JIC: Japan Infomation Communication

Kimono

Kimono

                          History of Kimono

The Kimono has had a long history in Japan and the Kimono had changed over time to reflect the society and culture of that period.

During the Heian period 794-1185, the custom of elaborate layers of colored Kimono robes became popular with Japanese women.Juni-hitoe, twelve unlined robes were frequently worn with the sleeve edges and collars showing the shades of each Kimono.Person of the royal court sometimes wore up to sixteen Kimono layers. During the Kamakura period of 1185-1133 with the rising influence of the military class and warriors,people had no patience or need for elaborate Kimono. Practicality prevailed and during this period the kosode meanibg small sleeve was introduced into the Kimono.

In 1615, military leade Tokugawa moved the capital of Japan from Kyoto, where the emperor resided to Edo, the present day Tokyo. Confucianism was adopted and hietatchy became the guiding principle where citizens wre ranked based on their class. During the Edo period, people began to define their status by their Kimono clothing. During this time the greatest artistic accomplishments were made with the Kimono.

After 1853, the US Navy sailed to Tokyo and the beginning of Japan's commercial industry was opened to the Western world. Although Japanese people continued to wear the Kimono for another hundred years, the beginning of the end of this practice was near.

During the Meiji period of 1868-1912, women began working outside their homes and required different clothing to accommodate their work. The Japanese people developed techniques to compete with the machine woven cloth available from the West. Cloth from other parts of the world were bought to make the Kimono and the clothing. During the Taisho period of 1912-1926, Tokyo suffered a devastating earthquake which leveled most of the homes. Many of the old Kimono were lost at this time.

During the Showa period 1926-1989, the japanese government curtailed silk production by taxing it to support the military buildup. Kimono designs became less complex and material was conserved. After World War II, as Japan's economy gradually recovered, kimono became even more affordable and were produced in greater quantities. Europe and America fashion ideas affected the kimono designs and motifs, but their shape remained the same. Kimono and obi colors changed with the season and with the age and status of the wearer.

<Reference>

http://www.japanesekimono.com/japanese_clothing.htm

http://www.japanesekimono.com/kimono_fabric.htm

Posted by  Rie Nagaki

Yukata

      

      　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

                                     　浴衣

　　　　　　　　　Yukata

Originally the yukata was arrival at room wear to a bath towel with the roughest kimono to wear in summer. However, we came to see a yukata without no regard  it as the inside and outside such as a festival or a fireworks display when it became it by the handle of the yukata and a change of the material recently in summer. In addition, we can more easily Yukata.

The reason of popularity.

Because a yukata is cheap, and dressing is brief, it accepted most by a Japanese, and it is the popularity that is wide from a child to the elderly. Because originally a yukata is the kimono which we wore to a bath towel, person who wear Yukata is seems to be cool. However, I produce a yukata all together and begin to sell clothes brand of a 20's object from the teens with a kimono boom now and there are many things which put a colorful print of a primary color base for and appear.

It was the latter period in the days of Edo, and volume of production of the cotton spread to the surge common people, and the cloth of the bathrobe changed in cotton from hemp, too. In addition, it was abbreviated and came to call it "a yukata" because places of the wearing increased with the spread of public baths. It is firmly established in the present as a kimono to wear in not only the bath rise but also summer.

The long undergarments keeping with a common kimono cannot stick basically. However, as for the yukata made with linen yukatas material which is easy to be transparent, the which was able to be available will have good. In addition, there is the yukata with the status by how to dye, too. When I go out with such a yukata, it is necessary to make it the clothing that repeated underwear and a collar in the same way as a kimono.
A device to spend hot Japanese summer comfortably is concentrated to a yukata. For example, bluish ground and a lot of cloth of white background is seen in a classic yukata. The yukata of the cloth of white background is for noon and can spend even midsummer coolly when I wear it in a house. Because insects dislike the fragrance of "the indigo plant" which is used to dye it dark blue in the case of the yukata of the bluish ground, it is said that I can write it at night from the evening many, to appear of the insect and had better wear it. Wisdom of the Japanese life to spend hot summer is comfortably clam into a yukata.

