A traditional Japanese culture “ORIGAMI” is a common language in the world. The students in the USA are taught “ORIGAMI” in elementary school since several decades ago. I taught it to a son of my friend 30 years ago. And now I recommend to conceal a small paper crane in the envelope with a letter. The influence is bigger than you thought.

The displays of “New Japanese sense of beauty” show a kind of “ORIGAMI” (Miura paper craft) with typical Japanese goods in Hankyu Department Store in Osaka.

The typical goods are KIMONO and “NISHIJIN” OBI, “ARITA” pottery. “NISHIJIN” OBI is arranged a special pattern from an artist Itoh Jyakucyu in Edo period. “ARITA” pottery is also world-wide word. Foreign people who love Japan have deeper knowledge than Japanese people. I sometimes felt shameful but was very proud of Japan.

I would pay attention and energy to abroad, because foreign people understand “genuine” on higher level than Japanese. They give higher reputation to workman made and only one goods than machine made. I create a new design which is easily wearable, free size but well stylish made from pure silk Kimono. I will show the new design soon !

My three notice through what happened on 9.11

＊Love saves the earth ＊Only once in person’s life ＊Changing common sense

＊Love saves the earth : I had attended the 70^th anniversary of Karen on Sept. 7.

The 180 guests were drunk by her lovely and warm “OMOTENASHI (hospitality)” and took her great love home as a big but unbulky souvenir. I am sure the guests taste it well and act their life like her.

＊Only once in person’s life: Thank you for Karen’s love as much as she did !

I always say, “Let’s enjoy our life !” One of my clients who attended to this party with me had held her bridal banquet in this room. Her dress was remade from her bridal Kimono gown by me. Now she had two sons and a daughter and some grand children. Her heart was full of deep emotion.

＊Changing common sense: Old common sense now becomes uncommon sense.

We have noticed that Kimono is not suitable to all bodies and every era. I believed that I could wear Kimono of grandmother and mother, but their bodies were smaller than mine. And Kimono textile has also each fashion trend in era. As Kimono style has been pretty decreased since 30 years ago. In this situation, I continuously introduce how Kimono textile is amazing to the world by my lovely remade dress.

I would create my only one time life for making people happy by filled with human love which AI robots can’t substitute. Karen remains me that !

Embroidery tickles woman’s heart.

As Japanese embroidery is sewn by silk thread on silk fabric, the elegant luster is especially tasteful .

It had gone around from the first dynasty of Egypt, through continental countries, to ancient Japan. As it was influenced by Japanese culture, the technique increased and mixed up for gorgeous looking.

You can guess the price is very expensive because it is needed high skill, long time and faint patience. These pictures are introduced with explanation.

Picture 1～3: “Japanese Embroidery ICHI” works (address: mayutoichi@gmail.com)

Picture 4/5: EDO style embroidery, using gold and silver threads for OBI belt

Picture 6/7: Bridal long skirt remade from FURISODE Kimono with accented gorgeous embroidery

Picture 8/9: Jacket remade from HAORI Kimono with white embroidery cross the three seam lines.  This handwork is only used for special clothes.

I always create Kimono dress one by one with love and wish clients feel the same as the exciting feeling when they wear Kimono. Of course, I also feel exciting time on my work. I can’t stop it !!!

“Oh ! I have come here before with a man who had met for arranging marriage ! ”

After a preserved flower arrangement and a live of violin, we had a dinner in this restaurant “YURURI (gentle)” for closing friendship. Our table was the same as before. So surprise !

He was a collector of high-quality art works lived in high class area of Ashiya city. He wanted to have a long talk with me and invited to me here. I had sent a letter of thanks on Japanese roll paper. If I had got marriage with him, I might be a bird in a cage. I could not have enjoyed present freedom at all.

Let’s introduce two remade dresses from Kimono for this season. The first one could not be put yesterday due to typhoon. The reversible dress has printed “Sarasa” pattern Kimono and solid soft Obi fabric of my father’s memento.

The second one remade from summer silk Kimono in a “YUKATA (summer cotton Kimono) party”. People have recently changed how to wear YUKATA. It was changed to western style with hat, shoes and some metallic accessories. The guests were satisfied to wear and show YUKAYA in the hot and wet weather. I really enjoyed my clothes, cooler and more comfortable than YUKATA.

I keep to do my best done by only me through my long experience as a designer. I am now creating a new evolution wind. Remembering my past matter in typhoon weather, I enjoyed the food, drink and conversation with new friends in this “YURURI (gentle)” restaurant.

Yukata, one of Kimono, is worn in mid-summer. The fabric is cotton 100% and people originally wear it after taking bath. Nowadays, women put it with some kinds of accessories such as neckless, earing, bracelet, and ankle-let. Yukata is a long one-piece dress for them. There is any Japanese spirit ?

Let’s introduce the display in a department store, titled “Summer in Japan” with POP trend. You can see amazing “TAKOYAKI (octopus ball shaped snack food)” Yukata has been changing to “Costumery for summer festival”. I try to put it on“classic style”.

There are many parties recently. The main theme is “Beauty, Health, Culture and Information”.

Japanese women have continuously brushed up themselves. They are high level in the world.

