I just found this book online, it is free and a very interesting read. The book is ‘Design with Japanese Obi’ – it includes many pictures and great ideas for interior design. Even better, the book includes information and history on japanese obi.

http://books.google.com/books?id=y6wJrrjhe8EC&printsec=frontcover&dq=weaving+obi&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1#v=onepage&q=weaving%20obi&f=false

Very difficult to find a very similar coat around or under $1oo, so this is what I found

Yes, not black but red, but still very classy. Click

Here

Ebay.com

Click

CLick

Find it on Link

Link

Kimono Rose Eau de Parfum Review

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I agree with the other reviewer. When I tried this on in a store once, this lady followed me around the store going “what’s the smell? it smells so good!”. I obviously HAD to buy it and it’s my favorite perfume now. When I run out and have to wear other stuff, my friends actually ask why I’m not wearing the perfume. Seriously, people love this stuff.

Kimono Rose Eau de Parfum Feature

Kimono Rose Eau de Parfum Overview

Unabashedly feminine with an undercurrent of intrigue, this sheer, sensuous floral is heightened with effervescent sweet clementine and voluptuous cassis on a bed of satiny rose, peony and jasmine petals…finished with a creamy kiss of smooth, silken vanilla. Delicate but dynamic; softspoken, yet striking, it is a modern reflection of who you are…all wrapped up in one truly lovely fragrance.

Kimono Rose Eau de Parfum Specifications

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 25, 2009 08:19:34

This perfurme turns heads…. – L. Hornfeck – Honolulu, HI
I am not sure what it is about this perfume but I have received positive comments from both men and women. I have been repeatedly stopped and asked what I am wearing. It either triggers pheromones or resembles human cat-nip. Regardless, it’s beautiful and it works…

The Thymes Kimono Rose Eau de Parfum – 1.75 fl oz

HP MediaSmart Server EX495

today the weather was really good so i went out to catch a breath of fresh air! guess where this photo was taken?!

my destination for the day the train departure melody for this station is sakura! the traditional japanese folk song, not the one by moriyama naotarou or kobukuro

六義園 rikugien is one of the quieter spots in tokyo for autumn leaves viewing

waseda –> [tozai line] –> iidabashi –> [nanboku line] –> komagome

from the station’s south exit, cross the street and turn left, and you’ll soon come across this sign leading you towards the garden. the entrance fee is 300円 for adults

autumn leaves

maple leaves, known as 紅葉 momiji in japanese

awesome weather today, really

the garden was really pretty <3

one of the professional photographers ojiisan offered to help me take a photo hahah he asked me if i was going to an お茶会 ochakai (tea ceremony), and i laughed and said no, then he said, “ah so you just felt like dressing up today huh? it looks good on you!” it made my day >w<

hiro’s first time at maple leaves viewing!

lots of old ojiisan with their awesome slr cameras capturing the beauty of the autumn leaves

lots of families were there today too!

late shichigosan celebration

i love her kimono and hakama!!!

quality family time

she was staring at me the entire time hahah

i’m glad i managed to capture this sweet expression >w<

while her brother gets down and dirty, playing with the soil

posing for her parents’ camera

not maple leaves, but pretty all the same

a foreigner took this for me… he was so shocked to hear me talk to him in english XD

view from the top

and on the way down…

i used to say my favourite season is autumn before experiencing it, but now that i’m here, i really do love autumn!

after walking around for quite some time, it’s time to rest in one of the teahouses!

i ordered something and waited for it to arrive…

while breathing in the cold autumn air and gazing up at all the beautiful maple leaves

matcha green tea with seasonal wagashi (traditional japanese confectionery)

i love the bitterness of matcha!

autumn sweets, with a maple leaf carved into the mochi and filled with red bean on the inside

the perfect balance

maple leaves *O*

i love the colors of autumn…

neh would love the amount of green here

at the entrance, while i was leaving (when i arrived there were lots of people sitting here so i couldn’t take a photo)

ecologically friendly paper weights

i’ve seen spider lilies, but this is my first time seeing spider crysenthemums!

hiro is amused by the colonel dressed up in a santa suit

i don’t know if you can see it, but the tiles on the bridge were arranged to look like a cherry blossom… it might be a bit hard to tell with the sunlight and shadows though. and i’ve just realized that i caught my own shadow too hahah

an intruiging signboard…

on the streets. i wonder if this place is famous for cherry blossoms…

and that concludes my day out in the sun at komagome today! i wandered down into the alleys and found a shopping district of sorts, and went home with a cabbage and a pack of shimeji mushrooms because it was cheaper than what i usually pay here in waseda

From their very own backyard garden...peeking thru the basil flowers..

