No 153


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.153.These days, it has been very hot as usual. Yesterday I went Iga toattend a kimono auction. Auction house is a shanty, room air temperaturehad to be hotter than outdoor air temperature. Of course there is notair conditioner, only several fans stirred the hot air. We had to havetowel to wipe our sweat. All auction staff sweated, and they had to becareful not to drop their sweat on kimonos. Items were less than usual,and also the bidders were less. Japan's summer is very hot, and usuallykimono stores never be able to have good sales at mid summer season. Sothe auction was on low tone, and hotness made bidders depressed. We hadlunch in our cars with air conditioner turn on, and at the rest time icecandies were handed out. I got two, and ate one and put another in mytowel. I put the towel (with ice candy) around my neck - cool ice feelmade me little bit easy to bear the hotness. However, we got some rare and valuable items in such touch condition.One is Yumigahana kasuri yogi - tortoise and anchor were hand woven byweft ikat, and its pattern is very fine and artistic. It must be one ofour best kasuri yogi we have ever had.Another valuable item is vintage black furisode. Other bidders did notseem to be concentrated because of hotness. Its design is not sounusual, but its details of yuzen work and embroidery are superb. I won,and when the furisode came to my hand, I was surprised with its fineworks. If it was offered at large auction in Kyoto or Tokyo, the winningbid had to be way expensive. We will offer these items this week. Just wait till you see them on theweb!
Soccer World Cup ended. Japan national team couldn't pass the first heat.Our national team seemed to be overestimated, and we Japanese are verydisappointed with the result. We would like to say congratulations to the customers from Italy.
Zidane's head butt was disappointed. Unbridled passion brought to an end.In my opinion, he could appeal after the match ended. Ronaldinho was also disappointing. Everyone had to want to see and enjoyhis super plays more. Although my most favorite sport is ice hockey(I was a ice hockey playerat university), World Cup reminded me the feeling of matches of icehockey. Verbal abuse, threat and bagarre were ordinary occurrence. Someplayers came near calmly and said with a menacing gesture, ' After thematch, come to the park.' Most players punch with only bare hands, butthere were a few really dangerous guys, who stamped the player's bareface with sharp edge of skate shoes. Every athletes have the highs and the lows, and I had a few games when Iwas unusual top condition as if I felt I could do anything. It was the match of the last formal league game before graduation. I wasthe left wing of the first set, and in very good condition. At thesecond period, I was hit by the opposing team's defence player. Istood up and went back to the bench. At that time I wore contact glass.After the pain gone, I noticed my vision didn't become clear. I noticedthe left eye's glass dropped and was missing. I had to go onto the icerink again, and had to continue the game with unclear vision. Everythingwas over the mist, I couldn't follow the pack. I felt I lost that gameand league with contact glass missing.At the rest time between the second and the third period, I confessed mycondition and asked the teammate to look for the contact glass on theice rink. There was no one-day contact glass those days and contactglasses were quite costly.As you know, hockey rink is huge and contact glass is verysmall and transparent. In addition, it might be broken during theplayers running. Everyone thought it had to be impossible to find out myglass, but we went out on to the rink, and started to look for it on theice at places. I went to the place where I was hit, and squatted on myknees.Miracle happened. I found the my contact glass where I squatted at first.The contact glass was on the ice, and was not broken!I put my contact glass on, clear vision came back suddenly. Andincredible top condition came at the third period. Vision and everythingbecame clear and sharp, I could see everything as if I controlled thewhole game. Miracle pass succeeded often, opposing defence player couldn'tstop my rush to the goal. As a result my team won, and I got 5 goals! It was one of may happiest days of my modest life.
Thank you for reading to the end. Today we will list some obi, karinuifabric, shiromuku, obi design sheet and cute antique items.We will be very happy if you have time to check our new arrivals!domo arigato gozaimasu
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

