Happy Halloween!!

Trick or treat!



At last week, I bought "Kimono Hime" book.
It's a pioneer of modern combination of antique kimono.
"Hime" means princess.

Now I'm trying to Kimono Hime style coordination.
But it's too difficult to me!

Making Hoshigaki (Dried Persimmons) in Kimono.

Yesterday, my grandparents & my grandmother's sister had come to my house.
And I asked them how to make "Hoshigaki (dried persimmons)".
I'm trying to make Hoshigaki for the first time!
It's a Japanese traditional sweets from 9 century.

KIMONO Movies at YouTube - TV commercial 2.

At first, I uploaded "How to Wear Kimono" a short time ago.
But I think it's not perfect...can you understand what I want to say with this page?
If you have some advice, please let me know!

>> How to Wear Kimono (KIDORAKUJapan.com)



I go on to the main subject.
Now my energy is not enough because I have a lot of things I have to do, and I can't write long story for this blog!
So, I guess I'll show you a lot of YouTube movies after this. :)



Today, I show you TV commercials of a Japanese tea.

This Japanese tea named "Iyemon" is produced by Fukujuen.
Fukujuen is an old company run by same family from 1790.
I like "Iyemon", it have good aroma and is a little sweet.

This woman is Rie MIYAZAWA, a famous actress.
And this man is Masahiro MOTOKI, an actor.
He is the leading actor of "Departures" that was awarded an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

He is a Japanese tea workman, she is his wife.
He is always deep in his job.
She is understanding him and considerate of him.

The music was composed by Joe HISAISHI.
He is the composer of music in animation films by Hayao MIYAZAKI.

KIMONO Movies at YouTube - TV commercial 1.

In Japan, we can see a lot of beautiful kimono that are worn by TV star like an actress or a model.



Today, also as my memo, I'd like to show you TV commercials of a kimono company.
These commercials are saying
"Buy Furisode for your coming-of-age ceremony!"

Today, My PC Have Revived!

At Sep, a liquid crystal display of my laptop had broken.
I bought this, and it came to my place today (yesterday).

Wagashi (Japanese Traditional Sweets) of Autumn.

Wagashi is the generic term of Japanese traditional sweets.
And Namagashi is a fresh & moist Wagashi that is often served with thick green tea at a tea ceremony.

At the last week, I had a guest and she brought assorted autumn Namagashi!
Now I'd like to show you 6 pieces of them.



At first, I'm sorry for the photos of a cross section don't look nice because I didn't cut them with knife!(>_<;

Japanese Seasons and Design of KIMONO. (2/2)

It's continued from Japanese Seasons and Design of KIMONO. (1/2)



Around kimono, such customs are living vividly.

If your kimono have wisteria design on it, you can wear it only during the wisteria season.

My Kimono Coordination (Oct/2009).

How do you say "matching clothes up" in English?



"Coordination"? "Combination"? "Ensemble"?



In Japanese, the word of "Coordinate (kodineto)" is used as a verb and a noun.
like...

"Coordinate" skirt and shirt.
Your "Coordinate" is nice!

So, Japanese language have "Coordinate" as a loanword.
And I cannot find true expression of English.
My brain is according to preconceived idea of "Coordinate".



Now, I show you the kimono I wore few days ago and last month.
Because I'm always taking photos after I got home, my kimono is maybe coming loose.
Please overlook it! (>_<

Jugoya (Night with the Harvest Moon).

Jugoya of 2009 is Oct. 3rd.
Because it is based on the old calender and the waxing & waning of the moon, a date of Jugoya is different each year.

Japanese Seasons and Design of KIMONO. (1/2)

Japan has four seasons.

Of course, I know there are a lot of countries that have four seasons in the world.
(I have visited Canada twice, summer was full of sun and winter was full of snow!)
But Japanese seasons have deep relation with kimono, and maybe it's a little unique.
So, I want to talk about Japanese seasons.