What Will Happen After April Fool?

Maybe, no, absolutely it's too late to say...


Thanks all four people who trusted me and tried April Fool mini-game!
You are my favorite lovable "fool" people!!
I love you, Kitty, Meg, Amelie, and Tia!a

Kitty, Meg, and Amelie arrived at correct answer!
Now you get a chance to get small small gift from KIDORAKU Japan. :)
(If you can trust me and let me know your address...!)

I'm sorry Tia, your answer was wrong...X(
Please wait for next chance!



By the way, the correct answer was "HANAMIDANGO"!
It means rice dumplings that is eaten with seeing cherry blossoms.

"Hana yori Dango" is a Japanese proverb and it means "Dumplings rather than flowers". Eating HANAMI-DANGO makes us more happy than only seeing cherry blossoms.
The original title of famous Manga "Boys Over Flowers" is "Hana yori Dango" and it's a parody of this proverb. :)




Now, I'll write your name on a piece of paper and put it into a box.
A person who is chosen by lot can choose a gift from 6 choices.

I made 12 cranes! 4 for Kitty, 4 for Meg, and 4 for Amelie.
OK, before the lottery... which do you want if you win? :

● An Obiage
Pink, a woven pattern is Asanoha + Chrysanthemun. Very girlish color, so cute! It's guessed it is brand-new.

● An Obijime
Golden yellow, round and thick. I bought it at a department-store, but didn't use :)

● A Tabi socks
It's not Tabi, but socks! For 22-24cm feet. Based color is black. Having Okame (flat-faced woman) and Hyottoko (clownish man) pattern.

● A Haori-himo & An Eri-shin
Haori-himo is light pink, Eri-shin is mesh type. If you have some Haori without Haori-himo, it's a chance!


● Bath powders
Sorry, no picture. A few small package of bath powder.
You can feel Japanese hot spring in your bathroom!

● A picture painted in Japanese style
Yoichi is a Japanese-style painter in the making. If you tell her your favorite thing or theme, she'll draw a picture about that.
I don't know what kind of picture will appear.
I don't know how much time she takes.
I don't know you will be pleased or not.
It's a bet!

● Nothing
If you don't like all of 6 gifts, you can carry over this luck to next chance.
At a next lottery, you can put twice as many crane as other people into the box. Next chance will come in autumn or next April.



Did you decide? Let's do lottery!




Congratulations!!

Which gift do you want?
Please leave your comment or send e-mail me!

As a consolation prize, I give one more crane to other two girls.
When you try to next lottery, one more crane with your name will be put into the box!


Again, thank you very much for your participation!

Kimono Events / Fairs Guide. (May/2010)

I haven't guarantee that informations are completely correct.
And, often they close the events early at the last day.
When you visit there, please confirm it yourself.

cf.) Japanese Department store's map.(Eng./Chin./Korean)
cf.) Links of Japanese Department store's websites.
(Some of them are written in English and so on.)


This list might include small events or fairs
because I cannot confirm the scale of the event.
Basically, big city or famous department stores have big events,
and country side or local department stores have small events.

I know Hankyu Hyakkaten in Umeda, Hanshin Hyakkaten in Umeda,
Takashimaya in Namba & Kyoto are usually having big events.
I'm living around Osaka, and I don't know about another locality.


"Selling Costumes for Rent" is very interesting to see.
Special clothes for party, ceremony or stage are sold in so cheap price.
(I have seen a wedding dress of 2,000yen, and an Uchikake of 3,000yen.)

My Kimono Coordination (Feb, Mar, Apr/2010).

I'm enjoying casual outfits as a reaction against neat coordinations of Jan..



Feb/6




Red & Black Asanoha Wool Kimono + Green Peony? Nagoya-obi.
Obi-age is pale yellow, Obi-jime is creamy white Sanbu-himo.
Yellow glitter Obi-dome is for accent.

Long Haori have pale red, pale green and white dots, and it's linked to kimono's red and obi's green.
Han-eri is Ichimatsu-moyou (Checkered pattern) of black & white.
Dark brown arm warmer is for cold wind blowing from armholes.
Coat is marbled purple.

Maybe is it a little loud? But I like it. :)



Mar/6




Green Asanoha Komon Kimono + Purple Nagoya-obi.
Obi-age is pale pink, and Obi-jime is dark pink.
Haori is subdued pink.



