Blog

2018年8月3日

Ogi, Japanese Traditional Folding Fans

In this hot season, Ogi (扇) is an indispensable item for Kimono (着物) fashion. Even in a comfortable air-conditioned room, ladies using Ogi are very refreshing and picturesque. In Japan, Ogi is used for two different purposes: 1) to create airflow by waving back and forth, and 2) to be used as a decorative tool ・・・

2018年8月3日

Mitarashi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine

This summer’s heat is brutal. For sure, this is the severest one in my history of living in Kyoto. Amid this hot weather, Ashitsuke-shinji (足つけ神事), an annual event of Shimogao shrine (下賀茂神社), was conducted. The event is held around Doyo no ushi no hi (土用の丑の日, dog days of summer) every year, and the shrine becomes ・・・

2018年8月3日

Ofuna-Boko Float of Gion Festival

As many of my readers know, Gion festival (祇園祭り) is divided into two periods: namely 1) Sakimatsuri (前祭り, the first half), and 2) Atomatsuri (後祭り, the latter half). In comparison with Sakimatsuri, Atomatsuri is less crowded and comfortable to walk around. For the first time in two years, I joined the community of Ofuna-boko (大船鉾, ・・・

2018年7月27日

Gion Festival Will Soon Be Ending

Gion Festival (祇園祭) is a month-long festival in Kyoto starting with Kippu-iri (吉符入り, the opening ceremony which signifies the commencement of Shito religious rituals that take place over the course of the festival) on July 1st, till Nagoshi-sai at Eki shrine (疫神社夏越祭, the ceremony which tells the end of the Gion festival) on July 31. ・・・

2018年7月23日

For Whom Do You Wear Yukata?

As a former Maiko (舞妓), I had an opportunity to give a lecture on sophisticated ways of wearing Yukata (浴衣, informal cotton Kimono for summer). At the preliminary meeting of the lecture, I introduced what I learned from my Oneisan (お姉さん, a mentor, an elder Geiko) about “For whom we should wear Kimono (着物)”. Since ・・・