How to wear Yukata

Traditionally, the art of wearing a yukata is passed from mother to daughter. Today, trere are also yukata schools that taech the proper techniques of how to wear a yukata. Below is a step by step basics of how to wear yukata properly.

1.   Put on the Yukata , making sure the back seam is centered

2.   For both men and women, wrap the right side of the Yukata over the body, then pverlap it with the left side. Right on the topof the left is only used to dress a corpse for burial.

3.   Don't worry if the Yukata is too long for it is supposed to be.

4.   Pull up the yukata material so length of the yukata is at the ankle.

5.   Bring the upper left overlap over the upper right overlap. Tie the upper overlaps with a second ‘koshi himo’ sash.

Kimono Show

you can watch Yukata show to clic here.

Please don't hesitate to see this beauty girl and Yukata!

Reference

http://www.yukata-too.com/

http://www.japanesekimono.com/yukata_kimono.htmhttp://irohhttp://yukata.love-happyplace.com/yukata/list/yukata_list3.htmla-japan.net/iroha/B01_clothes/09_yukata.html

http://www.yumeyakata.com/kimono/plan_yukata.html

http://blog.livedoor.jp/auberginefleur/archives/50997880.html

Posted By Ryousuken Komiyama

Kansai Yamamoto

                           <kansai Yamamoto>

　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　①Born: Yokohama, Japan, 1944.

②Education: Studied civil engineering and English, Nippon University; graduated from Bunka　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　College of Fashion, 1967.

③Career: Apprenticed with Junko Koshino and Hosano; designer, Hisashi Hosono, circa 1968-71; opened firm, Yamamoto Kansai Company, Ltd., Tokyo, and showed first collection, London, 1971; first Paris showing, 1975; opened Kansai Boutique, Paris, 1977; organized program for India-Japan Mixed Cultural Cooperation Committee, 1997; worked with Junko Koshino revitalizing the kimono, 1999; took Ningensanka eyeweare line to the Middle East; signed licensing deal with Ayoyama USA for eyewear, 2001.

④ Awards: Soen prize, Bunka College of Fashion, 1967; Fashion Editors award, Tokyo, 1977.

　Yamamoto's sensibility is universal. If he was the first fashion designer to bring Kabuki circus-like joy, impertinence, and Japanese common culture to international fashion, and has remained a significant figure in espousing such conspicuous love of theater, a love of life, and love of exaggeration. His　aggrandizements begin in delight and exuberance and end in celebration of the most universal kind. They benefit from a relationship to costume, though Yamamoto is always grounded in the wearability of his clothing. They often function as happy graphic signs, emblems of the most bold in fashion. On the opening of his Madison Avenue boutique in 1985, Kansai remarked to Women's Wear Daily, "My clothes are no good for someone who loves chicness." If we understand chic to be slightly haughty and narrowly sophisticated, Yamamoto misses the mark by express intention. Rather, he is seeking an earthy, populist ideal of clothing created in the grand gesture for the great audience. "I am making happiness for people with my clothes. If you walk through Central Park in them you create a 'wow.'"　

　In July 1999 Yamamoto explored the yukato, the traditional single-layered cotton kimono worn next to the skin. He and Japanese designer Junko Koshina helped to update and popularize the versatile garment for sale in department stores. Initially intended for after-bath and relaxing, it began to appear in outdoor styles featuring Western flower, fruit, and animal prints in black and dark green with matching obi, geta, ornamental hairpins, fans, and cloth.

　<References>　

・http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Vi-Z/Yamamoto-Kansai.html

・http://www.mode21.com/brand/000758.html

・http://www.ohtapro.co.jp/ohta_pro/profile/kansai/index.html

・http://www.kansai-inc.co.jp/profile/index.html

・http://news.goo.ne.jp/entertainment/talent/M01-0484.html

Posted by Manami Nakagawa

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Hanae Mori

                                              <Hanae Mori>

①Beginning of Brand

In 1951, Hanae Mori establishes Hanae Mori company which named the name of own.

