December 31, 2018

Arizona Matsuri is almost here!



Arizona Matsuri Festival 2019
Saturday, February 23th and Sunday, February 24th, 2018
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Heritage & Science Park
115 N. 6th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(SW corner of 7th St. & Monroe St.)
Featuring Japanese exhibits, demonstrations, arts and crafts, children's activities, bonsai displays, Japanese food, Japanese beer and sake garden, games and contests, and live entertainment on 4 stages throughout Heritage & Science Park in Downtown Phoenix.
FREE ADMISSION

December 26, 2018

It's a Real Live Kimono Meet Up!


Arigato kimono kitsuke friends!
I recently organized a kimono meet up with a few new friends last weekend. Two of us are seasoned kimono enthusiasts, and two are newbies, so we each took over dressing a newbie and then met for lunch at a local Japanese eatery.  Afterward we had planned to go to the Japanese garden; sadly, we got started late and it was closing by the time we got there so we took some fun photos at a nearby park before the sun went down.
We had so much fun we are planning another kimono meet up in late January or February. Right now, I'm playing it by ear to see how many people are interested. If there are enough, I will create an official Meet-Up online. If you love dressing in kimono with like-minded fashionistas, contact me and I'll send you an invite to our next gig!

A selfie in my striped ensemble! 
Check out the new yellow and white obiage!

Four tabi-clad feet and all in blue!

J looks super kawaii in a fabulous yukata styled by S. 

S created this lovely hairstyle for J.

I dressed this friend in my new Chikuzen
Hakata obi and old favorite orchid komon. 

A yellow and navy haori is the perfect accessory!

S looks lovely in an asanoha (Hemp leaf)
komon she found in Japan.

I'm showing off the blue juban when (almost!)
no one was looking!
Striped kimono, obiage, and obijime with a
vintage obi featuring swallows.
What a glow from that sunset!
A beautiful sunset to round out the afternoon!


May 28, 2018

Catching Up With Kimono-Wearing Events!

I started a new job at the end of February, right after Matsuri, so I'm behind on my postings. I'm starting to catch up now that it's almost too warm to wear kimono, but here are some photos.

At the end of last year, a kimono-wearing friend and I were hired as part of the entertainment at the Angel Charity's annual giant fundraiser, the Angel Charity Ball. The theme was Asian and the event is over the top with decor, entertainment, food, etc. My taiko group was playing there as well. It's the premier event for the movers and shakers that want to be see being seen! We were greeters in kimono, standing at the entrance at the end of a red carpet and we posed for what seemed like a zillion photos with people in tuxes and ballgowns. Here I am in my bingata kimono in the green room next to a pair of wonderful Chinese dragons. I'm even wearing an "obidome", a small sliver piece of jewelry centered on my obi.


And in April, my taiko group played at a special ticketed fundraising event at the art museum called "Garden in the Galleries" with ikebana displays throughout the museum galleries for a weekend. My kimono-wearing cohort (and a member of Suzuyuki Kai Japanese Dance Group) and I again were part of the entertainment at the Japanese-themed party. I wore my new retro-modern cool lavender-grey hitoe kimono with a hot pink obi featuring a rose. My cohort wore a lovely green kimono and even did an impromptu dance outside accompanied by taiko. 

In front of a huge arrangement by Ping Wei

Selfie time!







March 10, 2018

Yamato Concert


I went to see Yamato dressed in kimono last weekend- amazing show! If they come near your town, you have to see this group! Unbelievable performances, beautiful costumes, and joyous taiko!

I wore my new houmongi to the event-  a semi-formal multi-season kimono with alternating patches of dark blue, navy blue and cream with either pine needles or grasses in the back ground and bunches of flowers: tsubaki (camelia), ume (plum), and kiku (chrysanthemum). The obi features a subtle pattern of bamboo woven with metallic/iridescent threads. I added a lime green chirimen obiage to add some bright contrast to the outfit.
Cheers,
R
Detail of the tsubaki motif

Detail of the ume & tsubaki motifs


Outside the concert hall with the big trees in the late afternoon sun







After the concert, the sun going down.














February 19, 2018

IT'S MATSURI TIME!!


2018

It's Matsuri Time! Come to beautiful Phoenix, Arizona and experience one of the top Japanese festivals in the US! I'll be playing taiko on Saturday and wearing kimono on Sunday. We will have cool weather this year, so it should be perfect kimono weather- you can even add a haori! I may even bring my kimono rain coat and definitely an umbrella.
See you there!

January 2, 2018

New year's Day at the Johrei Fellowship

Happy New Year kimono enthusiasts! I had the pleasure of attending the local Johrei Fellowship's New Year's Day  service and tea ceremony. I did a yukata/kimono workshop for the tea ceremony students a short while ago and they were excited to dress themselves for the New Year's Day events. The tea ceremony I attended was a very casual one, using the portable brazier. The morning winter sun created very stark shadows, so the garden photos are a bit darker than I expected.
Of course I wore kimono and was careful to pick an auspicious motif  for my kimono (pine needles) and an obi with soft colors for the tea ceremony. There are older Japanese people that attend the center, so I made sure my kitsuke was very neat. It was a little chilly in the morning, so I wore a coordinating vintage haori and modern linen scarf. My handbag is also vintage. It was a wonderful way to start 2018!



The tea scroll has pine motifs for the New Year




Taisho-era chuya obi