Blog

2018年2月14日

Kimono Culture in Hanamachi

In my previous article of November 5, 2017, “Enjoy Kimono as You Like“, I wrote that there were two different cultures in Kyoto associated with Kimono (着物). Today, I would like to introduce you the one of them, the Kimono culture in Hanamachi (花街, districts Maiko () and Geiko () reside and work). For Maiko ・・・

2018年2月13日

Jofu, High-Quality Plain-Woven Linen

Jofu (上布) is a type of extremely precious fabric for Japanese summer Kimono (着物), which is exquisitely plain-woven with superfine linen. Echigo Jofu (越後上布) from Niigata (新潟) prefecture, Oumi Jofu (近江上布) from Shiga (滋賀), and Miyako Jofu (宮古上布) from Miyako island of Okinawa (沖縄), are very famous among other types of Jufu produced, and most ・・・

2018年2月8日

The Statue of Miyamoto Musashi at Yagi Shrine

Yagi shrine (八木神社) in the Ichijoji (一乗寺) district of Kyoto is very famous for its deep connection with Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵), the greatest swordsman of Japan, and is more like a holy land for his enthusiastic fans. It is said that Musashi visited this shrine before the duel with Samurais of Yoshioka school, and prayed ・・・

2018年2月7日

Setsubun Yakuyoke Ceremony at Mibu-Dera Temple

Mibu-Dera temple is one of the two places famous for Setsubun (節分, February 3, a day before the beginning of spring in Japan) ceremonies along with Yoshida shrine (吉田神社). For me, as a fan of the history in Bakumatsu (幕末, final days of Tokugawa Shogunate), the temple’s deep connection with Shinsengumi (新撰組, a special police ・・・

2018年2月7日

Okame-san, a Statue of a Carpenter’s Wife at Senbon Shakado Temple

At Senbon Shakado (千本釈迦堂) temple in the Nishiijn (西陣) district of Kyoto, there is a statue called “Okame Tuka (おかめ塚)”. Okame is the name of the wife of a carpenter who was in charge of this temple’s construction. When the carpenter noticed that the size of the columns were wrong, Okame gave him a very ・・・