②About Brand

Hanae Mori is born in 1926 in Shinema prefecture. She was graduated from Tokyo Women's Christian University. In 1951, She establish a studio in shinjuku. After the war, she married into a family in the texile industry and attended design school. She started a company clothing for private customers and for theatrical companies. Following a chance meeting with Coco Chanel in Paris in 1960, she decided to pursue a career in haute counture.

After training in the US, Mori held her first collection of ready-to-wear designs in New York in 1965. Shortly after, she opened a boutique in Tokyo. Her designs bridge the gap between western and oriental themes. Touches like kanji characters used in pattern, kimono-style sleeves on an evening gown or a Mao collar on a jacket are typical.

Mori has designed uniforms for public officials in China, costumes for film directors Kurosawa Akira and Mizoguchi Kenji and clothes for Princess Masako. Perhaps the first Japanese designer to achieve international recognition, in 1977 she became the first and only Japanese member of the Chamber Syndicale de la Haute Couture , the governing body of French fashion.

③  Target

The woman of the lifestyle that is elegance to like delicate, modest fashion

                                                                                                                      <References>

・ http://jiten.pupe.jp/jiten/hanae-mori

・ http://www.japan-zone.com/modern/mori_hanae.shtml

・http://www.hanaemori-foundation.or.jp/

・http://www.fashion-press.net/199.htm

・http://www.nikoneyewear.co.jp/product/hanae_mori.html

Posted  by Manami Nakagawa                                     

                                                         

Yohji Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto is an internationally known Japanese fashion designer based out of Paris, Japan, and New York

He expresses his philosophy and avant-garde spirit in his clothing, frequently creating designs far removed from current trends. Basically, he makes a line characterized by oversized silhouettes; it typically features drapes (loose gathers and tatters) in glossy textures that naturally change with the figure's contours and movement. Often, a single color (particularly black) and a single shade are used. One could say that Yohji Yamamoto tries to express himself through his clothing; customers who sympathize with those thoughts and spirit are charmed and become ardent fans.

The charismatic designer's brand, which received high praise both domestically and abroad during the 1980s, side by side with the likes of Rei Kawakubo's Comme des Garçons and Issey Miyake's Issey Miyake, formed the 'DC brand boom'. (DC is short for Designers & Characters. It is now called Designers' Brands.)

He currently serves as Takeshi Kitano's costume designer for the likes of Brothor, Dolls and Zatoichi.

He also has been credited as Placebo's provider with the Adidas line, noticeably during the Soulmates Never Die (Live in Paris 2003) Tour shows.

Biography

Yohji Yamamoto was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1943. He studied law before turning to fashion, and cut his teeth making clothing for his dressmaker mother and her friends. He launched his own company in 1974 and showed his first collection in Tokyo. In 1981 he debuted in Paris, where he has studied on a fashion scholarship in the late 60s. The only Japanese fashion designer to have been awarded the French Chevalier de L'Ordre des Art et Lettres, Yamamoto is also the recipient of the American Fashion Award. He currently lives in Japan with long-time partner Rei Kawakubo, and relaxes by playing harmonica with a band called Suicide City.
He expresses his philosophy and avant-garde spirit in his clothing, frequently creating designs far removed from current trends. Basically, he makes a line characterized by oversized silhouettes; it typically features drapes (loose gathers and tatters) in glossy textures that naturally change with the figure's contours and movement. Often, a single color (particularly black) and a single shade are used. One could say that Youji Yamamoto tries to express himself through his clothing; customers who sympathize with those thoughts and spirit are charmed and become ardent fans. The charismatic designer's brand, which received high praise both domestically and abroad during the 1980s, side by side with the likes of Rei Kawakubo's Comme des Gar�ons and Issey Miyake's Issei Miyake, formed the 'DC brand boom'. (DC is short for Designers & Characters. It is now called Designers' Brands.) He currently serves as Takeshi Kitano's costume designer for the likes of Brother, Dolls and Zatoichi. He also has been credited as Placebo's provider with the Adidas line, noticeably during the Soulmates Never Die (Live in Paris 2003) Tour shows

names of major brand line

• Yohji Yamamoto; collection line for Ladies(casual).
• Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME; collection line for men.
• Yohji Yamamoto + NOIR; collection line for Ladies(formal).
• Y's; collection line for woman. the theme is "independent women".
• Y's for men; collection line for men.
• Y-3; collaboration with adidas.
• Y; line of the suits which are producted in Italy.
• Y's for living; the brand for Life miscellaneous goods.

