This is why…
…Miss Fluffington of Bigglesworth the cat model was never seen again
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Jonelle Patrick writes mysteries set in Tokyo. Her fourth book, Painted Doll, is just out in paperback
When Tokyo Detective Kenji Nakamura’s phone rings with the news that his mother’s death ten years ago wasn’t an accident, his world begins to unravel. New evidence links her to…read more
If you love kimono – and especially if you love Taisho and Showa-age kimono – don’t miss this exhibition! Right now, the Yayoi-Yumeji Museum – where over 3,000 of artist/illustrator Takehisa Yumeji’s works are archived – is displaying the actual kimonos and accessories worn in his paintings, side by side.
I’m a huge fan of Taisho Era kimono (1912-1926), because they’re perfectly suited for hime-style wear, in which Japanese kimonos are worn with Western-style gloves, hats, shoes and other accessories. While Western jazz-age women were shedding their corsets and raising their hemlines, Japanese kimono designers entered into the roaring-20s spirit by shucking off traditional seasonal colors and designs in favor of brighter, more graphic fabrics, often with western motifs. Think roses instead of cherry blossoms!
You can instantly tell that these are Taisho Era by the explosion of unusual color combinations
Artist/illustrator Takehisa Yumeji (1884- 1924) was one of the foremost painters of beautiful jazz age women (bijin-ga). The exhibition takes advantage of the fact that his wife was his chief model, and the museum owns all the kimonos she used when modeling for the paintings.
He took a little artistic license, but not much!
Obviously the very same kimono and accessories!
I like the real kimono much better than the illustration, but maybe that’s just me
So, so, cool
You still have a chance to catch this one through September 29th (2019), so if you haven’t seen it, GO.
Where: Yayoi-Yumeji Museum, 2-4-3 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Open: Every day, closed Mondays
Hours: 10:00 – 17:00
Admission: Adults, ¥900; Children ¥400
(It was forbidden to take photos anywhere but the top floor, so the kimono/illustration photos are taken from the official museum catalog for this exhibition) And if you’d like to get a regular dose of kimonos like these (and more!), styled for the modern age, go check out Angie Salz’s blog – you will not be disappointed!
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Tired of being the same old sexy skunk or slightly NSFW goose in a tutu for Halloween? Keep your fellow costume partiers guessing with these only-in-Japan puzzlers!
However much mini-skirted shrine maidens might figure in cosplay fantasies, you can be sure this will be the first time everyone actually sees one IRL
And if you’re shooting for for sexy AND inexplicable, fellow revelers might guess Japanese Olympic skating costume, but only true Japanese history wonks will guess Modern Oiran!
Or you can sort the true popcult mavens from the wannabes by dressing as everyone’s favorite gachapon capsule toy: the Office Lady Cup Sitter
If you’re more of a life-of-the-party type, those who have ever been to a Japanese office drinking party will be happy to see a giant flask of sake coming their way
For a costume that’s guaranteed to start a million conversations, why not show up as everyone’s favorite Japanese food ingredient: a giant green onion? If you can believe the package, this is guaranteed to baffle even Japanese Halloweenies
And if you’re out to meet other comic book aficionados, separate those who think they know Japanese manga and anime characters from the real deal by wearing this Daddy Eyeball Monster hood
Last but certainly not least, they tried to disguise this too-Japanese costume as ho-hum “Devil Tights” but it’s clear to anyone who’s spent any time at all in Japan, that this guy is a dead ringer for a kabutomushi: the famous gigantic Japanese beetle pets
I found these at the always-entertaining Don Kihote megastore in Shibuya (here’s a map). And if you still haven’t hit on your dream costume, you can always check out what the peeing statue is wearing for Halloween this year, or if you’re really desperate, Costumes I Would Regret.
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Are you as delighted by all things Japan as I am? Would you like to find more posts like this spicing up your email from time to time?
Subscribe to Only In Japan, and I’ll send you all the astounding, thought-provoking, conversation-starting Japan swaglets, the minute I post them.
It’s easy: Scroll down to the subscribe button, enter your email, and push the button. You can unsubscribe at any time, of course, and I promise: no ads and no sharing of your information EVER.
Hello, fellow kimono lovers of all shapes, sizes, colors, & geographic persuasions!
