2017.1.14

It was fine in the morning, became cloudy and slightly snowed in the afternoon. It was a very cold day. Yes, it was the coldest day this winter.

I went to Kimino Style Miya first to leave the goods for evening, then to Naritasan temple nearby for this year's first visit. It was around 11 am. To my lucky I could attend the special fire praying ceremony called ogoma kito(御護摩祈祷). I saw seven lucky gods statues of Noge there.

Then I went to Shinonome to attend the seminar about how to travel by first class using mileage. This was the second time for me to attend this seminar, but I learned something.

Then I went back to Kimono-Style Miya to get dressed and taken pictures. Today there was a special event.  We could take pictures with four men from Yamagasa festival in Fukuoka. I did not know about it well and did not expect, but they sang for us and performed. It was a nice experience.
I got many new year's gifts there. 

When I came back to my station, it seemed to have rained. But it was not. I was so surprised to see my car covered with snow. Because Miura seldom has snow, and it was not snowing in Yokohama. Miura is located at the south of Yokohama, so it should be warmer.

2016.7.17

It was cloudy and humid.

This was the middle of three day weekend.

I went to Kimono style Miya to have my new kimono style pictures taken. I have two new summer kimono and was going to change them one after another. But my plan was changed.
After having my formal kimono (homongi: 訪問着) pictures taken I went out for lunch with my model friend to the Japanese restaurant on the 68th floor of the Landmark Tower in Yokohama.
The view from there was very nice and the special July lunch was delicious.

After that we went to the Japanese Tea Room on the 65th floor where I have wanted to visit for a few years. There are three tea rooms, one is a regular size room, the other is a small room called koma (小間) , and another is for sitting on the chair style called ryureiseki (立礼席).
First we had three Japanese sweets and tea at the regular room and then we had tea at the sitting style room too.
They say in winter you can see the Mt. Fuji from that room.
It cost yen 1500.
I recommend you to enjoy Japanese tea ceremony there.

After that we went back to Kimono style Miya again and I changed to another one called tsumugi (紬), and have my pictures taken.

After that I went to another kimono shop, and happened to see the painting process for half collar (haneri: 半襟) and making raden (螺鈿) process for obi (帯), sash. It was a rare chance.

It was a nice day.

2014.11.14

It war fine and Mt. Fuji looked beautiful.

There came a new staff today.

After work I went to a kimono shop in Yokohama. There I happened to
 see the making process of special dying way of kimono. The craftman came from Kyoto, he said it takes a few months to make one roll of kimono.
I understood why it cost a lot.

2014.10.18

It was rather cool in the morning but very fine.

Today I needed to take one hour earlier train than usual.  I worked from 9 am to 2:30 pm.

After work I went to a kimono shop in Sugita.  There I happened to see the process of making roketsuzome (ろうけつ染) or batik printing.  It is one of two dying ways using wax.  There were 8 procedures to make one design.　Please refer to the pictures below.

The other day I learned how to make yukitsumugi (結城紬) at another kimono shop in Ginza.  They say it takes 5 years or so to make it.  I saw the most expensive tanmono (反物), rolled kimono cloth there.  Can you imagine how much?  It costs yen 47,000,000.  You can buy a house with that money.

I understand why kimonos are so expensive.

2014.9.26

It was a beautiful autumn day.

 

In the morning I went to Ginza to visit a kimono shop with graduate school students.  This was the first time for me to visit there.  We could listen to the talk of the shop owner and see many valuable items.  We are very surprised to see the most expensive cloth which costs yen 47,000,000 made by the living national treasure.  Can you believe the price?  If you have such amount of money, you would be able to buy even a house.  However if you listen to the story, you will understand why it costs so much.
Kimono is really nice Japanese traditional costume.  Therefore I would like many people to know about kimono.

2013.3.10

It was windy today.
In the afternoon I went to Sakuragicho (桜木町), Yokohama (横浜) to see my old friend.  She happened to be in Yokohama to attend the dance contest.  Both us were English teachers at the junior high schools after graduating from university and met at the English seminar for the first time.  Our hobby is traveling and we happened to see each other in Spain when I went there for the first time.  Both of us like to wear kimono and we have learned tea ceremony too.
We went to see kimono together.  Kimono is very expensive.  So I did not have any intention to buy it today, but after trying many kimono,  I decided to buy. 
After that we went to have dinner at a Chinese restaurant and enjoyed eating and chatting.