The Christmas party of Good Aging Club had given sweet happiness to the guests. I had also won “the best dresser prize” as last year. As the place was a China restaurant, I put on my works of China dress which made from no more produced special KIMONO fabric with white head dress/fur shawl/long gloves. The guests thought the image was old “Charleston dance” fashion. I didn’t mind whichever it was !

The singer song writer, BORO who had recently won “the good ager prize” was singing some Osaka melodies with nice talk on the climax.

I had met and taken photos with some friends for long time absence such as President Hiramatsu of Group Echo and the masters of this party who were proceeding a movie about Mr. Tomoatsu Godai.

I occasionally like a swinging candle fire, but most of my time is actively used for my brain. I would keep “challenge” with fun and smartness. This sense is same as this club, isn’t is ?

The lecture remains me “Crane repays a favor”. The essay has been just started through internet service by Mr. Jyunichi Nakamura who used to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over 50 years. The content is “I would send messages of only 18 chapters about Japan ”.

“From receiving to sending messages” ――　He has advocated Japanese should contribute to the world through their distinctive quality. He will translate by himself to appeal “Japanese Intelligence” to the world toward 2020. And he has a strong will to the young Japanese generation.

How can I repay a people’s favor ? It is what I hand down the Japanese traditional authentic silk “Kimono” fabric to next generation by remaking to western cloths under the concept “Breaking for the existence”.

On this time, I put on a long jacket with alternative satin collar from HAORI Kimono. It is very convenient from semi-formal to casual occasion coordinated with spats and long boots without satin collar. ○○○○○○○ Ambassador to Japan loves “Kimono fabric cloths”.(cf. magazine article on “KATEIGAHO” November, 2016)

The number of woman wearing KIMONO has been increasing recently. They prefer “KATAMONO” which means hard hand-feeling of weaved pattern fabric like TSUMUGI for casual occasion. When do they prefer “YAWARAKAMONO” which means soft hand-feeling like CHIRIMEN for not casual occasion. I met the people who celebrated “753 ceremony” which parents pray their children’s safe growth on 3/5/7 years old. They put on “YAWARAKAMONO” KIMONO.

It was also a good season to see red leaves and I enjoyed Japanese tea and sweet served by a woman wearing a special KIMONO “TSUJIGAHANA” in a garden. It is also “YAWARAKAMONO” with Yuzen and Shibori technique. There are some tea ceremony houses with waiting cabin and washing hand equipment. Japanese tea ceremony means tea philosophy, but it has not been handed down recently. I hope that we would enjoy the traditional events by studying the origin and meaning.

And I wish the coexistence of KIMONO and KIMONO DRESS !

I put a zipper blouson jacket with red Kanoko pattern accent on neckline, cuffs and pockets, and sketched pots on silk lining. It was remade from HAORI Kimono and designed with plenty of pleasure.

I really enjoyed autumn season with this jacket !

I introduce my two superiors who are keeping their aims. They are executives of my KIMONO-MIRAI executive committee.

Mr. Junichi Nakamura who was the Japanese Ambassador to Belgium. He is an honorary professor of my old school. My fashion show in New York in 2014 was realized by his big efforts. Recently he has released his opinion titled “The 18 chapters of which Japan would be introduced to the world” through internet. I was attend his lecture about “ The sensitivity of Japan and intelligence of Orient” . He clearly told how Japanese culture was fabulous through his abundant experience as a diplomat and chief of ceremony for state guest in the Ministry of Foreign Affair.

He has been keeping his aim that Japanese must send a message about Japanese culture and Oriental intelligence in order to save the people, nature and earth. Why he had helped me was because I had the same principle. He also emphasized “ The business should bring the benefit to 3 districts, my side and your side, and the society.” He is middle of 80’s old, but would still translate this project by himself. I was so moved.

Mr. Satoshi Sotomi who was decorated with a medal. He had rendered distinguished services to Osaka Knit Fashion Industry Union. He had helped me to get the support of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the exhibition in New York.

He had recommended me on the second times, saying “She has a strong mind and can succeed without doubt. Why you say many excuses ? Why don’t you accept her ! ” And he willingly accepted to be an executive of my KIMONO-MIRAI executive committee. He is also 80’s old. His last speech was, “ I would continuously support the fashion field.” I was moved again.

I would get more energy than they have ! The cosmos is born from ZERO. As the process is very important, I devote myself to my work for sending a message “The sensitivity of Japan and intelligence of Orient” I put my reformed works from Kimono wherever I go as a human advertisement tower.

Dragon God was spinning around the moon to celebrate the removal of MANAI shrine.

Next morning, the sunrise was telling us the fresh start of day.

My black jacket with family crest was gotten much attention at the ceremony.

After that, the special Bento (Japanese food box) filled with harvest was served and incredibly delicious !

The memorial present was an OMAMORI with moon character. The explanation is “The moon takes charge of BIRTH, the sun treats GROWTH ”

When I came back to Osaka, the moon was waiting for me like a dragon picture. I hastened to put two blue bottles of “moon & sun” by the window to get the energy of the moon. Now I am drinking these water. The taste is different, “moon & sun”.  Why ?