I LOVE the cottage setting of Coral’s home. Grandma made both Kimono…one for mommy and one for baby. I had this shot planned in my head from the beginning of the session till the very end. I really wanted to include both but not wanting the mother to wear the Kimono since I feel like that is something that is done to death. Also the form and pattern of the Kimono can be more appreciated by laying it on the bed.

Madeline finished up her second day today at her new preschool. I can not say enough how happy I am with her new preschool! I was worried that Madeline would be sad about not going back to the old one, or that she would miss some of the kids but today when she hopped in the car after I picked her up she told me, “Mommy, I like my new preschool.” I didn’t even have to ask her any questions to get her to say that. I guess she just had so much fun that she wanted me to know how she felt.

When I dropped her off on Monday she had no problems going in to her classroom and didn’t seem apprehensive at all. Her teacher showed us around and helped us figure out what to do. Some of the parents came up and introduced their kids to Madeline and themselves to me. It felt so warm and welcoming, kind of the opposite of Madeline’s last preschool.

Her teachers have told me that Madeline has been doing great in her class and has fit right in with the kids. I’m sure it helps that Madeline already knew a couple of the girls from a gymnastics class.

This week the theme has been International week and they have been learning about different countries. Today when Madeline got in the car she started explaining to me how to say hello and goodbye in all sorts of different languages. Again, it was one of the first times she willingly told me about preschool without me having to pry it out of her. They also had the kids wear bathrobes and towels today to pretend that they were kimonos since they were learning about Japan. For their snack they had oranges and rice and used chopsticks to eat them. The chopsticks were a big hit with Madeline.

One of the biggest things I’ve heard about Madeline’s teacher is how organized she is, and I have to agree with everyone on that! The school has a website that she keeps updated with all of her lesson plans, song sheets with the lyrics to the songs they are learning, and photos that they have taken during class. It’s so much fun to be able to see the pictures of the kids and what they are doing, and it’s also great to know what they are talking about so I don’t have to rely on Madeline to give me that information. One of her favorite lines these days is “I can’t remember” which, when translated means, “stop asking me questions!”

Here are a few pictures of Madeline’s first week.

Here are the kids modeling their “kimono’s” and hats they made.

Eating with chopsticks

Madeline working on an art project.

Madeline playing (apparently having her eyes open in pictures is completely optional these days).

Playing a game.

Looks like she’s having fun, huh?

I am very happy we made the switch. I felt bad about it initially, but after only 2 days I know this is the right place for Madeline. I could go on and on about everything I love about the preschool, but I won’t bore those of you who don’t have kids and aren’t really interested in preschools. For those of you who do have kids, I highly recommend it! I can say that now, because we get to do early registration so I can recommend it to everyone and feel pretty secure with Madeline’s spot for next year

Crimson Kimono

15# Crimson Samurai

This was originally created as a Tattoo sample test when I was applying for a job as a tattoo designer, not the harpoooner, just creating the bespoke designs, I never got the job, but i’ve finished colouring in my test design, well kinda…. don’t have alot of time to finish him perfectly. Basically he’s a Samurai that wears a “Crimson Kimono”. He stands in front of a waterfall, he has just beheaded his opponent.

Hot off the press: Samurai underwear!

It’s made by a Tokyo-based company called Rogin (pronounced “rogue-in”) whose tagline is, “Underwear for men who fight to live”!

It’s a form-fitting long underwear whose colors and patterns are beautifully inspired by traditional kimono robes and Japanese Samurai family crests. I can describe it in one word: Hot.

On my last trip to Tokyo, I noticed more stores carrying T-shirts and hoodies decorated with old-school patterns. Underwear is a new one, but it totally brings out the Samurai sexiness in a guy. Washboard abs wouldn’t hurt either.

The company says they expect these boxer-briefs will appeal to the growing number of women interested in Japanese history. Late-night study sessions anyone?

Priced between $80-$90, each design is named after a famous Samurai warrior like Nobunaga Oda and Ieyasu Tokugawa. And the material seems to work like Uniqlo’s Heat-Tech line – it’s a breathable mesh that keeps you warm and soaks up dampness really well.