Kimono princessing is all about mixing East and West, colors and patterns, styles and eras, and it warmly embraces vintage, second-hand delights as well as new. But there are a growing number of talented designers who have boosted the ancient artform onto modern runways, and the results are utterly swoonworthy. If you haven’t been introduced to these fabulous brands yet, here’s a peek at my favorite modern kimono designers. (But don’t say I didn’t warn you: hide your credit card first, because it will definitely be trying to leap from your wallet!)
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TAMAO SHIGEMUNE
You can romp through her current collection on the Tamao Shigemune website, but I also like her blog and @tamamshi Instagram, which are filled with more casual shots and great coordinations
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MAMECHIYO MODERN
Here’s Mamechiyo Modern’s online store and you can see their coordinations and accessories on their @mamechiyomodern Instagram
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DOUBLE MAISON
More kimono inspiration on the Double Maison website and their extra-fab Instagram @doublemaison
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KIIRO
Kiiro’s 2020 collection can be found on this page and their furisode can be ogled in the Mimatsu Group online store.
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MODERN ANTENNA
Here’s the Modern Antenna website. These photos are from their Mod Series and Polka Dot Series. Their @modern_antenna Instagram is wonderful too.
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SAKUTEN (SAKU LABORATORY)
Tons more entertaining Sakuten designs can be found on their fabulous @gofukuyasan Instagram and the Gofukuyasan website
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HIGH CALORIE OTOME （ハイキャロリオトメ）
Here’s the High Calorie Otome website, where you can see their whole line
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RUMI ROCK
All the RumiRock offerings are un their online shop and you can check out their newest designs on their @rumirockstore Instagram
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YOSHIKIMONO
More eye candy is on the Yoshikimono website and you can catch a glimpse of the master himself amid the kimonos on the @yoshikimono official Instagram
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SHITO HISAYO
The entire collection can be seen on the Shito Hisayo website, but all the latest designs and coordinations can be glimpsed on the @shitohisayo_official Instagram
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JOTARO SAITO
Photos of his runway show at Tokyo Fashion Week 2020 are on the Jotaro Saito web shop page and his Instagram @jotarosaito
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Do you have a favorite designer who I left out? Tell me in the comments, because I never get tired of discovering new looks and this won’t be the last time you’ll read about modern kimono here!
And now the only thing left to say is, TAKE MY MONEY!
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If you enjoyed this post, I hope you’ll scroll down and subscribe to Only in Japan, and if you’d like to get an extra special dose once a month, don’t miss all the amusing stuff that you’ll only see in
It’s my new monthly newsletter, and when you join, you’ll be automatically entered to win the monthly book giveaway, get directions to a fabulous Beyond Tokyo destination, learn to make a Japanese home cooking dish & more! And best of all, it’s free・° ♪・☆
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
If you’ve been puzzling over why Japan is such a “mask-wearing society,” it’s not because they’re all super-OCD about germs. Here are six excellent Japanese reasons to wear a mask that have nothing to do with the dread COVID:
1 – You overslept
Because if this is your typical morning routine…
…you can cut your makeup time in half
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2 – You woke up with the Godzilla of pimples
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3 – Introverts gotta introvert
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4 – You have to commute in this every day
In a country where commuters spend as much as an hour and a half, twice a day, smashed up against five strangers in a subway car, you need all the virtual privacy you can get. Whether you pretend to be asleep, buried in a book, or mesmerized by your phone, wearing a mask adds another layer of distance to the least private part of anyone’s day.
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5 – It’s allergy season
Hey, wait, why do you have wear a mask if you have allergies? Allergies aren’t contagious!
But the people around you don’t know that. If you’re sneezing and sniffling, it’s considerate not to worry them. Even when there are no deadly pandemics around, Japanese people tend to consider other peoples’ comfort before their own.
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6 – It’s the best fashion accessory ever
There’s definitely a mask for every outfit…
These last ones are all from @gofukuyasan and are only available in Japan, but there are super awesome ones on Milanoo (who sell the introvert mask) and Etsy too!
(A special tip o’ the pandemic mask to William Chandler, for reminding me of the otakus!)
