feeling of the season, don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Choose colors that
match the season in fabrics like chirimen or rinzu, and go with moderate or
subtle patterns when wearing kimono like houmongi or tsukesage. For komon, go
with small patterns like flowers or fallen leaves. Whichever you choose, stick
with only a few colors, close to a monochrome color scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">November<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kimono<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kimono are lined and
made of fabrics like rinzu and donsu (damask) silk with patterns woven into the
fabric itself, mon-ishou. The woven patterns are interlocking Buddhist
swastikas (sayagata), chrysanthemums, chintz (sarasa), crepe weave (nashi-ji),
and dignified ones like scraps of old patterns mixed together (kodai-gire) are
suitable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also, for tea ceremony
we want to avoid shiny and lustrous fabrics to help create a tasteful
atmosphere. With chirimen, choose chirimen of a rough, bumpy texture to help
deepen the feeling of fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors are autumn ones
that are soft and dark like yellow ochre (ou-do-iro), beige (be-ju), dried-leaf
brown (kareha-iro), green tea (matcha), vermillion/scarlet (shu-iro), and dark
red (enji). Beyond these colors, gray (gure-) and navy (kon) can be charming as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Preferred patterns are
fall flowers or fruits, nuts, berries,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>or picture scrolls depicting natural scenes. The “kuchikiri-no-chaji”
tea ceremony, when the seal is broken on a jar of tea for the next year, is
like New Year’s for tea people, so kimono with family crests and formal outfits
are worn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fukuro obi with
flowers done in Chinese brocade (kara-nishiki) are suitable. However, big
patterns should be avoided. Even if they’re younger-looking, go with small or
medium patterns. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Use patterns like ones
reminiscent of Noh theater costumes (nou-shou-zoku) and classical court ones
(yuu-soku). For dyed obi, you can also use ones with tea flowers (cha-ka) drawn
on them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Accessories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi-age are plain or
shibori made with fabrics like rinzu and chirimen. Suitable obi-jime are ones
like kara-gumi style or yurugi style. Naga-juban are made of fabrics like rinzu
with lined sleeves and an unlined chest area. Hada-juban (the underwear layer
worn beneath the naga-juban) are made of gauze. Collars are white shioze
habutae silk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For footwear, it’s
good to choose deep, dark color “enamel” (vinyl) zouri with a slightly high
heel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Author’s
Notes: “Kai-ro”, when people start using the built-in hearth in a temple or tea
ceremony, is equivalent to the New Year’s first tea ceremony, so bright and
showy kimono are allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Yellow ochre, “fallen leaf”
warm yellow-orange (kuchiba-iro), green tea (matcha-iro), navy, silver-grey
(gin-nezu), orange (daidai-iro), and dark red.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fruits/nuts/berries,
wild chrysanthemums (no-giku), fruit, wild geese (kari), a mix of scattered
nature and court patterns (go-sho-doki), patterns coming from old stories and
legends (mono-gatari), and classical court patterns (yuu-soku).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Flowers Associated
with November<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Camellia (tsubaki),
which can be used from October to April, scattered fall leaves (chiri-kou-you),
gingko (ichou), a medley of fruits/plants (fukiyose), Chinese aster (kan-giku),
Christmas camellia (sazanka), bamboo (take) due to the peaking of new leaves on
bamboo at this time called “bamboo spring”(take-no-haru), and pine needles
(matsu-ba), which can be used from now until the “first bath” (hatsu-yu) of
spring in April.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns Associated
with November<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fruit/nuts/berries,
bamboo due to “bamboo spring”, and cranes (tsuru).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">More Original Author
Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
“kuchikiri-no-chaji” (“breaking of the seal ceremony”) tea ceremony in November
follows the “end” of the tea ceremony year in October. From this month on, we
start using new tea and to do this break the seal on a new jar of tea for the
year. With this and the return to using the built-in hearth ceremony (kai-ro),
it’s like a new year has begun for tea people. This ceremony in formality is
much like the actual New Year tea ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">If you are invited to
a kuchikiri-no-chaji or kai-ro ceremony, wear a kimono with crests paired with
a formal obi featuring a classy pattern. In this situation there is a need for
formality. It’s appropriate to wear high-level patterns like old court patterns
(koten) or houmongi or tsukesage with fall-like painted patterns, don't you
think? Obi are brocade-weave (nishiki-ori) fukuro obi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also, on the holiday
called Culture Day, we can see various traditional events and activities,
including “ryuu-rei”, where a tea ceremony is done with a table and chairs. In
the case of this sort of tea ceremony, nice-quality items or ones that are a
little showy are appropriate. Obi can also be less formal, with ones like woven
Nagoya ok to wear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">December<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lined kimono are worn.
In the case of fabrics that have patterns woven into them, the type called
“mon-ishou” is a good choice. Patterns include small, repeating ones like crepe
weave (nashi-ji), interlocking Buddhist swastikas (sayagata), interlocking
chrysanthemums (<a href="http://www.kimonoclub.info/2006/08/post_112.html" target="_blank">muji-na-giku</a>),
and arabesques (kara-kusa) done in a slightly glossy sheen. If chirimen is
used, go with hitokoshi-chirimen or kawari-chirimen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For patterns, we can
generally see ones like the “loyal retainer” (giji) or “safety in the home”
wishes (ka-nai-an-zen) style of tiny, repeating patterns (edo-komon). Choose
unsaturated colors like grey (gure-), purple-chestnut brown
(murasaki-kuri-iro), or reddish-brown (azuki-iro).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">When going to a tea
ceremony in pongee silk (tsumugi), wear a plain or dyed one. Splash pattern
kimono (kasuri), even high-priced ones, are not appropriate and should be
avoided.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fukuro obi, Nagoya
obi, chuya obi: the point of any kind of brocade obi in this situation is not
to be flashy. Instead, choose restrained monochrome designs in lacquer (urushi)
or gold and silver leaf (kin-gin-haku). With a less-formal komon kimono, a
pongee obi works as well. Patterns are ones like “treasure house” large
stylized circles (shou-so-in), arabesques (kara-kusa), and various chintzes
(sarasa). The idea is to bring the whole body together through the choices of pattern
for both kimono and obi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Accessories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi-age are
plain-color chirimen while obi-jime are plain-color yurugi style: accessories
should have a look of clean simplicity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Naga-juban become
lined, while collars are white shioze habutae or chirimen silk. Footwear is
leather or “enamel” (vinyl) zouri, and with slightly-low heels will look sharp.
