a beautiful daily life with kimono
Who am I?
I'm a mixed Japanese American from
the Metro Detroit area of the USA. My late father was half-Japanese born in Hiroshima, and my hometown has a large Japanese population thanks to the local automobile industry, which enabled me to connect with Japanese culture and language since I was young. However, for a lot of Japanese disapora, learning about kimono and traditional Japanese culture has been challenging or even elusive.
With a majority of kimono resources in Japanese and so few Japanese who can put on a kimono by themselves, I decided to enroll at Hiro Kimono Gakuin in Osaka, Japan and train as a kimono teacher/stylist. As of June 2021, I am a certified professional kimono teacher/stylist.
Kimono seems intimidating to many
at first. There are so many belts and cords, so many things to remember, and even simply putting on the kimono in an elegant way can seem frustrating, or time consuming. It is my goal to help others understand not only how to put on kimono, but the meaning and history behind kimono. I feel that kimono is more than just something that "looks pretty." It is an important part of cultural history and heritage, and I was determined to pass my exams. Although I may have a certification now, I consider myself a lifelong student of kimono, and am always eager to learn.
I operate my kimono business out of
my home in Osaka, where I welcome both students who wish to learn how to dress themselves in kimono as well as do kimono dressing for rental and photoshoots.
In the meantime, I have been continuing to sharpen my skills in kimono and learning even more about the vast world of kimono, and also to study other traditional arts such as ikebana (flower arrangement), playing the koto, and tea ceremony. I hope to include these as part of an authentic kimono experience.
よろしくお願いします！