It’s cool to think millions of Japanese salarymen might be suiting up in these. Maybe now they can start sticking it to the man!

Himawari

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Winter is here. So, for the Holland Branch Library discussion, I thought it was suiting to dress for such. Here is the preview of the outfit for the discussion today. The pale blue kimono, paired with a gold obi, and ice green haori just screams winter to me.

I love Jotaro Saito’s kimonos; his work has the restrained, classic style of traditional Japan, while still  being modern and fresh. But when I saw his interior design I was even more impressed. All the hallmarks of his kimono design are there: dark colours, luscious pattern and texture, a perfect mixture of old and new. Here’s a link to his official website.

Encouraged by my host Suzuki Makoto sensei at Tokyo University of Agriculture, I recently visited the Edo Gardening Flowers exhibit being held at the Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art until November 26,2009. The exhibit has spectacular colorful wood block prints showing flowers and plants in a variety of urban settings including kimonos, at festivals, commercials nurseries, educational materials, Kabuki actors, and Noh dramas.

The exhibit theme is that the Edo period experienced a “gardening culture” in which a passion for gardens and flowers permeated all social classes, including court nobles, shoguns, feudal lords and the common people. According to the catalogue, “the Japanese people’s passion to flowers surprised the American botanist Robert Fortune as seen in his diary upon his visit to Japan in the late Edo period.”

An interesting comparison is also made between between the widespread practice of Edo gardening and also the interest of common people in wood block prints. It is wonderful to see the use of flowers and plants in both high culture realms and in depictions of everyday life during the Edo period.

Two of my favorite prints are collections of plants used by children to learn the names of flowers. The one below, from the back cover of the exhibit catalog, has the names in hiragana. The exhibit also includes Edo era ceramic plant pots.

Some more images after the jump, and also a list of plants seen in the wood block prints.

Plants and flowers I noted from the November exhibit included “Adonis flower” (fukujuso), potted plum tree, narcissus, Chinese lantern, cherry blossoms, pine bonsai, morning glory, chrysanthemum, clematis, hydrangea, iris, peony, azalea, and rose.

Today I went to a kimono auction in Kyoto. Take a look at the pictures to see some of the treasures I picked up. The auction itself was held in a shop, very small, fast and fun. Faster even than the last kimono auction I went to. Everyone had about 30 seconds per lot to decide the quality, price, etc. The bidding lasted at most 5 seconds. The bidding wasn’t really bidding as the word is understood in English. Each lot went on the block the same way. The pieces were laid out, one on the bottom serving as a “wrapper” for the pieces on top. When the full lot was decided, that is all the pieces in the lot had been shown front and back and put together, the “bidding” started and stopped in a couple of seconds. You were supposed to say your maximum price the first time, the highest bid won, no second bids allowed. If, as often happened, two or more people said the same price a dice was rolled and the number was used in a fashion that was unclear to me to determine the winner. I lost a number of times because I barked out my bid a second to late.

Now to sell all this. I would like to set up a live auction. If anyone has an idea on how to set one up, say on Ning or somewhere, please let me know. I would like some people interested in Japanese textiles and that have some computer skills to help me if there are any out there.

today was a good day for me in many ways

the flowers outside angel’s dorm

we went to harajuku because angel wanted to get a new pair of shoes, and i wanted to go to meiji jingu to buy a lucky charm for neh, plus get photos of the children since it was 七五三 shichigosan!

the huge, huuuuuge arashi display at the other end of takeshita st. ♥

someday we’ll come back and get our tamagotchi

lots of children clad in their finery as their parents and random strangers (like me) take photos of them

they were looking really tired and grumpy though! they must have been up since morning, getting ready and being good

father-daughter love

mother-daughter love!

balloons against the sunlight make a pretty picture

千歳飴 chitose ame, meaning “thousand-year candy” wishing for a long and healthy life for the children

vibrant colors

i love their kimono ;w;

all the gold thread sparkling in the sun light

a great father-son moment captured!

this girl was really pretty, she has mixed blood <3

elaborate knots and intricate patterns

this young girl was so fascinated by the mascot! she kept following him hahah

another half!!! it was really hot so she was squinting in the sun

he looks bored… really smart to hide from the sun though!

they all get tiny medals hahah

my favourite kid of the day… she’s sooooo adorable!!! ♥

can you resist?!