Coats are essential for the cold weather. Long kimono coats (douchuugi) are
appropriate. Plain, deep colors and fine patterns (komon) are appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Author’s
Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">When considering
colors, it’s good to match the naga-juban in terms of brightness to the colors
of the kimono itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">White, grey,
reddish-brown, brilliant scarlet (hi-iro), madder red (akane-iro),
reddish-purple (ko-dai-murasaki), mustard yellow (karashi-iro), dark green
(shin-ryoku).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fallen leaves
(ochi-ba), Chinese aster (kan-giku), barren fields (kare-no), barren winter
trees (fuyu-kodachi), nandina (nan-ten), arabesques and chintzes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Flowers Associated
with December<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Daffodils (sui-sen),
coral berry (man-ryou), Japanese allsprice (rou-bai), combinations of
chrysanthemums, camellia, and bamboo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns Associated
with December<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Snowy landscapes
(yuki-geshiki), barren fields, snowy mountains (fuyu-yama), frost-covered trees
(ju-hyou), floating sleeping birds (uki-ne-dori), Japanese citrus (yuzu)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">More Original Author
Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wearing lined kimono
at the year’s end: For tea ceremony lessons, when wearing informal materials
like wool or pongee (tsumugi) there are many chances to wear them, but be
careful about how informal your outfit is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Newly-available
materials include synthetic kimono, which you can wash in your washing machine
at home and come in a variety of patterns and colors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">With komon or a plain
kimono, young women can wear a narrow (hanhaba) obi tied in a butterfly knot
(chou-musubi) or bow-tie knot (ichi-mon-ji). Those who prefer a stylish look
can wear a woven Nagoya obi of the hassun variety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For kimono colors, go
with light colors but not a variety of them all at once, and for komon kimono
choose smaller rather than larger patterns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">There is a word: “from
the beginning to the end” (pin-kara-kiri-made). This “kiri” refers to an
ending, in the case of this month the end of the year. There is another “kiri”,
which means “paulownia”, and because of this connection of the “end” kiri in
sound to the “paulownia” kiri, we can see paulownia patterns on both kimono and
obi in December.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">January<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For New Year’s Week
(Matsu-no-Uchi), formal kimono with family crests are worn. Irotomesode,
houmongi, tsukesage, and so on. Young women wear chuu-furisode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fabrics are rinzu or
donsu (damask) with a glossy sheen. If chirimen is used it’s good to pick the
kind that has a rough, bumpy texture. For patterns woven into fabrics, choose
from ones like somewhat large repeats of your family crest, interlocking
Buddhist swastikas (sayagata), stylized rising steam (tatewaku), mist (kasumi),
stylized ocean waves (seigaiha), flowing water (ryuu-sui), large arabesques
(oo-karakusa), or any of the many, many auspicious patterns out there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors are those
appropriate for early spring: cheerful light colors are focused on like pink
(pinku), blue (buru-), light purple (usu-murasaki), cream (kuri-mu), beige
(be-ju), and young grass green (waka-kusa-iro). Grey (gure-) is also a nice
choice if it is a bright tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">With patterns like
auspicious ones (kichi-jou), a mix of scattered nature and court ones
(go-sho-doki),</span> <span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">and </span>classical
court <span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">ones</span>(yuu-soku)<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">, a single embroidered family crest on the
middle of the back will lift the formality of the kimono higher than a crest
that is only dyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chinese brocade
(kara-nishiki), colored brocade (iro-nishiki), gold or silver brocade
(haku-nishiki), haku-ichou (an obi made from only gold leaf and a single
color’s thread, the contrast creating its monochrome pattern), saga-nishiki (a
brocade mixing a dyed silk weft with gold/silver/lacquered paper warp). Various
brocades are used and so mainly fukuro obi are worn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Appropriate patterns
include very dignified ones like “famous imported patterns” (mei-butsu-gire), patterns
reminiscent of Noh theater costumes (nou-shou-zoku), auspicious ones, and
classical court ones. While keeping age-appropriateness in mind, it’s fun to
create refined coordinates with gorgeous obi that use gold and silver threads
mixed in with color ones!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Accessories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi-age are plain or
gradated rinzu silk, or beautiful fabrics like full shibori. Obi-jime are
styles like yurugi weave in dignified colors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Naga-juban are lined
and collars are white shioze habutae silk. Additional fake collars can be
layered to suggest an elegant effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Footwear is zouri in “enamel”
(vinyl) or saga-nishiki brocade. Colors should be bright and cheerful to
coordinate with the kimono and suggest the beginning of spring. The heel should
be a little high, to go along with the month’s gorgeous kimono.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Author’s
Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Coats used with
houmongi and tsukesage are generally made of rinzu or mon-ishou and are the
michiyuki type. To protect against the cold, warm items made of things like
velvet and cashmere are must-haves. Also, for cold weather you can put in
another layer of lining on the sleeves of your naga-juban with the same fabric
as the outside of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bright colors like
pink, blue, cream, beige, young grass green, or auspicious colors like deep
green (fuka-midori), deep red/crimson (kurenai), madder red (akanei-iro), gold
(kin), silver (gin).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lucky patterns like
the auspicious set of pine, bamboo, and plum (shou-chiku-bai), scattered
treasures (takara-zukushi), as well as court patterns, “famous imported
patterns”, snow on bamboo leaves, a holly-like plant (sen-ryou), coralberry
(man-ryou) and Chinese winter camellia (kan-tsubaki).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Flowers Associated
with January<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The set of pine,
bamboo, and plum, old pine trees (rou-shou), young pine (waka-matsu), pine in
stylized diamond shapes (matsu-bishi), old pine trees (ume-no-koboku), weeping
plum (shidare-ume), vertical plum branches (yari-ume), plum blossoms and
branches done in a circular pattern (ume-no-maru), nandina (nanten), willow
(yanagi) specifically a decorate cord made of tied-together willow
(musubi-yanagi), winter peony (kan-botan), Thunberg spirea (yuki-yanagi)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns Associated
with January<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Crane (tsuru),
tortoise (kame), red-crowned crane (tanchou-zuru), folded paper cranes
(ori-zuru), sparrows in winter (kan-suzume), bush warblers in plum blossoms
(ume-ni-uguisu), auspicious patterns like phoenixes (hou-ou), scattered
treasures, treasure ships (takara-bune), open folding fans (sen-men), colored
paper (iro-gami) because of the New Year’s “first writing of the year”
(kaki-zome), small narrow papers (tanzaku), toy balls (ke-mari), the character
for long life (kotobuki </span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS 明朝","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">寿</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">), and the character for good fortune (fuku </span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS 明朝","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">福</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Author’s
Notes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">On wearing lined
kimono for the celebration of the New Year: There are many times of year that
call for formality in the tea room, but this time of year we can truly
experience a ceremonial atmosphere as many people wear formal kimono like
irotomesode, houmongi, and layered white habutae collars. Young women wear
formal kimono like furisode or houmongi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For the first tea
ceremony of the year, we can also wear tsukesage or iromuji. Either way, all
kimono should have a family crest. Kimono patterns should be auspicious ones,
classical court patterns of a formal variety, plants and flowers, or the like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For kimono patterns,
try to avoid very large or showy ones as they will throw you out of harmony
with your surroundings. For kimono worn this month, fukuro obi match best.