Some of the parties indicate the dress cord such as color. The guests try to be perfect. It works to the mood making. My remade red dress and gown from Kimono are very impressive, but the dress is not suitable to normal party. I put on only gown for a concert party. It is very cool to express the Japanese culture and very convenient to bring in the party.

As you know “Social butterfly”, the guests move and talk to a person to other person in party like a butterfly. As the result, the guests enjoyed the party. What is the first word to talk ? Something about fashion on their out looking is not bad. The dress cord might work very well .

I hope you can get many good relationship in party!!!

“SHIBORI” is one of dye technique for Kimono. It takes incredibly long time to be a Kimono. It means gorgeous looking and expensive price. Therefore, it is very famous in the world.

Let’s introduce how to make basic “SHIBORI” in a work-shop on some photos, tie a fabric by thread, dye, wash, dip the color, untie and dry.

“SHIBORI” Kimono will be remade from accessory to western clothes. Enjoy it !!!

Fish bag from “tirimenhayamizu” (Instagram)

Blouse remade from HAORI jacket  / Dress remade from HOUMONGI with partial SHIBORI

Kimono collector and designer, Ms. Shigeko Ikeda who was died in 2015, had a huge Kimono collection in Meiji / Taisho / Showa before World War 2 periods. Her works are very famous for relative combination such as Kimono/Obi/Obi accessory. Recently I visited her exhibition on last day in Osaka. I was so moved by this incredible gorgeous artificial works and happy to see her daughter. I will show you this for your happiness.

When I had met across her exhibition in Kyoto since 20 years ago, I was working on abroad for a Japanese importer as a garment designer. I could not predict at all my present work, designing in between Kimono and western clothes. I take this position as “a bridge” with strong confidence because Kimono lover as well as long experience in world-wide fashion field. From the morning on this day, I attended the big meeting of the women management in the Imperial Hotel Osaka. People gave me some good callings, “So cool!” ”Very like!” seeing my dress remade from Kimono. I was so happy but sorry for my fat face!!! I need more shape up!!!!!

Do you know “Met-gala” ? It is held in every May at the Metropolitan Museum, which is also called “Academy Award in fashion field”. Celebrated 500 guests in the world who wear the prestige “haute-couture” clothes enjoy the dazzling one night party.

I had longingly felt when I was there by seeing this documentary movie. A celebrated madam encouraged me after my show in New York, “Your next fashion show must be held at the Metropolitan Museum, with famous models !”　 But I only smiled, thinking that the expense will be over 10 times and my name is not big enough !

I had visited to the Brooklyn Museum for relaxation after my show and exhibition and luckly met across my favorite creator, Jean Paul Gautier’s Exhibition. What a good accident, no, an incredible necessarily !!!  It was a series of impression !!!  I had noticed that this creation level reached the Metropolitan Museum.

According to the flyer, some dresses showing on this documentary movie are displayed at the Kobe Fashion Museum. It owns many historical fashion clothes such as my graduated university FIT New York. I enjoyed some workshops there before, one of my favorite museum. I am full of vigor by every visiting.

Artist “Takehisa Yumeji” exhibition at the next door, are popular to Japanese women wearing Kimono. As it is a good occasion for them, the visitors are increasing. It is very important for people to give the chance whatever it is.

The white dress on my body was for a party in Las Vegas. It was remade from “Nuitori-Omeshi Kimono. I stopped so many times from my room to the party place and in the party due to admiration of people. I felt keenly authentic Kimono fabric was fabulously great !!!  My choice was successful not to wear Kimono style which shows shrinkage image. Matching clothes to each TPO is more important isn’t it ?

Only me ? I did want to know what happened before my birth. This is the sequel of my last blog ”What mother had left”.

A portrait was made from some lost photos for my mother’s first anniversary. And I looked over my root like NHK TV program “Family History”.

The history on my father’s side was a senior “Samurai” served for “Yodogimi (Queen)”. That is why I live near Osaka castle where “Yodogimi” had reigned ? The history of my mother’s side was a wealthy farmer in Edo-period which went down in a city history and then they changed to a wealthy merchant. There are some unique persons’ existence.

These sepia color photos including mother, with her family, with her friends now gave the timely atmosphere to us. My meek mother had hated taking photo, but she was a typical tomboy in teenager. They had lived in peace and quiet before the World War 2. What was the reason of her change ? The war ? or something else ?

As I look like my father on appearance and in character, people seldom thought mother and daughter except we went shopping of my clothes for an employment examination. She selected a one-piece like honeymoon dress. I was in a cold sweat and was sure “No pass !!!” on the interview.

Our expectation did come off, the last interview of mother safely passed. She put on high qualitied simple Kimono for the interview. She felt greatly relieved. After entering the company, I asked a manager of the personnel department about the reason. His explanation was for a project of office marriage. My mother was farsighted, wasn’t she ?

I love to wear remade clothes from her favorite Kimonos. For her relay heart !

④ Coat-dress remade from blue “Tsukesage” Kimono with white Japanese bell-flowers

⑤ Light jacket remade from beige “Haori” Kimono with “Shibori technique” motives

⑥ Dress remade from light solid blue Kimono with pine jacquard

⑦ Bare back dress remade from black “Haori” Kimono with batik motif

⑧ Long dress remade from blue “Haori” Kimono with Japanese apricot tree