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gofuku-shō 呉服商: Drapery Stores
These images by Kobe-based photographer Teijiro Takagi (高木庭次郎) depict a so-called gofuku-shō (呉服商), a drapery store, during the Meiji (1868-1912) or Taishō period (1912-26). Panels of fabric are rolled out on the floor and hung up on the background, with customers examining the pieces of cloth they would like to have turned into kimono. Made Read more
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Japan House London: ‘Living Colours: Kasane – the Language of Japanese Colour Combinations’
I went to visit the ‘Living Colours: Kasane – the Language of Japanese Colour Combinations ‘ (かさねの森 染司よしおか) exhibition currently staged at the Japan House in London last weekend (running until 19 May). The exhibition explores the work of the Kyoto-based Yoshioka Dyeing Workshop (染司よしおか) now operating in it’s fifth generation. Yoshioka Sachio is the current Read more
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Toyohara Chikanobu: ‘Female Student with Umbrella’
This ukiyo-e woodblock print from the Meiji period (1868-1912) depicts a young female student presumably heading to one of her lessons. In a very fashionable manner, she is combining a checkered buttoned shirt with a cherryblossom-patterned kimono, showing off the undergarment’s band collar and sleeves with rounded cuffs. The black laced umbrella additionally confirms the Read more
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AKB48: ジワるDAYS
Having followed Japanese popular culture for quite some time now, I have found myself to be particularly curious about idol アイドル culture and aesthetics. Costumes play a very important role within the overall visual aspect of idols; they are utilised to signalise allegiance to one’s group through a general costume design on one hand, but Read more
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一 ichi
Just thought that I should would like to start blogging again, so here we go. Expect to mainly find images of kimono and other clothing / costumes related content accompanied by semi-academic short texts. To get things started, here is a picture of me and my friend wearing hakama in Kyoto in 2018. We aimed Read more
DR CAROLIN BECKE 