Choose obi in heavy brocade featuring noble and dignified patterns like those
mentioned above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">February<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kimono are lined and
made of materials like rinzu, mon-ishou, chirimen, tsumugi (pongee). Finely
patterned designs of blizzards or small hail, seigaiha (stylized ocean waves),
small arabesques, kikkou (stylized tortoise shell), shikishi (paper boards used
for writing), and other seasonal patterns are appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In the case of
chirimen, hitokoshi chirimen or kawari-chirimen are good choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors are warm, quiet
ones such as navy (kon), purple-red (aka-murasaki), ink black (sumi), bracken
green (warabi-midori), and yellow ochre (oudo).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For tea ceremonies
held at night, pale colors will look nice in the darkness of the tea room.
Also, remember that the first half of February is still winter while the last
half marks the beginning of spring, so outfits will need to be coordinated
appropriately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">It’s easy to suggest
the coming season by wearing a dyed Nagoya obi featuring early-blooming spring
flowers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Accessories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obi-age change to
plain rinzu, while you can play around more or less with which type of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>obi-jime you’d like. Naga-juban are lined.
Han-eri (collars) are white shioze habutae</span> or chirimen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Footwear features colors like navy, wine red (enji), tea brown
(cha), and scarlet (aka): strong colors that are clearly defined. Zouri with
heels that are a little high are nice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Colors:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Light crimson
(usu-beni), egg yellow (tamago-iro), young shoot green (wakana-iro), celadon
(aoji-iro), navy, purple-red, and ink black.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Plum (ume), daffodil
(suisen), camellia (tsubaki), holly (hiiragi). The first third of the month
should show the last traces of winter, while the last third of the month should
suggest spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Flowers Associated
With February:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Plum, rosegold pussy
willow (neko-yanagi), winter flowering quince (kan-boke), bracken sprouts (sawarabi)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patterns Associated
With February<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Barren trees in winter
(fuyu-kodachi), light snow (awa-yuki), stylized overlapping pieces of broken
ice (kori-wari), bush warbler (uguisu),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and for Setsubun (Bean Throwing Festival) picture prayer boards (e-uma)
and bells (rin).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Author Notes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">About Lined Kimono for
the First Day of Spring (around Feb. 4): The day before the First Day of Spring
is the Setsubun festival. On Setsubun, in order to ward off evil spirits
fish/dragon scale patterns (uroko) and “seven color cords” are good choices for
patterns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">On this day we can see
many people using red, white, purple, yellow, green, blue and gold for obi-jime
colors and fish/dragon scale patterns on obi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">If you’d like to use a
seasonal pattern, go with snow. Snow on bamboo leaves (yuki-mochi-sasa),
stylized snowflake rings (yukiwa), blizzards, large snowflakes (botan-yuki):
there are a lot of patterns using it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Another favored
pattern is plum blossom, a prized flower of early spring. The first to bloom,
its chaste beauty appears in the deep cold of winter. It is also considered an
auspicious flower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">When it comes to
variations like plum branches (eda-ume) and stylized plum blossoms
(kourin-ume), there are many designs but ones done in the bright, sharp colors
of spring are best, don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-23211715541206608392013-09-18T07:38:00.000-05:002014-05-22T08:07:40.151-05:00A Big Thank You and Farewell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">To my readers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I would like to say thank you very much for
following me these past three and a half years. My goal when I started this
blog was to share information about kimono with the English-speaking world, and
in that respect I think I've been able to help in my own small way. As of
today, this blog has been visited over 130,000 times and I am grateful for all
of you that have come to it over the years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The truth is my life is shifting right now in a lot of ways, and has
been for some time, and I would like to return to just enjoying kimono rather than
seeing them as a project. That means while I will still be relatively active on
my Kimono Lady <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kimono-Lady/128719443895129?sk=wall" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://thekimonolady.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> accounts, I am going to stop posting updates
here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I’ll leave up everything I’ve written as a resource for others, and
as a “going away present”, if you want to call it that, I will post text-only
translations of all the remaining months I have left on my big motifs translation
project (August-February) by the end of this month (September, 2013) as my
final post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I’ll
also be happy to keep answering kimono questions you may have, so if you have one,
please head over to Facebook or Tumblr. I hope to see you around there and keep
spreading the kimono love!</span><!--EndFragment-->
</div>
</div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-5065919801427296292013-09-07T20:29:00.000-05:002014-05-22T08:09:18.612-05:00How Far Would The Fukushima Nuclear Plant Be From These Cities?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello, readers!<br />
<br />