Apr/3





Greenish Gray Tsumugi Kimono + White Sioze Nagoya-obi.
Obi-age is pale pink, and Obi-jime is dark pink.
Long Haori is gray and almost same as kimono's color.

Usually, peacocks on kimono have strong motivation and are working hard.
Standing up straight or displaying its tail feather.
But peacocks on this obi lack the will to do it.
They are just standing with funny face without emotion.
I love these less emotional peacocks.

► KIDORAKU Japan.com - Gallery : Coordinate

Kimono Events / Fairs Guide. (Apr/2010)

I haven't guarantee that informations are completely correct.
And, often they close the events early at the last day.
When you visit there, please confirm it yourself.

cf.) Japanese Department store's map.(Eng./Chin./Korean)
cf.) Links of Japanese Department store's websites.
(Some of them are written in English and so on.)


This list might include small events or fairs
because I cannot confirm the scale of the event.
Basically, big city or famous department stores have big events,
and country side or local department stores have small events.

I know Hankyu Hyakkaten in Umeda, Hanshin Hyakkaten in Umeda,
Takashimaya in Namba & Kyoto are usually having big events.
I'm living around Osaka, and I don't know about another locality.


"Selling Costumes for Rent" is very interesting to see.
Special clothes for party, ceremony or stage are sold in so cheap price.
(I have seen a wedding dress of 2,000yen, and an Uchikake of 3,000yen.)

Spring Has Come With Cherry Blossom!

It's blooming on our website.:)

If I can have a bit of your time,
please click the "Spring Has Come!" image at top of this page!

Kimono events / fairs guide. (Mar/2010)

I haven't guarantee that informations are completely correct.
And, often they close the events early at the last day.
When you visit there, please confirm it yourself.

cf.) Japanese Department store's map.(Eng./Chin./Korean)
cf.) Links of Japanese Department store's websites.
(Some of them are written in English and so on.)


This list include very small events or fairs
because I cannot confirm the scale of the event.
Basically, big city or famous department stores have big events,
and country side or local department stores have small events.

Hankyu Hyakkaten in Umeda, Hanshin Hyakkaten in Umeda,
Takashimaya in Namba & Kyoto are often having big events.
I'm living around Osaka, and I don't know about another locality.

My Favorite Ladies in KIMONO (over 60).

I like to watch elderly actresses in kimono.
They have worn kimono for a long time, and their kimono is always elegant.
Beautiful orthodox coordination, skillful mature Kitsuke and moderate fun.
Though possibly it is their fashion coordinator's work, their kimono are always fitting their body well.

I'd like to show some of them with a picture of their young days in order of age.

Setsubun (The Day Before The Beginning Of Spring).

Setsubun of 2010 is Feb. 3rd.
Because it is based on the movement of heavenly bodies, a date of Setsubun is different each year.
Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring that is called "Risshun".
It dates back to the 9 century's aristocracy custom, so it's an old event.

Kimono events / fairs guide. (Feb/2010)

I haven't guarantee that informations are completely correct.
And, often they close the events early at the last day.
When you visit there, please confirm it yourself.

cf.) Japanese Department store's map.(Eng./Chin./Korean)
cf.) Links of Japanese Department store's websites.
(Some of them are written in English and so on.)


This list include very small events or fairs
because I cannot confirm the scale of the event.
Basically, big city or famous department stores have big events,
and country side or local department stores have small events.

Hankyu Hyakkaten in Umeda, Hanshin Hyakkaten in Umeda,
Takashimaya in Namba & Kyoto are often having big events.
I'm living around Osaka, and I don't know about another locality.

My Kimono Coordination (Jan/2010).

New Year is the best chance to wear kimono!

And, my outfits are following.

Google KIMONO Map Test.

Hi all!
I'm a little busy now and I couldn't write new post for a long time.
It will be continued for a little more, sorry.

But I'll write about "Kitsuke Kyoshitsu" and my outfits of January.
Maybe, in the next week.



I'd like to hear someone's impression.
Could you see this Google Map?

Kimono Shops in Japan

It's a map of kimono shops in Japan.
We're planning to map used (antique / recycle) kimono shops, department stores that has kimono department, and good usual kimono shops, as many as possible.

How about it? Does it work well?
Did you understand how to use it?