If you want to know their shop information, please you click above brands name and go to the official web site.

Paris collection

Following movies is his latest fashion show in Paaris. Please you watch this and are satisfied with his individual design.

Yohji Yamamoto Summer 2008

Yohji Yamamoto Pour Homme Spring Summer 2008

Reference of Photo Date; 2007,Dec,5th is here

Posted by Shuhei Tachibana

Lolita Fashion

Lolita Fashion

　　　　　Lolita fashion is a kind of fashion category which was born in Japan.

The fashion looks to us who have lived in Japan very curious.

You can see the girls who dressed up like that in Harajyuku, Tokyo.

. It is called the fashion which underline element of cuteness. 

Feature of Lolita fashion

　The typical hairstyle of Lolita fashion is the long straight hair, the ringlet, and the gentle waving hair. Forelock is cut straight.

They have on motif of fairy tale like Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland, or design of romantic crown, cross, ribbon, confectionary, and so on.

The sort of Lolita Fashion

The Lolita Fashion can be separated into a variety sort.

Ama Rori / Sweet Lolita(甘ロリ)；it is the most popular style. According to the name, the fashion has the sweet mood. The Lolita fashion which we can often see in the street is this type.

Hime rori (姫ロリ); Hime Lolita Style is almost identical to the Sweet Lolita Style with the following exceptions: Rose patterns are often worn as well as a more medieval looking dress to which shows a era of royalty to it . Also worn is a crown or tiara. The Hime Lolita style is a little bit darker then the Sweet Lolita

Gothic&Lolita(ゴスロリ);we are sometimes confused Gothic Lolita fashion with Lolita fashion. Although they have many common parts, they are not same. If the image of Lolita is an angel, I suppose the gothic Lolita’s one is a little devil. They don’t wear the clothes which are used primary color and pastel color. The base colors are monotone.

In addition, a variety of sort in the Lolita Fashion, for example; Classical Lolita, Punk Lolita, Kimono  Lolita...etc.

               

“Where do we see their fashion?”

　You can’t see the girls who dressed such a fashion anywhere. But, there is a city where you can’t fail to see the fashion. It’s Harajuku in Japan. Harajuku style isn't the only Japanese subculture fashion out there. Once you arrive at there, you may be surprised. Because the many people who go to there from choice are dressed unique style, and you may be given an illusion that unusual person might be yourself. I think Harajuku is very special area where everyone are forgiven to wear any peculiar fashion, and Japanese young use there as a place to express their identity. If you are interested in the fashion and have a chance to go to Japan, I recommend you to go to Takesita Street in Harajuku. There are many shops for Lolita, and you can buy their items without ashamedness (most Japanese think that buying such items or going in the shop like that is unworthy, but to buy in the Harajuku is different.)

Famous Person 

Mana ; He is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, he is widely considered the creator and figurehead of Japan's Gothic Lolita fashion movement, as he helped popularize it. Moi dix Mois is Mana's current project. He is a progenitor of Elegant Lorita, and he popularized the fashion style. He has two shops in Japan, the one is in Shinjuku, the other one is in Hirosima. At present, he works in Japan and Europe. For that reason, there are many his fans in the Europe too.

(Refernce of Photo)

http://fashion.3yen.com/wp-content/images/thumb-hara

http://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/b9/6f/10012172510.jpg http://www.fashion-j.com/photo/2007/0810llt.jpg 　

http://sisley.mforos.com/115256/6511337-ponte-el-cinturon-xd/

http://www.fashion-j.com/photo/2005/0309.jpg

Posted by Shuhei Tachibana

Obi

                   How to tie an Obi Sash and Belt

Contrary to belief, the traditional obi belt is actually comprised of many belts. Below are instructions on how to tie each belt over the kimono.   