After my move to my new city and job and getting settled, I've been working on a September motifs post and hope to get it up soon (and then backtrack to August).<br />
<br />
In the meanwhile, congratulations to Tokyo for winning the 2020 Olympics!<br />
<br />
Given the attention that will be turning to Japan because of this, I thought I'd give some perspective regarding the distance between the Fukushima disaster site and Tokyo by showing the same distance starting from other cities around the world: New York, Chicago, London, Canberra, Amsterdam, and Johannesburg.<br />
<br />
I'm not wading into the controversy surrounding the TEPCO plant with my opinion on the situation: I just wanted to give a clearer idea of the distance involved.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1ATWnj_2Ac/UivSUA26NsI/AAAAAAAABlI/rYHUoJm_aOw/s1600/chicago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1ATWnj_2Ac/UivSUA26NsI/AAAAAAAABlI/rYHUoJm_aOw/s400/chicago.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vVodpNkOBKY/UivSUYLVVTI/AAAAAAAABlM/yzlO7fHsySI/s1600/cologne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vVodpNkOBKY/UivSUYLVVTI/AAAAAAAABlM/yzlO7fHsySI/s400/cologne.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LxuILkTubzM/UivSUSn6vfI/AAAAAAAABlc/FwjtqWpv0NU/s1600/london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LxuILkTubzM/UivSUSn6vfI/AAAAAAAABlc/FwjtqWpv0NU/s400/london.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dp_VOr0JmLI/UivSU5V0M0I/AAAAAAAABlY/gyD-qA7dnjk/s1600/newyork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dp_VOr0JmLI/UivSU5V0M0I/AAAAAAAABlY/gyD-qA7dnjk/s400/newyork.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-45624812298119456642013-06-03T07:01:00.000-05:002014-05-22T08:09:58.062-05:00Wedding Kimono Colors and Motifs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A reader recently asked about wedding kimono colors and motifs, so here's my quick translation and summary on exactly this topic from a Japanese wedding/special occasion florist site. :)<br />
<br />
<b>Colors</b><br />
<br />
"There are what are called the "three primary colors" for a Japanese wedding kimono: white, black and red.<br />
<br />
White can be seen on shiromuku (all white wedding kimono) and black in some hikizuri (trailing kimono), but where do we see red used?<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlnqVjRfyyQ/UayAezVxMcI/AAAAAAAABjU/4sWoPcbDtZg/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlnqVjRfyyQ/UayAezVxMcI/AAAAAAAABjU/4sWoPcbDtZg/s320/1.JPG" width="259" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o5cyH0rmUDk/UayAw4zIpGI/AAAAAAAABkU/3K6vxksZ0VA/s1600/black.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o5cyH0rmUDk/UayAw4zIpGI/AAAAAAAABkU/3K6vxksZ0VA/s320/black.JPG" width="294" /></a></div>
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Red is a truly supreme color when used with "color-uchikake" (non-white overcoat wedding kimono). Note that by "red", I mean only a true vermilion. This red is a classic and traditional Japanese color.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AahsNkTX5Qk/UayAe6f86AI/AAAAAAAABjY/mjZJNns8MGE/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AahsNkTX5Qk/UayAe6f86AI/AAAAAAAABjY/mjZJNns8MGE/s320/2.JPG" width="250" /></a></div>
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It is a lively color with several meanings: strong magic, protection from disaster, and exorcism of bad luck or bad spirits."<br />
<br />
It goes on to say that due to use from noble houses, red also has the feeling of being a rich, splendid color.<br />
<br />
"However, when it comes to choosing wedding kimono, you're not limited strictly to red, black, or white. For example, purple gives the feeling of nobility and high class, green suggests harmony, and pink gives a feeling of happiness."<br />
<br />
Because the bride is so important, the company advises readers to carefully consider the colors used in the wedding hall so the bride's kimono doesn't get visually lost in a bunch of colors.<br />
<br />
<b>Patterns</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
There are many auspicious patterns for wedding kimono.<br />
<br />
"When we say 'auspicious patterns', we mean things like the classic 'pine/bamboo/plum' combination motif, cranes, tortoises, and phoenixes.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_AFX6qXkE0/UayB-ltHEeI/AAAAAAAABkk/xulrUcQ-u28/s1600/bamboo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_AFX6qXkE0/UayB-ltHEeI/AAAAAAAABkk/xulrUcQ-u28/s320/bamboo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t70B9BLO8Uk/UayAgXMiEPI/AAAAAAAABjw/VKo3iqyo0uU/s1600/cranes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t70B9BLO8Uk/UayAgXMiEPI/AAAAAAAABjw/VKo3iqyo0uU/s320/cranes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe5HCZx_tiQ/UayCsCs6VfI/AAAAAAAABks/btEqQTS9tGc/s1600/ume.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe5HCZx_tiQ/UayCsCs6VfI/AAAAAAAABks/btEqQTS9tGc/s320/ume.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Here the tortoise is included <br />
with the plum, pine, bamboo motif.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o3AU532CyY4/UayAgaWMWkI/AAAAAAAABj0/E-ffKJ0upu4/s1600/phoenix.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o3AU532CyY4/UayAgaWMWkI/AAAAAAAABj0/E-ffKJ0upu4/s320/phoenix.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Other 'auspicious motifs' include the geometric "shippo", the 'treasure ship' motif (a ship laden with treasure or containing the Seven Immortals), Heian-era ox-drawn carriages, or any motif with lucky connotations."<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPjTLOT-Sb0/UayAhqG3OzI/AAAAAAAABkI/v5k25AKF9AY/s1600/shippo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPjTLOT-Sb0/UayAhqG3OzI/AAAAAAAABkI/v5k25AKF9AY/s320/shippo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
You can also choose a motif that is not specifically an auspicious motif, but in that case you need to carefully consider the season of the motif you want to use.<br />
<br />
If the kimono contains auspicious motifs, it can be worn any time of year, but if it has a normal motif it is bound by that motif's seasonality in terms of when you can wear it. For example, it wouldn't look good to wear a fall-themed kimono with red maple leaves to a spring wedding.<br />
<br />
"The next point to consider is the proportion of your body to the designs on the kimono. Tall or bigger people should go for large, boldly sized designs and short or smaller people should go with smaller, finer designs. Generally speaking, you want to create balance between yourself and the kimono."<br />
