On February 3rd the Japanese celebrate a holiday called Setsubun. This is the time when Oni(demons) carrying bad luck from the previous year are banished from homes by throwing dried soybeans out the door and shouting "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa Uchi!"(Throw the ogres out, bring good fortune in). At local Shinto shrines the beans are thrown out over large crowds and it is considered lucky to catch the same number as your age. A traditional food commonly eaten on this day is Ehou maki(a type of thick vegetable roll).
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Setsubun
The Furisode and Coming of Age Day
Have you ever admired kimono with tremendously long sleeves? This coming Monday is a traditional Japanese holiday on which they are worn! In Japan, the 2nd Monday of January is known as Seijin no Hi(Coming of Age Day). Young women the age of 20 are dressed in a special type of kimono called furisode (so named for their characteristically long and fluttering sleeves) for a ceremony performed at local government offices to celebrate the young adults coming to maturity. This outfit is very costly just with the kimono taken into consideration, but many additional accessories are also worn. The furisode falls into the formal kimono category, and as such, a fukuro (formal made with thick woven brocade) obi must be worn with it. In addition, the obijime (decorative woven cord that holds obi in place), obiage (silk sash used to cover the obi pillow), and zori footwear must match this level of formality. Often a matching handbag and a fur wrap complete the set. Young men sometimes dress in traditional garments for the ceremony as well, but it has become more common for them to wear western formal garments such as suits.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Happy New Year!
Happy new year from Sakiko no Kimonoya! This year we are planning several buying trips in hopes that we can better help you to find all your kimono and vintage Japan needs. I've already had several customers contact me about certain items they're looking for, so in the effort to improve our search we'd like to know what you'd like to see in the shop. We're also looking for feedback on the ease of navigating the online store, as we are considering other ordering platforms.
May you all be happy and healthy in the coming year,
The Sakiko no Kimonoya staff
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