1. After you have put on your kimono per the steps shown on the page how to wear a Kimono.
2. Pull up the kimono material so the length of the kimono is at the ankle. The length of the kimono is always adjusted which is why there are only a few lengths made by the manufacturer. 
3. As you hold the extra material above your waist, tie the koshi-himo belt below the excess material. Cross the belt in the back and tie it in the front.
4. Straighten out the excess material to the side so that the front and the back of the kimono are smooth.
5. Bring down the excess material to cover the belt.
6. Take the date-jime belt and wrap it around your waist covering the koshi-himo belt. Tie the date-jime belt in the front leaving the overlapping kimono fabric visible below. The excess kimono fabric should hang evenly below the belt so that the fabric is seen as shown in the picture above.

The traditional long obi can be very difficult to tie depending on the style of bow made. Many times, another person will tie the belt for you. There are many styles of different ties that can be made with the belt. Below is information on pre-tied obi belts and how to tie your own butterfly bow. The obi-jime is the last belt tied around the obi belt as shown in the picture above.

Formal Obi

A woman's formal obi is usually 4 meters long and 60 centimeters in width. The width is folded in half and the obi is wrapped twice around the waist and then tied in the back. Formal obi belts are made of a brocade or tapestry weave. The more pattern, the more formal is the basic rule. Today, an obi completely covered in its entirety with woven or embroidered design are now normally worn by a bride.

<Reference>

http://www.japanesekimono.com/obi_belts.htm

Posted by Rie Nagaki

UNIQLO

                                 <UNIQLO>

①Beginning of UNIQLO

In 1984, It starts unique Clausing wear house(UNIQUE CLOTHING WAREHOUSE)   

②About UNQLO

It is opening that the Oguri comercial that handled clothing for men by the name of "the men's shop OS" in Ube-shi, Yamaguchi in June, 1984 opened unisex casual clothes clothing shop "one of a kind Clausing wear house"(UNIQUE CLOTHING WAREHOUSE) in Fukuromachi, Hiroshima-shi.

The name of UNIQLO comes from unique Clausing wear house(UNIQUE  CLOTHING WAREHOUSE)

UNIQLO is explosive popularity because very cheep price.

UNIQLO project all products by a hand of oneself. They manage products and conduct From the circulation to sale.

　

　　<CM talent of UNIQLO>

・Miki Nakatani         ・Kuwata Keisuke  　　 ・Yazawa Eikichi 

・Ttiji  Tamayama     ・Norika Fujiwara     ・Marie　

・Kenichi Matuyama

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

<References>

・  http://www.sh-mahz.net/yunikuro.html

・http://www.fashion-press.net/244.htm

・http://bbnews.jp/archives/2004/02/17/044038.html

・http://www.uniqlo.com/jp/tv/

・http://www1.doshisha.ac.jp/~westhill/amano.html

Posted by Manami Nakagawa

Cosplay

Cosplay

       Cosplay is the culture that to go for events such as the coterie magazine spot sale society with the costume of an animated cartoon, comics, and the character of the game, or to take a picture of that shape. And they are called “cosplayer”, or “layer”.

The cosplay has started in 1976. The beginning is that the magazine ”Fanload” insert the photo of the people who dress up as a character of “Triton of the sea”,”Kidousenshi Gundam” in the Coterie magazine spot sale society.

The cosplay culture has spread in 90’s. The lead of that was the starting of the transmission called “Neon Genesis EVANGELION”. Since this curture had spreaded, the type of cosplay has divided into a variety sort.