<br />
Always double-check your height and the kimono's height as you'll need to both take pictures and walk in it.<br />
<br />
<i>All images from <a href="http://www.ichiroya.com/" target="_blank">Ichiroya</a> and used with permission.</i><br />
<i>Source: <a href="http://www.dramaticflowers.jp/blog/archives/2848" target="_blank">Dramatic Flowers</a></i><br />
<br /></div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-30755378925188260942013-05-14T10:25:00.004-05:002014-05-22T08:10:14.586-05:00Secrets of the Apprentice Geisha TV Show<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Maiko, apprentice geisha, are mysterious even to many Japanese, and on this variety show, they go through a list of things viewers might be surprised to learn about maiko.<br />
<br />
Maiko Kanoyumi is the guest. Here's a quick rundown of what they talk about!<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="253" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5ByOWbPa9HI" width="450"></iframe>
<br />
Included are the following "secrets":<br />
<br />
-They can't use their cell phones in front of people.<br />
<br />
-They wear kimono everyday.<br />
<br />
-They don't wash their hair for a week (due to it having to be set in the traditional style with camellia oil, etc.).<br />
<br />
-They have lessons everyday.<br />
<br />
-They are not supposed to talk when walking down a street (to add to their elegant personas, I believe).<br />
<br />
-They are not supposed to enter any "low-brow" places like convenience stores, Starbucks, or McDonald's.<br />
<br />
-For one month they wear the same hairpin decorations (kanzashi). (The reason for this is the kanzashi reflect the seasonal flowers or motifs of each month.)<br />
<br />
-For one month they wear the same formal kimono when they dress up. (Same reason as the kanzashi.)<br />
<br />
-They wear tall wooden "okobo" clogs.<br />
<br />
-They call male guests "onii-san" (older brother) and female guests "onee-san" (older sister). I've read this is to respect their privacy at parties, where things can easily be overheard in other rooms.<br />
<br />
At the end there's a funny bit where one man in the host audience asks Kanoyumi about the hair washing, and what day in the 7 days it is. She says it's been three days since she's washed her hair, and he asks the old man next to her to smell her hair.<br />
<br />
He pronounces it "good-smelling." The maiko and the guy in front (I'm assuming a sumo wrestler) say they do the same sort of hair styling, so the guy asks the old man to smell his hair too! He agrees that it's the same good smell. :)<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691680579616206816.post-18240277111465272112013-04-30T09:24:00.001-05:002015-10-28T21:59:52.204-05:00Kimono Seasonal Motifs, Flowers, and Colors: May<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here we are with the month of May, my birth month actually. :) In olden times, the months had different names than the simple ones they do now (Fifth Month, Sixth Month, etc.). May's old name was Satsuki ("the month of growing things"), and is also used as a girl's name.<br />
<br />
(If you're looking to buy kimono, I recommend <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=BwE9WOE3CkY&offerid=362290.10000106&type=3&subid=0" target="new">Rakuten</a><img border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=BwE9WOE3CkY&bids=362290.10000106&type=3&subid=0" height="1" width="1" /> for new ones, especially casual wear, and <a href="http://www.ichiroya.com/">Ichiroya</a> for nice vintage ones!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Month of May </b></span></div>
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<b>Kimono</b><br />
<br />
Kimono are lined.
Fabrics include kotoshi chirimen or kawari chirimen, and for woven things
mon-ishou silks (single-color fabrics woven with patterns in the background)
are used. Rinzu silks feature refreshing patterns like flowing water or streams
(ryuu-sui), waves (nami), running bamboo (sasa), or a mix of scattered nature
and court patterns (go-sho-doki).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r3_mofDitzE/UX_LCZVekDI/AAAAAAAABe0/6JIg21U4bsI/s1600/may-sasa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r3_mofDitzE/UX_LCZVekDI/AAAAAAAABe0/6JIg21U4bsI/s320/may-sasa.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running bamboo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4iPLEMmeN8/UVlxCsUC3DI/AAAAAAAABYQ/DQ4TLojDT1k/s1600/go-shou-doki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4iPLEMmeN8/UVlxCsUC3DI/AAAAAAAABYQ/DQ4TLojDT1k/s320/go-shou-doki.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go-sho-doki pattern</td></tr>
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Colors are bright
tones while reflecting the season. With dyed patterns, it’s good to go with
things like flowers that bloom in the beginning of summer, general evergreen
plants (toki-wagi), seasonal scenery (fuu-kei), and dyed gradations. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For the first part of
the month, wear lined kimono. Starting in the middle of the month, things like
kimono that are unlined on the body part, lined “ro (gauze)”, and lined “sha (gauze)” silks can
be worn to stylishly hint at the coming season.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkdT2EWkCdE/UX_LByeCr-I/AAAAAAAABes/gyAIJsbIVts/s1600/may-rolined.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkdT2EWkCdE/UX_LByeCr-I/AAAAAAAABes/gyAIJsbIVts/s400/may-rolined.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A lined ro kimono</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e078tvfP7YE/UX_LC_f7syI/AAAAAAAABfE/v8Qo5Pe8pXo/s1600/may-shalined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e078tvfP7YE/UX_LC_f7syI/AAAAAAAABfE/v8Qo5Pe8pXo/s320/may-shalined.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A lined sha kimono</td></tr>
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<b>Obi</b><br />
<br />
This month,
brocade-weave (nishiki-ori) fukuro obi use the same materials as spring obi,
but through colors and patterns it’s good to give a sense of summer drawing
near.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rather than
multicolored obi, go with monochrome or something like gold/silver brocade to
create a cool brilliance. Other than things like tapestry-weave obi (tsuzure), for