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And by the way, don’t miss all the amusing stuff that you’ll only see in
It’s my new monthly newsletter, and when you join, you’ll be automatically entered to win the monthly book giveaway, get directions to a fabulous Beyond Tokyo destination, learn to make a Japanese home cooking dish & more! And best of all, it’s free・° ♪・☆
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
If you’re desperate to get out after months of quarantining and can’t resist that invite to a good old-fashioned Halloween party, the ace variety store Don Kihote suggests some costumes that will enforce that social distancing with a vengeance!
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“I don’t know when I’ve been more caught up in a story. A masterful achievement.” —Terry Shames, award-winning author of An Unsettling Crime for Samuel Craddock
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
I’ve been a fan of the divine Tia Oguri since long before she began designing kimono with traditional African fabrics, because her kimono styling has always been out-of-this-world fresh and exciting. Her latest venture, though, is pure WOW. Take a look at her Uber Dandy Kimono designs, and I think you’ll agree that they show off her talent at a whole new level!
Another fantastic thing about Uber Dandy designs is that they’re sized for people who aren’t Japanese. Kimonos are pretty forgiving (and flattering) when it comes to body size and shape, as long as they’re long enough and wide enough to work with. Uber Dandy cuts are generous and made with Western frames in mind.
How to get yours!
You can see all the current collections on the Uber Dandy Kimono website
Or if you’re lucky enough to be in the UK, you can see all the Uber Dandy kimonos at her shops in two Antiques On High locations:
Antiques On High Oxford
85 High Street
Oxford, England OX1 4BG
+441865251075
Antiques On High Sidmouth
26 Fore Street
Sidmouth, England EX10 8AQ
+441395577133
You can also follow Tia Ogui on the Uber Dandy Kimono Facebook page and Instagram. All photos here are from the Uber Dandy website.
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And if you’d like to be in Japan right now…
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon!
“Patrick’s keen eye for the telling detail reveals her great love for and knowledge of Japan. A great read!” —Liza Dalby, author of Geisha and The Tale of Murasaki
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Don’t laugh! The humble haramaki is making a comeback, because nothing—and I mean nothing—keeps you warmer while sitting at your desk fielding endless zoom calls than this legwarmer for your midriff.
Major tip o’ the blog beanie to my journalist friend Helen Foster from Down Unda, who reminded me that it’s haramaki season again! Her recent post on Not Your Normal Health Blog is all about the health benefits of wearing a stomach warmer and why they work so well.
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And if you need a good book to cozy up with in your new stomach warmer…
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon!
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Every year in the city of Kitakyushu, Coming-of-Age Day is celebrated in over-the top style by 20-year-olds kitted out in outlandish versions of Japanese formalwear.
The second Monday in January (the holiday on which all Japanese twenty-year-olds become legal adults) is well known by kimono-spotters all over Japan as the best day all year to see young women dressed in the most lavish kimonos they’ll ever wear.
But in Kitakyushu, it’s the young men who steal the show.
It’s pretty obvious why photos of Kitakyshu’s Seijinshiki-no-hi festivities never fail to make the national news and dominate the socials—who could resist feasting their eyes on kids taking traditional outfits to the next level?
But look closer, and you’ll notice that they choose some very particular ways to bend the rules. I’ve always wondered why, so let’s dig deeper and find out why so many of them have hilariously big hair and beyond-glam outfits…
A lot of them have the kind of extravagant pompadours only sported by…
The Japanese version of motorcycle gangs started in the 1950s and displayed their commitment to their club by their unique fashion sense: Elvis-like pompadours and personalized jackets (usually emblazoned with nationalist slogans, their club’s insignia, and right-wing images like the pre-war rising sun flag)
But are these guys really members of local speed tribes, or are they just dressing up in wigs and gold embroidery for fun?
It is, of course, possible that they all decided to grow their hair and take Elvis lessons for this big milestone, but…
The speed tribes of Japan have been in decline for a couple of decades now, but like most fashion cults, there are still pockets of them throughout Japan where the culture lives on. Every year when I see the latest batch of coming-of-age-day photos, I’m strangely happy to discover that Kitakyushu is still one of them!
There are lots more photos (and killer VIDEO) in the SoraNews24 piece where I got most of these photos. More photo thanks to the Japanese Fashion Wiki and Japan Bullet for the others.
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And if you’re looking for a little more entertainment set in Japan…
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Even under your baggiest gym shirts, these say, “I’ll give up the pec deck when I’m good and ready, buddy.”
Saw these at Don Kihote store in Shibuya.
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The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