i don’t normally like kids but she was really sweet, posing for all the photographers

this boy was trying to hog the mascot all to himself

♥♥♥

sisters with their plump, pinchable cheeks haha

looking proud of himself

a tiny kid

before we left we took purikura! so unresistable >w< it's so much fun!

i wore my dress out today and got interviewed and photographed by a russian woman who was writing a book about japan lol XD so random!!! another russian woman was with her, as the interpreter

i bought the best thing in my life today as well, but that’s a secret for now

Most people regard Kimono as ‘historical attire’. That meaning that there are little in the way of modern styles, and themes to be had. One of the things I enjoy the most about kimono,is that for such a simple piece of attire they have such a marvelous range of styles. There are many modern takes on kimono that I have observed over the years. When doing a discussion, or presentation I really can’t share these modern twists…but online, here I can! So, I present to you a small sample of some of the modern twists to be found with kimono.

Kimono wedding dress.

Kimono featuring the one..the only, Godzilla.

Yukata(informal cotton kimono) pulled short into a dress.

This is a very kind person I have known for years and years. She takes great pride in her kimono and is constantly studying to learn more about traditional Japanese clothing, of which I have a particular fondness. I am not very good at photographing models in Kimono though, so I did my best in directing her in this pose with my umbrella. Again, almost no make up and no styling at all. Can’t wait for January and it’s Coming of Age Ceremony where 20 year olds all over Japan dress up in traditional clothing to celebrate their entrance into adult society. It’s a fantastic sight.

I recently read a moving and interesting article on the history of the temari as it relates to the kimono. The temari is a decorative　thread   ball  that I have  had absolutely no interest in.  The article can be accessed here. The portion that jumped out at me and led me to read further on the topic is where John Marshall writes about the treatment of women in Japan. Cutting and pasting from the article.

Adoro a los guionistas americanos

-¿Cómo, una tía que escribe una columnita semanal (aunque lleve la palabra SEXO en su titulo), puede comprar en Prada, y yo que trabajo mucho (pero mucho más) solo soy admitida en el H&M?

- ¿Por qué cuando ponía copas nunca se plantó en mi barra  un vampiro con pinta de nordico a pedirme sangre fresca, y mucho más…?

- ¿De donde sacan a los que limpian esos hoteles?,  si alguien te mata aqui en el hostal lola, habría pelos de todos menos del asesino.

- ¿Por qué los Heroes que encuentras en los B&B londinenses nunca se parecen a mohinder?

- ¿Por qué mis sueños nunca resultan premonitorios y se cumplen de una vez?

- ¿Por qué resulta tan dificil perderse?

Con tanta serie lo único que me apetece es dejar de ser un personaje real… me iría mucho mejor. Mientras lo pienso me pondré algún episodio de Doll House.

M.

Mamarella - schickes und Edles für die werdene Mama und Babys

Für die werdende Mama gibt es schicke Umstandsmode, Still-BHs, Bademode, Wickeltaschen für Mamas und Papas.

Für Baby gibt es Kleidung, und das erste Drumherum. Immer sehr schön und edel, auch Naturtextilien.

Leider nur wenig reduziertes.

saya baru sadar niiie, kalo saya itu subscriber dari online shopping di jepang, namanya http://mikumo.ocnk.net/. Tadi pagi begitu ngecek email, di inbox item pertamanya adalah dr mikumo ini, notifikasi kalo ada yukata terbaru udah datang…langsung deh saya buka tuh email, trus ngelink langsung ke webnya mikumo, wah..bagus sih yukatanya, motif summer…tapi bujuuuddd dah, maharani ya booo!!!! per yukata itu costs about IDR 298,000 (excl shipping). ngakak saya liat harganya. tapi emang sih kakak saya jg blng hrgnya ga murah je,,tapi motifnya kurang bagus yg di mikumo.

saya jadi pengen bikin sendiri tuh yutaka (takenouchi) haha, salah mksdnya yukata. pengennya yang wrnanya cerah n girly gitu, kenapa saya pgn punya???

1. unik

2.fits to everybody’s sizes

3.give the cute and elegant look to the person

4.seru kali ya buat foto pre-wedd (hhay, ngehemat biaya costume)

pengen yang cerah ky gini ni…

bright and girly yukata

hmm..jadi ngebayangin saya kalo pake yukata, bakal ky lontong ga ya wkwkwkwkwwkk…pengen bikiiiiiiiin