The weather was not fine due to typhoon. I made a corsage at “mano” atelier from 1:30pm.　The chic color organdie corsage is a trial one and I will make some artificial ones using kimono fabrics on next time. This can be coordinated with the aqua blue color dress reformed from KOMON kimono. This dress is very noble and feminine because the top is like jacket and the bottom is like flared skirt. I love this very much !

The heavy rain stopped when I left there. I moved to the next place for a lecture in the evening.The lecture by Mr. Takeshi Natsuno who is a charisma professor and an expert for media and economy, the theme was “Never be afraid to change ! ” It was the best one for me among I had attended before. The audience were not sleeping too. I have followed his opinion as a person who had studied and worked in the USA. He emphasized “diversity”. I recommend to get his writings, especially to managers.

I was so satisfied the different type of study, corsage workshop and information for the future.

My remade KIMONO Dresses were rent to a concert of OKALINA. OKALINA is a pottery flute born in north district of Italy 1800 years ago. The name of OKALINA means “small goose” expressing the external form.

“We are exciting to wear these remade KIMONO Dresses like when we were a bride.” When one of the player told that, the audience gave big hands. The atmosphere suddenly became bright and gorgeous. The effect of costume is incredibly workable !

The 3 players have taken lessons for long time and played in some places as volunteer. I am sure the sound of OKALINA cures the audience better. I had prejudged OKALINA was good at something heavy ethnic, but changed my mind. It was suitable to “Dance of white swine” by Tchaikovsky and jazz song ”Fly me to the moon”. And the last song “HANAWASAKU (Flower blooms) ” which was composed for Tohoku Earthquake Reconstruction was the best one for me among over 20 songs.

I hope my flier attached to the program will bring new encounters. And I am very glad to let people feel happy through my remade KIMONO Dress.

The wedding ceremony of my niece was held at a chapel of hotel faced to Osaka Castle on 19^th. The weather forecast was heavy rain due to typhoon but it was stopped while the wedding by her “fine woman power”. Recent wedding ceremony and reception become casual and entertain for friends instead of relatives. The relationship with friends becomes more important than relatives. And the guest wedding clothes is not so different from daily wear.

The photo shows TOMESODE(black color) with 5 family crests/ IROTOMESODE(pink color) with 1 family crest. The black one is more formal because of the color and the number of crest. The family crest of the Kitagawa is DAKI-MYOGA (Japanese gingers). My remade long dress from TOMESODE is more comfortable and more gorgeous by keeping Japanese culture. My design is devised the top body becomes gorgeous even though sitting on chair in comparison with TOMESODE kimono. And some accessories for head and neck can be combined together by each person.

Three grandchildren of my cousin were very cute and handsome. The eldest 12 years old brother became a “ring boy” remained me a famous actor Mr. Yujiro Ishihara. We took a photo and I am very happy to see him in the future. The big lunch box with noodle was served for youngest boy. His stomach was smaller than the food. Two other brothers helped to eat and I joined to get the fruits compo. How juicy and sweet the big grapes and oranges were !

The present wedding has expressed a taste of bride and bridegroom. It becomes rational less waste and individuality. They effectively use the limited wedding reception time. Their costume change is only once and they don’t want to leave the guests for long time. The kimono style takes time to change clothes and costs a lot. Therefore we can’t see kimono costume on wedding ceremony and reception gradually.

I desolate this tendency but it is. My remade dress from kimono is very workable on wedding occasion !

A puppet of BUNRAKU which is Japanese traditional puppet show, is shown at Shin-Osaka station. I took some photos of the beautiful puppet on Aug. 20^th.  Mr. Yoshida Bunjyaku who was a human living national treasure died on the same day. JORURI which is Japanese ballad drama story with special BGM for BUNRAKU comes from a word of Buddhism. The meaning is beautiful ball. And the stories have influenced to KABUKI plays since 300 years ago. The puppets dramatically act like human being and the puppeteers also appear on the stage. The birthplace was Osaka and it is typical Osaka-tic !

I took lunch in the newly opened gourmet place “Shin Naniwa Daisyokudo” at the station. I ordered “Otukuri Teisyoku” in a casual Wasyoku fish restaurant which had open-kitchen like a stage. It is famous for reasonable price 950yen. The meal was more gorgeous and delicious than I thought. This healthy meal let me satisfy and loose taking photo.

I had met “World Heritage”, BUNRAKU and Wasyoku, on same day ! I felt very happy ~~.

How do you take a photo for your name card or SNS ? You might pay attention to the purpose, business or private. It is necessary to show “confidence” ”cleanness” for business, “characteristic” ”entertaining element” for private ?

Twelve women had attended an event “The knack of being taken perfect photo by professional photographer” held by ”TUNAGIST SALON”. I brought two remade clothes from KIMONO in order to respond my work.

The blue coat-dress is from my mother’s memento, and the black jacket has some pretty flower motives. They are very light and comfortable. The participants react to my works “How neat and refined KIMONO clothes !”

Knowing “personal color” is necessary for yourself to select the best clothes/hair/make. But almost of them didn’t study yet. Do they want to loose their money, time and satisfaction ?  If you find the best color, you look younger than you are !  How are you taken photo?  Can you be relax on photo? These depend on the photographer.

Well, how do you feel about my “Winning Portrait ?