Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Kimono Party
Madame Suzuki, Akiko's mother, has been waiting for some 25 years for this day†-- her daughter has finally asked her for help to wear a Kimono. So, it is with great pleasure that she sent a few items to our place and accepted to come over to show Akiko how to do. Two large boxes arrived a few days ago. Well, she mentioned a few items, but we found FIVE kimonos, FIVE Obi, a couple of coats, SIX pairs of shoes, and all kind of other accessories (to be seen on the pictures.) In addition, Madame Suzuki also sent another large box yesterday (making sure that it'll arrive this morning!) with more stuff. And she brought yet another kimono and more items with her!
Our friends G, K and M-C, arrived as planned around 11 am to witness this happening. Madame Suzuki arrived a few minutes later. The Kimono Party began.
All these items have been stored in "kiri no tansu" (Japanese Kimono closet) for the last 25 years or so. This dark kimono (Oshima Tsumuri) was purchased for Akiko at this time, and has never been worn.
I’m ready!
Akiko is starting this session by undressing and wearing some specific underwear.
Over these, Akiko puts on an under-kimono with a fake collar (Han Eri) as seen below. Both are put into position by a first string or belt.
You can see Akiko here with the second layer being maintained in position by the string tighten by her mother.
The Kimono is then placed over this.
After being placed around the waist, the kimono length is adjusted at the bottom to make sure it is straight. The bottom of the tissue line should reach just above the line of Achille's heel. No more, no less.
Madame Suzuki then adjusts the middle section of the kimono, by folding the tissue over the belly.
The upper part is then adjusted to be straight, without opening.
A series of belts is then placed over the belly to maintain everything in position.
Adjusting the whole thing, using a couple of more belts. Then a long one -- going around the belly two or three times (also called mini-obi) is placed to fix the whole structure.
Yet, another belt / obi is then placed on top of all this to enable a good positioning of the actual obi.
The Obi 
The Obi, a long piece of tissue, from 20 to 30 cm wide, is then placed around the series of belts. The back of this obi is positioned around a little cushion (Obi Age) and made into a knot.
This is probably the most difficult part of the whole session. There are a number of different ways to proceed to fix and position the obi. Akiko’s mother does this by herself in a few minutes. It took her much longer to do it for Akiko.
The Obi is secured with the Obi Dome (in green in the photos). You can also see the Obi Age (in red at the top of the obi), tissu that contains the little cushion that is used to heighten the back of the obi and give it its shape.
Et voila !
(This is the third time in my life that I see Akiko in Kimomo. The first time was when she turned 20 (Seiijin Shiki ceremony ̢۠coming of age), the second time was when we got married, and now.)
Many thanks to Akiko’s mother for her help!