more lightweight wear you can use shioze or habutae silk obi painted with
seasonal designs, or chirimen silk Nagoya obi with dyed patterns.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the case of lined
ro or sha kimono, a medium-weight summer obi is a good match.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Accessories</b><br />
<br />
Obiage and obijime are
similar to spring ones, but the colors and patterns are brighter, losing their
darker and more muted tones. Obiage are lightweight chirimen or rinzu. Obijime
types include narrow maru-kara-gumi, kanze, or yurugi.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3Nv98Y2brY/UX_K_WmrzlI/AAAAAAAABdw/A0VnzB12YCU/s1600/may-marukara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3Nv98Y2brY/UX_K_WmrzlI/AAAAAAAABdw/A0VnzB12YCU/s200/may-marukara.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maru-kara-gumi weave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsCfuDzjRfk/UX_LAZArM9I/AAAAAAAABeI/g38MViqsgw0/s1600/may-marukaragumi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsCfuDzjRfk/UX_LAZArM9I/AAAAAAAABeI/g38MViqsgw0/s320/may-marukaragumi.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maru-kara-gumi obijime</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Naga-juban are hitoe:
choose light colors featuring things like summer flower patterns or gradation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Collars are shioze
habutae, tabi are lined white calico, and footwear is enamel (vinyl) in light
colors.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><b>Colors</b></i><br />
<br />
Use tones, which are
highly saturated colors mixed with neutral ones to dull them and make them
softer. Examples include light purple (asa-murasaki) C4A3BF, wisteria purple
(fuji-iro) AFB4DB, grey-pink (hai-zakura) E6D2C9, light blue (mizu-iro) AFDFE4,
celadon (seiji-iro) 60B49F, and turquoise blue (toruko-buru) 40E0D0. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table col="1" row="6"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="C4A3BF" height="30" width="50"></td><td bgcolor="AFB4DB" height="30" width="50"></td><td bgcolor="E6D2C9" height="30" width="50"></td><td bgcolor="AFDFE4" height="30" width="50"></td><td bgcolor="60B49F" height="30" width="50"></td><td bgcolor="40E0D0" height="30" width="50"></td></tr>
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<i><b>Patterns</b></i><br />
<br />
Peony (botan),
flowering dogwood (hana-mizuki), flowers and birds, young bamboo (waka-take),
seasonal scenery, gradated patterns, and a mix of scattered nature and court
patterns.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-itDqFNY02Rw/UX_K5qjQvQI/AAAAAAAABcI/vBQD0PlY5fQ/s1600/may-botan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-itDqFNY02Rw/UX_K5qjQvQI/AAAAAAAABcI/vBQD0PlY5fQ/s320/may-botan1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9hpeVLl_3c/UX_K6JpY7HI/AAAAAAAABcA/oQxWXXzzlqA/s1600/may-botan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9hpeVLl_3c/UX_K6JpY7HI/AAAAAAAABcA/oQxWXXzzlqA/s320/may-botan2.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peony</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8dyYac0_usc/UX_K8P9tnyI/AAAAAAAABc0/q-oQ5zuHGEQ/s1600/may-hanamizuki1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8dyYac0_usc/UX_K8P9tnyI/AAAAAAAABc0/q-oQ5zuHGEQ/s320/may-hanamizuki1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2i9PSxQJFo/UX_K8qvlWrI/AAAAAAAABc8/ZZL0B7PnJZM/s1600/may-hanamizuki2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2i9PSxQJFo/UX_K8qvlWrI/AAAAAAAABc8/ZZL0B7PnJZM/s320/may-hanamizuki2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowering dogwood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFM9FPLEcIA/UX_LFEdjczI/AAAAAAAABf8/Jx8tzeum_Iw/s1600/may-wakatake1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFM9FPLEcIA/UX_LFEdjczI/AAAAAAAABf8/Jx8tzeum_Iw/s320/may-wakatake1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-646QJYAOBX4/UX_LFo_vqkI/AAAAAAAABgQ/629xR2_oAA8/s1600/may-wake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-646QJYAOBX4/UX_LFo_vqkI/AAAAAAAABgQ/629xR2_oAA8/s320/may-wake2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young bamboo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><b>Flowers Associated with May</b></i><br />
<br />
Paulownia (kiri),
bitter orange (tachibana), lily (yuri), green maple leaves (ao-kaede), Japanese
iris (hana-shoubu), rabbit-ear iris (kakitsubata), Siberian iris (ayame), pear
flower (nashi-no-hana), bamboo (take) specifically young bamboo, deutzia
crenata (u-no-hana), gymnaster savatieri (miyako-wasure).</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8oPFLfuXxIU/UNcTkPXmYNI/AAAAAAAABD4/ySvKyojXbdQ/s1600/july-hiru-gao-obi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8oPFLfuXxIU/UNcTkPXmYNI/AAAAAAAABD4/ySvKyojXbdQ/s1600/july-hiru-gao-obi.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCgDqvQZafw/UX_K94jFDEI/AAAAAAAABdQ/krvhOZM06GE/s1600/may-kiri1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCgDqvQZafw/UX_K94jFDEI/AAAAAAAABdQ/krvhOZM06GE/s320/may-kiri1.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyjmNzisrhQ/UX_K-plZgAI/AAAAAAAABdg/JjGMBZZhSuc/s1600/may-kiri2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyjmNzisrhQ/UX_K-plZgAI/AAAAAAAABdg/JjGMBZZhSuc/s320/may-kiri2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z6MTo9R2oM/UX_K-Qu_C0I/AAAAAAAABdk/8Gk-dpXWzXQ/s1600/may-kiri3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z6MTo9R2oM/UX_K-Qu_C0I/AAAAAAAABdk/8Gk-dpXWzXQ/s320/may-kiri3.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paulownia (in the bottom image<br />