No 152


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News LetterNo.152.It has been quite hot days, and 'Ochugen' season has come also this year.In Japan, people present gifts ('Ochugen') each other for thankingusual commensality. Department stores are the most popular shops forOchugen because of their status. I had worked for a department store for19 years, and we had been very busy during Ochugen season every year. At this season, not only the sales staff but also all up-front staffcome out from the office and sell 'Ochugen' gift at shop. Many customers came to Ochugen Gift center, included 'yakuza'( Japanese gangster).When they came to order, we should never made mistake. Ordinarilymanagers were called and meet them. When I was a sales promotion manager,I was often called to receive them. I had to write long address sheetfor gift sending with seeing their recipient list. Lists were written invery unreadable characters, and I could recognize some famous yakuza'sname and other famous people names in them. Some fingers on the table ofthe customer were missing ( yakuza often cut their finger for theirbosses'forgiveness ), and I asked them fearfully. In addition, calculation forgrand total was very difficult and comlocate with various kinds ofdiscount and other rules. My fingers to push an accounting machinewere almost trembling!
Ordinary people have approx 10 persons to send Ochugen gifts, and somepeople like freelance or business owners have huge Ochugen list.Presenters consider the situation of the recipient - their fondness,family makeup and others, and how many gifts they will receive. When wesend Ochugen to the powerful person, we must think his house must be full of samekind of 'Ochugen' gifts. We prefer common food gifts, because even ifrecipients receive the same items, they will not become useless.Best popular gift items are as below. The first : Beer The second : Western Confectionery The third : JuiceThe fourth : Ham and SausageThe fifth : Coffee and TeaThe sixth : NoodlesThe seventh : Japanese Confectionery The eighth : FruitThe ninth : Cooking Oil The tenth : Cleaning Material
About Ochugen gift, we must have a hang-up over to whom we should send.Especially for the salaried employee, its problem is very serious. Somepeople like me don't send 'Ochugen' to their boss, but I imagine mostsalaried employee must send 'Ochugen' to their boss, previous boss andsuperior boss(boss of the boss). I disliked such 'Ochugen Politics' atthe company and didn't send Ochugen to them, but now I feel it had to be notgood for employee. Later I heard an 'Ochugen' rule from a person, and I convinced his wayis best. He says, ' You don't need send Ochugen to many people, anddon't need send precious gifts. Three thousand yen ( approx 25USD) isenough, and approx 15 persons are enough. You have to choose therecipients carefully with focus on the person you really thank fortheir help and commensality. However, once you send 'Ochugen' to theperson, you never quit sending till he dies. Because the debt nevervanishes.'
By the way we thank you very much for participation to our 'Customers SelectionPage'. We thank you very much for wonderful and knowledgeable comments our ouritems. We determined to make new 'Customers Selection Pages' systemnear future. The pages will be more user-friendly and easily viewablewith newly built system. Selected items also can be seen at usualcategory pages, and only customers buy from the presenter's page, feewill be paid. Anyway presenter will be able to make their page easilyand automatically without Ichiro's work. New system will launch about two month later. Before the new system, wewill upload the special pages made by a customer. Pages are almostcompleted, and we will be able to show you within a few days.
Soba restaurant which I wrote in our previous mail news had opened a fewdays ago. We went the restaurant - soba is very delicious! However, theowner looks not so eager to advertise his new shop. We hope his shopwill be crowded in future!
Today we will list kimono, Obi design sheet, geta, bolt and rare woodblockprint books. We hope you could find your favorite items among them!
We wish you a genkina(cheerful) week!domo arigato gozaimashita
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

No 151


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News LetterNo.151.Time flies. Today is already 2nd of July, half of this year had gone.Summer has come, we feel to want to eat 'unagi'(eel) to recover fromsummer weariness. Have you ever eaten 'una-jyu '( bowl of eel and rice).Here are the photos of 'una-jyu'. I must swallow my saliva! http://images.google.co.jp/images?q=%E9%B0%BB%E9%87%8D&hl=ja&lr=&sa=N&tab=wiUnagi(eel) is boiled with sauce, and put on the rice. When it is put inthe jubako, it is called 'una-jyu', and when 'donburi'(rice bowl) isused, it is called 'una-don'. Japanese pepper 'sansyo' powder isscattered on it. Unagi is soft and juicy, and very delicious, and alsogrim with good nutrition. Una-jyu is very popular menu also at our home, and there are many unagispecialized restaurants all over Japan. At the usual unagi restaurant,there are ranks of 'una-jyu'. Always the ranks are named 'shou-chiku-bai'.Our customers must know already about 'shou-chiku-bai'. It means 'pinetree - bamboo - ume blossom', and the set of auspicious items. Toindicate the ranks of unaju( or other Japanese menu), we use this words.'Shou(another pronunciation - matsu)' is the best, 'Chiku ( anotherpronunciation - take )' is the second and 'Bai(another pronunciation -ume)' is the last. Difference of the ranks of unaju is determined by the quality or volumeof unagi. Nowadays unagi is bred, and also imported from China(!! everythingare from China), but native unagi ( mainly live in rivers) is still offered. Native unagi's flesh is said to have resilience and more delicious thanbreaded/imported ones. So if unagi on the rice is Japanese native, andis very large, it must be 'Matsu(Shou)' class. ( And of course it mustbe expensive!) Yuka's father loves unagi -- sometimes he is sick but he recovers whenhe eats unagi, so Yuka says unagi works better than going to hospital.I become to want to eat matsu class unajyu right now ----
Friday of this week( 7th July) is Tanabata festival. We have written thisnews letter for 3 years, so we had to write about Tanabata before.However, folk tale of 'Tanabata' is beautiful story, so we would like tointroduce again. This story was born in China, and not only Japan but also other Asianpeople have smilar story. Story is about the Milky Way and two stars,Vega and Altair.
Once upon a time, a beauty named Orihime(Vega) lived besides Kansui inChina. She was the daughter of the Emperor. She was hardworking and verygood at weaving. Natsuhiko(Altair) was also was handworking farmer, andEmperor approved their marriage. However, after the marriage, theybecame to neglect their work. Orihime quit weaving, Natsuhiko became notto drive cattle. The Emperor got angry and pulled away with AmanokawaRiver ( Milky Way ) between them. The Emperor permitted them to cometogether only once a year on 7th July. Orihime and Hikoboshi became towork hard with looking forward this special day. And when it rained onthat day, water increased and they couldn't go across the AmanokaraRiver. At that time magpies are said to flock together and become abridge for them.
Here is the photos of these stars and Milky Way.http://www.yumis.net/tanabata/
It is interesting, another folktale `Tsuruno ongaeshi` also, the heroinewas a weaver. Japanese may love the stories of `parting`--tragic lovestories may strike the right cord of Japanese.
Thank you very much for reading to the end. Two themes above might belittle bit unsuitable. Eating and Love! Anyway we would like to offer rare and valuable items also this week.Today we will list kimono karinui fabric, men's kimono, obi designsheet, bolt and antique items. We wish you could find your favoriteamong them.
We wish you a nice new week with peace and laughter.
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

