Heartwarming Obi (Kimono Belt) From Togo




Hi everyone!! How are you? I am fine in Tokyo. I feel like that a lot of different news about the Corona crisis are similar to "3.11" radiation exposure in 2011. Both COVID-19 and radiation cannot be seen, so people are horrible like a ghost. I would love to keep calm at that time, so I wear kimono because kimono makes me calm and gives me a beautiful power. Last week, I met Chika Kimura, who is a Hair and Make-up Artist and Kimono stylist. I went her home by bicycle although I wore a kimono! I think an outfit with a kimono is similar to a long maxi dress.

みなさま、こんにちは。コロナウィルス関係の報道は、3・11の原発で被曝のニュースが流れた時と同じような感じがしています。そんな時に、常に冷静で客観的にものごとを判断できる人って素敵ですよね。着物を着るたびに少しずつ理想に近づいているような気がします。背筋がしゃきっと伸び、美しい力がわいてくるんですよ。先週は、ヘアメイクアップアーティスト&着物スタイリストのちかさん(木村智華子さん)のお宅へ、着物を着て自転車に乗っておじゃまさせていただきました。














Whenever I met Chika san, she told me her exciting travel experiences. She hold a kimono show in Togo, and her experience is touching like an Academy Award-winning show. This book which I am reading in today's some pictures is discovery reports about Cameroonian and Togo by sixteen people from 19 years old to 73 years old. I read Chika's report in the book, and I was so moved. I bet that her spending time with international people encourages many people in the current crisis. The abstract painting by Ellie Omiya for the cover is beautiful, and I hope that this book is translated into English someday. Anyway, my obi (kimono belt) is made from Togo's fabric which Chika san found in Togo. I got it at the CHO × TOGO - Illustration/photo/Cloth - Exhibition two years ago. This obi goes well with this bag, BV "The Pouch", right? "The Pouch" goes well with Furoshiki bag ( traditional Japanese wrapping cloth), doesn't it? It is fantastic to purchase items with lovely stories. I will post heartwarming articles every week from Tokyo to readers in the world, and I hope everything to get resolved. Stay safe♡

ちかさんにお会いすると、いつも、未知の世界のお話を聞かせてもらえて楽しいです。アフリカのトーゴでの着物ショーのお話は、アカデミー賞を受賞した映画のようでドキドキしました。 『愛しのカメルーン×トーゴ』で、ちかさんの体験談を読んで、人との出会い、交流の素晴らしさを思い出してあったかい気持ちでいっぱいです。 この本は、19歳〜73歳の多言語仲間16人のアフリカホームステイ発見伝。大宮エリーさんの装丁画も可愛いです♡ 今回、着物に合わせた帯は、以前投稿した『CHO×トーゴ~イラスト・写真・布展~』でお買い物したもの。ちかさんがトーゴで見つけた生地で作った半幅帯なんですよ。BVのザ・ポーチとも相性抜群で素敵でしょ。ザ・ポーチは風呂敷と合わせてもおしゃれです。本当に、世界中の危機が早くおさまりますように・・・、そして私ができることは、東京から心があたたかくなるようないいお話を毎週一つずつお伝えできたらいいなあと思っております。それではみなさま、今週もお大事になさってくださいね♡



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Comments

  1. What a nice Photos 😊 thanks for your sharing...

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  2. It sounds like such a wonderful and enlightening read. Let's hope for an English translation one day soon Akiko. I love this belt you paired with the kimono. It is such a unique and exceptional piece.

    Stay safe!
    Sxx
    daringcoco.com

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  3. You look wonderful and that book seems pretty interesting! I love how your belt and kimono has a nice story behind it.

    xoxo
    style frontier

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  4. Wonderful spring photos and beautiful outfit!

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  5. So many beautiful photos and lovely kimono and belt!
    Stay safe!
    Kisses, Paola.

    Expressyourself

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  6. It is amazing how well you look in both traditional and modern outfits. I hope that you are keeping well and safe, Akiko.
    Amalia
    xo

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  7. Hey Akiko, glad to hear that you're doing good in these strange times! Didn't know about the situation in 2011 in Japan, that was interesting to google.

    These pictures are wonderful and they give me a lot of Japanese vibes will all those flowers and organic shapes, actually I feel they are good to calm our senses in these weird times. I also liked how you mixed the traditional kimono with the wonderful pouch by Bottega!

    PS: Thanks always for your kind comments on my blog, they always put a smile on my face and they cheer me up to create more content!

    Pablo
    www.heyfungi.com

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  8. That kimono look so beautiful as well as your photos of nature. Thank you for sharing.

    New Post - https://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2020/04/ghd-glide-smoothing-hot-brush_1.html

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  9. Love your kimono and your photos, just lovely. Your visit sounded wonderful and indeed the design of the cover great. I hope you are not too stressed.

    Allie of
    www.allienyc.com

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  10. It is nice you went to visit Chika san. Your obi made from the fabric Chika san found is fantastic. Such a pretty belt and I like it in combination with that brown kimono.
    You look stunning and very elegant. The photographs are wonderful. This book seems great, let's hope it will be translated into English.
    P.S. So cool you can ride a bike while wearing a kimono.
    Have a nice day.

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