it's the bottom left circle)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7o9VemQJTJY/UX_LDAf5vYI/AAAAAAAABfM/vNL-R0SbBKI/s1600/may-tachibana1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7o9VemQJTJY/UX_LDAf5vYI/AAAAAAAABfM/vNL-R0SbBKI/s320/may-tachibana1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3zTd_cR0xg/UX_LEGohf3I/AAAAAAAABfo/e6U3hOTeofM/s1600/may-tachibana3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3zTd_cR0xg/UX_LEGohf3I/AAAAAAAABfo/e6U3hOTeofM/s320/may-tachibana3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9S5c39lEMlo/UX_LDrpGdeI/AAAAAAAABfk/X7KZ-JWtra8/s1600/may-tachibana2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9S5c39lEMlo/UX_LDrpGdeI/AAAAAAAABfk/X7KZ-JWtra8/s320/may-tachibana2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bitter orange</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKE5J3tOG5Q/UX_K_nPLSEI/AAAAAAAABd8/_m6jb5z8BmE/s1600/may-lily1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKE5J3tOG5Q/UX_K_nPLSEI/AAAAAAAABd8/_m6jb5z8BmE/s320/may-lily1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5SzQh1Jk_k/UX_LmvTFHaI/AAAAAAAABhU/ElpcUCwbBpQ/s1600/may-yuri2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5SzQh1Jk_k/UX_LmvTFHaI/AAAAAAAABhU/ElpcUCwbBpQ/s320/may-yuri2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U32KofEfCeM/UX_K4-lwRYI/AAAAAAAABb0/DFDFiGNzg9Q/s1600/may-aokaede1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U32KofEfCeM/UX_K4-lwRYI/AAAAAAAABb0/DFDFiGNzg9Q/s320/may-aokaede1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkNIoU2Ek-g/UX_K49DnE2I/AAAAAAAABbw/H23bR4zbdCk/s1600/may-aokaede2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkNIoU2Ek-g/UX_K49DnE2I/AAAAAAAABbw/H23bR4zbdCk/s320/may-aokaede2.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green maple leaves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asP3cwouAgU/UX_K9QOyNAI/AAAAAAAABdc/75Qyl1cv1dI/s1600/may-kakitsubata.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asP3cwouAgU/UX_K9QOyNAI/AAAAAAAABdc/75Qyl1cv1dI/s320/may-kakitsubata.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QHtlQ8IiO14/UX_K_8ut5xI/AAAAAAAABd4/l14gAluHPJk/s1600/may-makitsubata2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QHtlQ8IiO14/UX_K_8ut5xI/AAAAAAAABd4/l14gAluHPJk/s320/may-makitsubata2.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olQDnxDmj2k/UX_K5SgCjtI/AAAAAAAABb4/IEQiBTVdGPs/s1600/may-ayame2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olQDnxDmj2k/UX_K5SgCjtI/AAAAAAAABb4/IEQiBTVdGPs/s1600/may-ayame2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various irises</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CUuOlMuKH8/UX_LBl_L6rI/AAAAAAAABeo/SCUpuVzUUHE/s1600/may-nashinohana1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CUuOlMuKH8/UX_LBl_L6rI/AAAAAAAABeo/SCUpuVzUUHE/s320/may-nashinohana1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pear flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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See previous section for bamboo.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wortY-d6fpQ/UX_LEseiZII/AAAAAAAABfw/aztZ6ADjjS8/s1600/may-unohana1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wortY-d6fpQ/UX_LEseiZII/AAAAAAAABfw/aztZ6ADjjS8/s320/may-unohana1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNUfSS8SxP8/UX_LE6xLvXI/AAAAAAAABf4/CToK5Dn-yw4/s1600/may-unohana2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNUfSS8SxP8/UX_LE6xLvXI/AAAAAAAABf4/CToK5Dn-yw4/s400/may-unohana2.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deutzia (crenata)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XzQyqRVNiqU/UX_LBOAsHRI/AAAAAAAABec/oZkL1h3hxtk/s1600/may-miyakowasure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XzQyqRVNiqU/UX_LBOAsHRI/AAAAAAAABec/oZkL1h3hxtk/s320/may-miyakowasure.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHKmSw6rRPk/UX_LBud0z-I/AAAAAAAABe4/aw5zr5EJdRI/s1600/may-miyakowasure2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHKmSw6rRPk/UX_LBud0z-I/AAAAAAAABe4/aw5zr5EJdRI/s320/may-miyakowasure2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gymnaster savatieri</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><b>Patterns Associated with May </b></i><br />
<br />
Flower raft
(hana-ikada), both the nock/fletching of an arrow (yahazu or yabane) and armor
(yoroi) due to Boys’ Day being in May, hollyhock (aoi) patterns due to Kyoto’s
famous Hollyhock Festival (Aoi Matsuri) in May, carriages (mi-kuruma), parade
floats (dashi).</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k1JJjtmrDdk/UX_K8XkTm9I/AAAAAAAABc4/lsV9vAimcq0/s1600/may-hanaikada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k1JJjtmrDdk/UX_K8XkTm9I/AAAAAAAABc4/lsV9vAimcq0/s320/may-hanaikada.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower raft</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOdiNpM15ek/UX_LGoiRrgI/AAAAAAAABgs/F06RskMPzBc/s1600/may-yabane3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOdiNpM15ek/UX_LGoiRrgI/AAAAAAAABgs/F06RskMPzBc/s1600/may-yabane3.gif" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nb0B9pjbyto/UX_LGBgBq5I/AAAAAAAABgY/QFY8swRuDNo/s1600/may-yabane2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nb0B9pjbyto/UX_LGBgBq5I/AAAAAAAABgY/QFY8swRuDNo/s320/may-yabane2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrow nock/fletching</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xuc7x4HZzSQ/UX_LGyd3xMI/AAAAAAAABg0/V55ZEOidcOc/s1600/may-yoroi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xuc7x4HZzSQ/UX_LGyd3xMI/AAAAAAAABg0/V55ZEOidcOc/s400/may-yoroi1.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfvDahE3QDg/UX_QpU2UqAI/AAAAAAAABh8/DIFNy3OjZ48/s1600/may-yoroi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfvDahE3QDg/UX_QpU2UqAI/AAAAAAAABh8/DIFNy3OjZ48/s320/may-yoroi2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RmrTMGjmEGI/UX_K4orXZeI/AAAAAAAABbo/EA01VRRM7HM/s1600/may-aoi0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RmrTMGjmEGI/UX_K4orXZeI/AAAAAAAABbo/EA01VRRM7HM/s320/may-aoi0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BNVa-_OEKp0/UX_K4HrnoHI/AAAAAAAABbk/Muw7JTq07DM/s1600/may-aoi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BNVa-_OEKp0/UX_K4HrnoHI/AAAAAAAABbk/Muw7JTq07DM/s400/may-aoi2.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V2mvcdjTejk/UX_K4Aq3hOI/AAAAAAAABbg/yhkdGD_irj0/s1600/may-aoi1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V2mvcdjTejk/UX_K4Aq3hOI/AAAAAAAABbg/yhkdGD_irj0/s1600/may-aoi1.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollyhock</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-hb5LHMKpc/UX_LA0DvsAI/AAAAAAAABeU/t5jWdtaRhZM/s1600/may-mikuruma1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-hb5LHMKpc/UX_LA0DvsAI/AAAAAAAABeU/t5jWdtaRhZM/s320/may-mikuruma1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SwA987YF3M/UX_LA6IRjwI/AAAAAAAABeY/UH1F8soS-yA/s1600/may-mikuruma2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SwA987YF3M/UX_LA6IRjwI/AAAAAAAABeY/UH1F8soS-yA/s1600/may-mikuruma2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carriages</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4o9pUcijzb8/UX_K7FVd3SI/AAAAAAAABcY/ibngl5aiJZ4/s1600/may-dashi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4o9pUcijzb8/UX_K7FVd3SI/AAAAAAAABcY/ibngl5aiJZ4/s320/may-dashi2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2CCpYBoDysk/UX_K7CYsCUI/AAAAAAAABcc/yQW_Iujj_R0/s1600/may-dashi3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2CCpYBoDysk/UX_K7CYsCUI/AAAAAAAABcc/yQW_Iujj_R0/s320/may-dashi3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parade floats</td></tr>
