No90

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 90.Finally cherry blossom out here in Osaka! On the way from my house to office, we can enjoy lots of cherry blossoms, and when wind blows petals fell like snow. Lots of people of our vintage kimono market are old, and at this season people often admire the beauty of sakura, and often rough to say 'How many times can I see the cherry blossoms for the rest of my life?'When we see the full bloom of cherry blossom all around, we feel that spring must come what ever happens, and our mind become new to the new lives. You may think Japanese are obsessed to sakura but it may be true.
By the way ranru(boro) is very popular among our customers. We heard from a customer that he had an exhibition of ranru in Milan Italy. He gave us photos of the exhibition and a book. What a wonderful experience to see our items entertain the people in Milan! ( Some of them are from us.)http://www.ichiroya.com/enjoyphotoalbum/nunziosan12-5.htm The name of 'ranru' became popular(or named) by Mr. Tatsuichi Horikiri. He is the discoverer of the charm of commoner's rags. He was born in 1925, and experienced WWII as a soldier. He has four books about ranru and war, and appeals the horror of war through the old fabircs, which were used by poor common people. He collected about 2500 of boro all over Japan during 40 years, with hearing the history of the fabric and owner's lives. For example, very old lady in Tohoku district gave him a noragi which was worn in her girlhood. She said the frays were from her babies, who she had to shoulder while she worked in her families' field. She used to work with ignoring her babies crying and kicking her back, and the same parts of the back of her noragi had frays. He deposited his collection to KITAKYUSHU MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY & HUMAN HISTORY ( http://www.kmnh.jp/index_e.html ), and you can see the part of his collection. When exhibition was held we could see approx 300 of his co!llection, but now we can see about 20 - 30 in the permanent collection exhibition room.
When I read his book, I always re-realize how the people lived tough lives than we imagined. Common people's lives were completely different from ours. For examples, common people in Taisho or early Showa period couldn't sleep 8 hours. Peoplle had to work long hours only to live, and 8 hours sleeping was extravagant for ordinary common people. Mr. Horikiri wrote he wanted to be rich to be able to sleep 8 hours. And people used their futon (bedding) only for sleep warmly. We often offer futon covers, which are made of cotton, and many parts were repaired with other fabrics. These pieces were not used for specially poor family. Mr. Horikiri wrote approx 25% of people used such ranru futon. Every year people unpicked the stitches, and repaired the tears with other used fabrics, which they preserved with caution. They sent cotton padding to the professionals to soften it. More poor people used used cotton fabrics for their futon padding. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=74770http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=73388But when ladies became brides, people always made new futon for new couples. At that ages divorce was fatal for women, so people hoped happy wedding making new futon ( futon made of used fabrics imply unhappy wedding). Precious few rich family could afford to make gorgeous futon, or yogi for their daughters. Some have magnificent tsutsugaki pictures with auspicious meaning motifs. There are some smples in our site,http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=75076http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=54842 When the poor family sent her daughters as brides, they made their new futon with their redundant threads. In olden times people make their fabrics by their own. In the Horikiri san's book, old lady said her mother had to collect redundant threads from neighbours to make her new futon. She managed to bring her 'new' futon, but she said she was hectored by husband's mother about her futon. That kind of textiles, which are woven with redundant threads by common people, are called 'Yatara ori' or 'Zanshi ori'. I don't have such futon cover now, if we get we will let you know.
When I see the ranru, I imagine their tough but loving family lives, just same Horikiri san teaches us. And I feel we must appreciate our forefather's dedicated lives, which enable our present rich and easy lives.
Thank you again for reading to the end. Today we are going to list some kimono, karinui fabrics, shiromuku and bolts. And we are adding some antique and vintage items - china, urushi and others. We will not reduce the fabrics and kimono listing because of it. We always try to get lots of kimono and fabrics as we can, and try to list them. And besides it, we increased our staff and room for other antique items. We think other antique items also have great charm, and way less expensive compared to their fantastic and elaborate handwork.We are very happy if you get interesting in those items, and enjoy them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0411
Ichiro & Yuka WadaKimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.comaddress: Asia-shoji Bldg.301 1841-1 Nishi 1 chome Wakamatsu cho Tondabayashi city Osaka 584-0025 JAPANTEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446