The sort can be divided into like bellow.

l  Animated cartoon, manga, game system; According to the name, to wear the costume of character which come on the manga, game, animated cartoon. Especially the SHONEN JUMP Comic character or the animated character which Otaku prefer costume are popular in Japan.

l  Uniform system; to wearing the uniform for the student, police, nurce, maid…etc is this sort. In the case of wearing public costume such as police, army, nurse…etc, they are so real that it has a possibility for a low crime. Therefore they have to careful about it. The maid coffee shop is derivative from this sort.

l   Others; there are a lot of other sort.

Movie system; it’s to wear the costume of the hero or heroine such as Harry Potter, Star Wars…etc.

TV personality system; it’s to ware the costume of Pop Idol.

Famous layer

l         

l         Francesca Dani; she is a layer who has played abroad.She has modeled in magazines and films. Initially known as a net idol, she is now known for modeling both costumes she has made and costumes made commercially. She entered the cosplay scene in October 1998 with her first costume, Sailor Moon. Since then she has cosplayed various anime, manga and video game characters

      

She has joined in a variety of event in Japan.

And she became known in Japan during an appearance on Sekai Marumie on 25 December 2002, directed by Takeshi Kitano. NTV staff crew chose her for a special live interview because of her status as an international cosplay model.

    Shoko Nakagawa; she is a Japanese idol and singer. She is often called ‘otaku idol’. That mean her thinking is similar to A-boy (Akiba Boy) which is called otaku. Because she loves manga character such as Vegeta(Dragon Ball),Kujyou Jyoutarou(JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE ). Thinking to put the animated character in her mind as boyfriend is like otaku-thinking. There is another reason to be called as that.

That is cosplay. She often appears in the TV program or some event with wearing a variety of animated cartoon character. She is famous for a layer in T.V.performer in Japan.

.

Refernce of Photo Date; 2007, Dec,6   

http://ca.c.yimg.jp/gameinfo/1169453979/img.gameinfo.yahoo.co.jp/img/eg/news/20060803_11_08.jpg　

http://www.francescadani.com/cosplay/sailormoon/sailormoon.htm　

http://www.kachispo.com/k/1056/1.jpg　

http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/27/ee/591c970dbfa14544c7bcdc6a9ab8003d.jpg　

http://mainichi.jp/enta/geinou/graph/200702/25_2/index1.jpg 

posted by Shuhei Tachibana

Tabi, Zori & Geta

Tabi

Tabi or also called tabi boots or tabi socks are a japanese sock that have a split in the sock for the large toe so that they may comfortably be worn with sandals. There are two basic types of tabi. The odori tabi socks which people call the tabi boot or the stretch tabi socks.

Tabi Boots

Tabi or also called tabi boots are called odori. Odori tabi socks are made of  cotton and have a vinyl sole bottom with clasps on the back. The term tabi boot was coined by westerners for the sock goes past the ankle and resemble boots. Odori tabi socks are purchased to the exact fit of the persons foot. The tabi are popular among traditional japanese dancers and theater artists. The vinyl sole bottom of the tabi protects their feet since japanese shoes are not normally worn during performances.

However, the odori tabi socks are difficult to maintain because they must be hand washed and line dried so they will not shrink. 

Tabi Socks    

Stretch tabi socks are the newest rage in japanese socks. Made of 100% nylon, the stretch tabi basically comes in two sizes and are easy to fit any person. The light weight stretchy fabric makes them very comfortable, can be machine washed and are quick to put on, just like American socks. Stretch tabi socks are the most versatile and most commonly worn tabi when worn with japanese sandals.

<Reference>

http://www.geocities.com/kimono_history/tabi.html

Tatami Sandals

These are traditional shose in Japan. Zori sandals are any japanese sandal that has a flat bottom. Zori sandals include both the tatami sandals and vinyl zori sandals. The zori sandal is worn by both men and women and are made in a variety of colors and materials.

Vinyl Zoli Sandals   

The vinyl zori sandals is the most popular shoe worn for formal occasions with the kimono. The thongs are normally made of velvet or vinyl and come in a variety of colors.

Geta

<Reference>

http://www.japanesekimono.com/tatami_sandals.htm

http://www.jun-gifts.com/specialcollections/getasandals/getasandals.htm

Posted by Rie Nagaki