Kimono Hime

Suddenly I realize that I have never dedicated a post to Kimono Hime, what a shame!

The one of "wearing a kimono" is an ancient tradition sometimes hard to digest for a modern Japanese girl but still fashionable during local festival and various celebrations.
Kimono Hime is a popular magazine that won't let you regret your pair of beloved jeans at all. Never! How? Just showing an handful of tips on contemporary ways to look good in a kimono too.
>>> Already from the first issue (2002 年) the magazine started a new kimono boom!

Browse it here!

Memories (of a maiko)

One year this day I was about to leave for my Japanese roadtrip with a dear friend of mine.
How not to remember those amazing days spent "maiko-watching" around Kyoto - Gion area -;  hiking; suffering the hot weather (mushi atsui); eating delicious food; meeting the Japanese friends and exploring the country.


Another year, another travel!

Holiday Break

Hi everyone!
It's been a while since my last post here and I'll tell you why.

These are busy months: a new challenging (part time) job, new plans about this blog and ... a new amazing travel to organize. On December I'm going to Vietnam, indeed!
This post to announce I may be away for a bit too long but I'll surely be back in the blink of an eye!

Have a good summer, in the meantime!

[pic's credits: here]

My ever-blooming sakura tree

Welcome to our third #sakurandom event! It is a pleasure for me to meet you all once a year sharing inspiring things of what we like the most about the hanami season even without being in Japan!

Remember my first-time-Ikebana of last year? I did love the result so, inspired by a quite different project seen on Kinfolk Volume Eight (page 92), I put myself into something very smart: an ever-blooming sakura tree made by origami. What a great idea for all those who live in still quite freezing places not yet ready for blooming! 

Enjoy your hanami ;)

Origami tutorial here

{sorry for my super bad pics of that but I've broken my camera and still trying to fix it}

#sakurandom 2015 {third edition}

Start the countdown: #sakurandom 2015 is finally back, ready to bloom!

This is the third edition of our social hanami, an on-line-appointment for those who want to share some “cherry blossom” inspirations even without being in Japan having a pic-nic under a sakura tree (and for nostalgic ones, of course). Just pick your smartphone and share pics, theme recipes, illustrations, poems, thoughts … whatever inspires you! Everyone is invited, just show you up next week-end on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest using our favorite hashtag: #SAKURANDOM. We’re waiting for you and your friends to come!

 

Previous editions:
> First
> Second

#FF
@niachan
@viaggiappone
@fraimirtilli
@WanderInJapan
@TradGiappone
@giapponextutti
@SabrinaMiso
@giapponmonamour
@patrick_c
@wagashistories
@Bibliogiappone
@nihonexpress
@SabrinaMiso
@patrick_c

B&W

A new week is about to start. Here you are some B&W inspirations too much great not to share with you straight from my dedicated Pinterest board. 

All these pictures come from the 1950s when Japan started open mind and boundaries to the Western way of life. In all of them you can breath that "everything's new and possible" sensation. Japanese welcomed all these changes with big smiles, surprise feelings and unexpected enthusiasm.
Enjoy!

1958. A young Japanese woman in a kimono playing with Hula-Hoop. (Mitsunori Chigita)

1949. Dancers resting on the rooftop of SKD Theatre in Asakusa. (Takeyoshi Tanuma)

1950. Ginza. (Toni Schneiders)

1958. Two young girls in kimono in a street near the almost completed Tokyo Tower.

1958. Streets of Tokyo. (Marc Riboud)

1954. Ginza skyline. (Kimura Ihee)

1958. Telephoning home. (Marc Riboud)

Japanese Teapot

Whatever weather, cold or warm, I can't never stop drinking hot tea.  Japanese teapots are not only Tetsubin ones as there is a variety of shapes and materials, workmanships and functions.
I collected some of my favourite Japanese teapots from Pinterest and here you are just an anticipatory post of a new-in in my cupboard!

1. (here) Enamel. Japan is one of the Word's leading enamel manufacturers, in business since ages. The most recognizable design in this field is this famous teapot >>> click
2. (here) Porcelain. Bamboo handle and Chinese inspired decorated porcelain make it the the most beautiful teapot to display.
3. (here) Raw Ceramic. The exquisite result of a long handmade Japanese tradition.
4. (here) Kyusu is the most ancient teapot from Japan. It's a memory-made one since the smell of the leaves last long trapped inside.