Abstract

Recommended by Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts: "This is a book that will make us want to wear Japanese kimonos." Kimonos, with their 1000-year history, are currently attracting attention from overseas. In February 2020, the kimono exhibition "Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk" was held in London, England. Although the exhibition period was shortened due to measures against the new coronavirus infection, it was a large-scale exhibition that broadly displayed everything from the history of kimonos to innovative works by contemporary designers, conveying the high level of interest in kimonos. And, as if boosted by the popularity of kimonos overseas, kimonos are increasingly being chosen by Japanese people as the attire to adorn special occasions. Young actresses are also appearing in beautiful kimonos at international film festivals, making their presence felt even among Hollywood actresses. At the 2018 Nobel Prize ceremony, Professor Tasuku Honjo of Kyoto University, who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, attended in a black crested kimono and hakama, which became a topic of conversation. Now that the presence of kimonos is rising in the world, let's learn more about kimonos and share them with others. Read this book, which explains the knowledge, culture, and worldview surrounding Japanese kimonos, and take your first steps into the global society.

Author’s Information

Eriko Uesugi is a kimono image consultant. She runs "Wasojuku ~Showcasing Another Self Through Kimono~," a program for learning how to wear kimonos well. During her student days, she experienced the positive reaction of Americans to yukata while studying abroad, and realized the potential of wearing the traditional Japanese kimono in a global society. By learning to wear her mother's kimonos, she overcame her complexes, lost 10kg, and became able to live as the protagonist of her own life. After graduating from the Faculty of Sociology at Hosei University and completing her master's degree at the Graduate School of Sociology at Hitotsubashi University, she worked in the sales planning department at the environmental creation company Estem Co., Ltd., before joining Hoshino Resorts. Despite being severely affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, she witnessed the recovery of the Tomamu resort in Hokkaido, which she was in charge of, and the rapid growth of the company, realizing that reality can be changed if you have vision, strategy, and the ability to act. Wanting to convey the true charm of kimonos that transformed her life and pass on kimono culture to the next generation, she started her own business in 2015 as Japan's first kimono image consultant, working a second job at the same time. The kimono, often perceived as "difficult, painful, and expensive," is presented as an outfit that "anyone can wear, is comfortable, and offers great value for money," bringing out the unique charm of each woman. This proposal offers suggestions for coordinating outfits and appropriate occasions for wearing them.