Is this map working well?
	Yes, it's easy to use.
	No, my computer became slow.
	No, rule of pins is hard to grasp.
	No, it need some comment for each shop.
	No, better to update the website than make it.
pollcode.com free polls

There is KIMONO on the Google Japan Home!

Because today is the day of "Seijin-shiki (coming-of-age celebration)"!

Japanese people attend Seijin-shiki after they became 20 years old.
Most of girls wear Furisode for this day. :)

Google Japan

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Tiger Kagamimochi. :)



I wish you happiness throughout the new year!

Omisoka and Shogatsu (How Japanese Greet the New Year, 2/2).

It's continued from Omisoka and Shogatsu (How Japanese Greet the New Year, 1/2).




At new year, Japanese lion dance called "Shishi-mai" is held in many places.
There is a tradition that children who have their head bitten by Shishi will be happy.
(Photo : "Shishi-gashira (lion's head)" that is a mask for "Shishi-mai". by (c)Tomo.Yun)
(Video : "Shishi-mai".)

Kimono events / fairs guide. (Jan/2010)

I haven't guarantee that informations are completely correct.
And, often they close the events early at the last day.
When you visit there, please confirm it yourself.

cf.) Japanese Department store's map.(Eng./Chin./Korean)
cf.) Links of Japanese Department store's websites.
(Some of them are written in English and so on.)


This list include very small events or fairs
because I cannot confirm the scale of the event.
Basically, big city or famous department stores have big events,
and country side or local department stores have small events.

Hankyu Hyakkaten in Umeda, Hanshin Hyakkaten in Umeda,
Takashimaya in Namba & Kyoto are often having big events.
I'm living around Osaka, and I don't know about another locality.

Omisoka and Shogatsu (How Japanese Greet the New Year, 1/2).

Today, I'd like to talk about Japanese custom of year end and new year.
Year end and new year are called "Nenmatsu Nenshi" in Japanese.
Though some customs are fading away, we have a lot of things to do during Nenmatsu Nenshi.
And today, Christmas is included as the one of year end events.

Most of events are originally held to welcome "Toshigami".
Toshigami is a god of Shinto that symbolize the year, and it visit each house every New Year.

(The photo is Maiko's first working day of the year.)

KOBE KIMONO STREET - Epilouge.

That's all I want to talk about "KOBE KIMONO STREET".
I wish you visit there when you get a chance.

I too will visit there to shop at "O : Recycle-kimono SAKURA".
This shop has "A corner of all 390yen apiece", all of Kimono and Haori at this corner are 390yen.
I have bought a Haori with 195yen at half price sale!



I know more kimono shops in Kobe, or Osaka and Kyoto.
I'd like to write about these shops little by little at next year.

Moreover, now, we're making a map of antique kimono shops in Japan.
And possibly we'll have another blog about antique kimono shops and Kottouichi (antique market).
It's very tough work, only possibility.

Not only people who live in foreign countries, but also foreign people who live in or visit to Japan are coming to KIDORAKU Japan.
I'm glad to if I can help their meeting to kimono.




At Google Japan, I can find enormous informations about kimono those are written in Japanese.
But at Google in English, I cannot find so many kimono site without shop.
Though a few sites are well built, most sites are less information, are built for business, or include missunderstanding.
(Of course, I know some sites are wonderful!)

I hit upon.
"If there is no good site, then better I make it."

So, I started this site and blog.
I hope it will support your kimono-life!



The last update in 2009 of this blog will be "About Japanese New Year" that will be posted at 30th or 31th...maybe.
My last days of 2009 is passing with writing English.

KOBE KIMONO STREET - Prologue.
KOBE KIMONO STREET - 01 (Sannomiya Center-gai 1).
KOBE KIMONO STREET - 02 (Sannomiya Center-gai 2).
KOBE KIMONO STREET - 03 (Motomachi Shoten-gai 1).
KOBE KIMONO STREET - 04 (Motomachi Shoten-gai 2).
KOBE KIMONO STREET - 05 (Motomachi Shoten-gai 3).
KOBE KIMONO STREET - Epilouge.

KOBE KIMONO STREET - 05 (Motomachi Shoten-gai 3).

► Motomachi Shoten-gai (JP)

KOBE KIMONO STREET - 04 (Motomachi Shoten-gai 2).

► Motomachi Shoten-gai (JP)

KOBE KIMONO STREET - 03 (Motomachi Shoten-gai 1).

► Motomachi Shoten-gai (JP)