| | "The Art of Wearing Kimono" was held at the Arts Mid-Hudson in Poughkeepsie on a pleasant afternoon on Saturday. The purpose of the workshop was simply we wanted people to experience a rare chance of wearing traditional Japanese Kimono (Kitsuke) at the same time to learn about the culture. Initially, we expected to see only women, young girls and kids as we thought men wouldn't be interested in wearing Kimono as not so many Japanese men were. It turned out to be we were wrong and had learned men were as much into fashion, maybe just for Kimono, as women. We were very lucky that earlier the owner of Kyoto Kimono, Nancy, contacted us via AMH to donate Kimonos. Thanks to her having sent us many items including several men's Kimono, so we could witness these gentlemen were indeed very happy to be like Samurai and they looked very comfortable in it - They even looked tougher in Hakama (skirt-like pants). Ladies looked glowing in Kimono, too. We should have had the title The "Power" of Wearing Kimono instead.
Surprisingly, many had questions about the materials, differences and other specifics about Kimono and some were interested in buying them. Thanks to Chikako-san, our instructor, who did two Kitsuke workshop for our members earlier this year. Without it, I don't think we could answer to some of those questions since it's not that all Japanese know the history or culture of Kimono as it is no longer a part of our daily life. Education is very important, indeed.
As always, thanks to our members who volunteered today, and thanks to Polly-san and Arts Mid-Hudson who gave us this opportunity to have a successful Kitsuke workshop. And last, we would like to express sincere gratitude to Nancy McDonough of Kyoto Kimono for her generous donation. It's wonderful to know there are people like Nancy and guests at today's workshop who not only appreciate how beautiful Kimonos are but also understand the importance of its culture and history to be recognized. It was a great learning experience for us, too.
Midori Shinye
Project Leader | | 9月12日着付けﾜｰｸｼｮｯﾌﾟ
｢着付けの美｣ﾜｰｸｼｮｯﾌﾟが心地良い土曜日の午後にﾌﾟｷｰﾌﾟｼｰのArts Mid-Hudsonで行われました。このﾜｰｸｼｮｯﾌﾟの目的は皆さんに伝統的な日本の着物を着るﾁｬﾝｽと同時に文化を知って頂ければというものです。最初は女性と子供だけを予測していましたが、どうやら男性も(特に着物だからかもしれませんが）関心があるということが分かりました。幸いなことに、少し前に京都きものの経営者のナンシーさんが連絡を下さってたくさんの寄付の中に男性用の着物を送って下さいました。おかげで男性のゲストの方々が侍の様にふるまって満足している姿を目撃することが出来ました。心地よさそうに着物を着ているだけでなくはかま姿は大変勇ましく見えました。女性の着物姿はｷﾗｷﾗ輝いているようでした。もしかしたﾜｰｸｼｮｯﾌﾟのタイトルを｢着付けのパワー｣にしたほうが良かったかもしれません。
驚くほど沢山の方々が着物の素材・種類等様々な細かい質問をされていました。中には着物はどこで買えるのか聞いている人もいました。今年になって2回の着付けﾜｰｸｼｮｯﾌﾟを千佳子さんがｲﾝｽﾄﾗｸﾀｰとなってﾒﾝﾊﾞｰに提供して下さっていたのである程度妥当な返事が出来たのだと思います。勉強するということは本当に大切だということを改めて感じました。
今日ﾎﾞﾗﾝﾃｨｱをして頂いたﾒﾝﾊﾞｰの方々有難うございました。ポーリーさんとArts Mid-Hudsonに協力して頂いたこと大変感謝致します。それから、沢山の寄付をして頂いた京都きもののナンシーさんに心から御礼を申し上げます。ナンシーさん、それからﾜｰｸｼｮｯﾌﾟにいらしたｹﾞｽﾄの方々のように着物の美しさを楽しんで頂くだけでなく、その中に含む文化と歴史の重要さを認識して下さっている人達がいらっしゃるということを知って本当に感動しました。私達にとっても良い勉強と経験になりました。
新江 緑
ﾌﾟﾛｼﾞｪｸﾄﾘｰﾀﾞｰ | |