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<b>Original Author Notes</b><br />
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Regarding lined kimono
for “furo” (portable stove for boiling water used for summer tea ceremonies):</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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May is the season of
bright green (plants). With the passing
of the 5<sup>th</sup>, the first day of summer, tea ceremony marks the boundary
between spring and summer by switching out the hearth for the portable “furo”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo6rYn7jV70/UX_K79ufA8I/AAAAAAAABcw/osD3csPKW00/s1600/may-furo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo6rYn7jV70/UX_K79ufA8I/AAAAAAAABcw/osD3csPKW00/s200/may-furo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Furo", the portable hearth</td></tr>
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The tatami mat that
replaces the hearth, fresher and greener than the mats around it, heightens the
newness that comes with the first tea ceremony of the year to use the “furo”
rather than the hearth.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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May kimono are lined.
Take care to use utensils and arrange the room in a summer-like fashion. Also,
remember that winter and spring kimono give a different feeling than summer
ones. Avoid creating a heavy look by choosing fresh colors, light fabrics, and
simple designs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The beauty of a kimono
lies in its colors and patterns, but how it fits with the obi chosen can also
change the impression it gives. While May and October obi like dyed obi and
such are light to begin with, we also want their patterns and materials to give
a sense of the season. White obi with painted flowers like peony, iris, green
maple leaves, wisteria (fuji), and clematis (tessen) might be good for a light
feeling.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W5vBuowihxg/UX_ZNC416aI/AAAAAAAABik/YTq64F2hEg4/s1600/may-fuji2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W5vBuowihxg/UX_ZNC416aI/AAAAAAAABik/YTq64F2hEg4/s320/may-fuji2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSR17oVtveM/UX_Z4_Ma63I/AAAAAAAABis/r5xfn7XqrVY/s1600/may-fuji3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSR17oVtveM/UX_Z4_Ma63I/AAAAAAAABis/r5xfn7XqrVY/s320/may-fuji3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wisteria</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N44hPFiFCU4/UX_YfmvZBxI/AAAAAAAABiM/HUm78cyXPHQ/s1600/may-tessen1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N44hPFiFCU4/UX_YfmvZBxI/AAAAAAAABiM/HUm78cyXPHQ/s320/may-tessen1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CeNaqBJbpFI/UX_Z_CmxHiI/AAAAAAAABi0/wSqjJ7GMudw/s1600/may-tessen3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CeNaqBJbpFI/UX_Z_CmxHiI/AAAAAAAABi0/wSqjJ7GMudw/s320/may-tessen3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clematis</td></tr>
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Also, it’s a popular
season for “open-air” tea ceremonies. On days where you’re likely to sweat,
it’s good to wear “dou-bitoe” kimono. “Dou-bitoe”, or “chest-single-layer”
kimono are kimono where the bottom half, back sleeve edge, and sleeve cuff edge
are lined, leaving the chest area and sleeves unlined. When worn, dou-bitoe
look like regular lined kimono.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vyOCWb56i4I/UX_K7F3mzsI/AAAAAAAABcg/em9TPrurl78/s1600/may-doubitoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vyOCWb56i4I/UX_K7F3mzsI/AAAAAAAABcg/em9TPrurl78/s320/may-doubitoe.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dou-bitoe kimono</td></tr>
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From mid-month on,
naga-juban change over to ro and collars become shioze as more ways to dress
cooler. <o:p></o:p></div>
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With things like sha lined
kimono, even if they get a little water on them they won’t shrink so they’re very
handy for long trips or time spent in the “mizu-ya”, the room next to the tea
ceremony room where utensils are washed. Even though they’re made of sha,
because they are sewn as lined kimono there is no problem (I believe the author
means there is no problem with the formality level).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Translator Footnotes</b><br />
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Nothing special this month, but yes, I did use Date replica armor for the armor picture. Go Sendai! XD</div>
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<b>Translator Notes</b><br />
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Nothing special this month.</div>
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<i>(Notes below repeated from previous months)</i><br />
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-The original author repeats several points, so with certain common terms I am using the Japanese name on first mention only. If you’re unsure of something, feel free to ask and I can clarify.<br />
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-The number next to the color name is that color's hex code as used in HTML. Keep in mind the exact shade may vary as well, from what I've seen cross-checking traditional color-name sites with actual kimono vendors.<br />
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">-</span> As a note, this is <a href="http://wabiji.web.fc2.com/learn/1.htm#5" target="_blank">my translation of a tea ceremony kimono site</a>. The tea ceremony world, I have learned, is among the strictest when it comes to following proper seasonality rules, so bear in mind that these rules are more stringent than the general thinking for daily and casual kimono wearers.<br />
<br />
It’s great if a daily wearer can put together an outfit following all of these rules, but very few will look at you funny if you can’t, as it’s hard and can be expensive to collect all the proper pieces. I’m translating this site more as part of my efforts to add to the world of English-language kimono information for those who don’t speak Japanese.</div>
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857281617709022534noreply@blogger.com2