No 150


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.150.We are still in 'tsuyu'(raniy season), and it is raining today. Howis the weather in you place!
These days, I often think about 'honesty'. In Japan, there is an oldadage, which says ' Byoubu to Shounin sugu deha tatanu'.Byoubu is the Japanese folding screen, and as you know it is stood withbending at the joints. The adage says,' Byoubu and merchant never stand with unbend.' So the adage says, merchant never attain greatness withsimple honesty.
Two weeks ago, we started 'Kimono Kaitori' with advertising with YahooJapan. 'Kaitori' means 'Purchase', so we tried to purchase used(andantique ) kimono from ordinary people. We made the web page, whichinforms our kimono-purchase-systhm, and advertised the page by YahooSearch Marketing. Here in Japan, Yohoo Japan is the most popular searchengine site. When Japanese people search the word ' kimono + kaitori',several advertised sites are displayed on the not-advertised pages, andwe tried to display our page the first. A book says if the page is advertised in the first rank of Yohoo Japan,approx a tenth of the word searchers will click(or visit) the promotionsite, and approx 1% of the visitors will buy the service on the page. Ifit is real, this will happen - All over Japan, some people want to sell their kimono.- Many of them will look for the kimono dealers who will purchase theirkimono, in the internet. - Most of them will go Yahoo Japan, and put the words 'kimono + kaitori'and click search button.- Our site is displayed the first line with other sites. - 10% of them will click the link and visit our page.- A person among 100 visitors will call us, and ask to purchase herkimono.
We wanted to pay as much as we could to the kimono. If we are honest andalways want to offer best service, we must sell our kimono at lowestprice as we can to our customers, and at a time we must pay the highestprice as we can do for these new customers(who want to sell kimono). Ofcourse, we must set the levels carefully at continuable one.
We set the fee as below -- If customers send their kimono to us, we will keep the kimonos for thetime being. - Sell at the kimonos auction, and after the sold price are fixed, wewill pay the 85% of the sales amount. 15% will leave for our profit.We thought this fee is very reasonable. Ordinarily kimono kaitoridealers offer way lower price than expected auction sales amount. It is becausethere are risks ( they may not sell at the expected prices) and also fortheir profits.- We will pay kimonos sending fee and money transfer fee. From our experiences, we thought there is not other way to pay thehighest prices.
However, the problem is the price of advertisement. You may know, the rank is determined by the bid of the advertisers. Morepopular the words become, the bid prices become higher. When we startedto bid, the bid price to get the first rank was approx 300 yen. It meansif someone clicks and visit our site, we must pay 300 Yen(approx 2.5USD)for each their one click.From the calculating formula above, to get one customers, 100 clicks areneeded, which cost 300Yen x 100 = 30000 Yen ( approx 260USD ).
We could estimate that if kimono packages from customers sells average atmore than 200,000 Yen(1700USD), we had to be able to get some profit.We thought it might be very difficult price, because the most kimonoscome from ordinary people are not so valuable. However, there are some'kaitori' dealers who is advertising in the internet, and we heard thatthey have purchased huge kimonos for these 2 years. We thought the average prices might be higher than we expected, if notso other kaitori dealers can not advertise as they do.Anyway we determined to begin to know the 'kaitori' market. It was twoweeks ago.
As a result, the book's description is right. A customers called us during 100 clicks. Five customers sent their kimono to us. Average sales amount percustomer is approx 30,000 yen(260USD). The income and expenditure of acustomer is + 4,500yen ( 15% of 30,000 yen) -30,000yen ( 100 click fee) - 3,000yen ( shipping cost we paid) - 310yen ( bank transfer fee)Grand total is -28,810 yen!
Finally we quit this 'kimono kaitori' advertisement. Customer samples maybe too little, but we can not imagine the average sales go up to 200,000yen. If we want to make profit, we have to pay the least amount as we can.If the amount of the package seems to have 35,000 yen, we had to say thekimonos are almost values and we can pay nothing. To get profitthrough this method, we must say lies everyday and make the customers sad.We come to know that 'kimono kaitori with advertising with Yahoo' is notgood system for customers ( advertising cost is too heavy) and it is notour way.
Today I checked, and found the price of 'kimono Kaitori -first rank'went up to 380 Yen. They must be able to get good profit by theseadvertisements, and compete the first rank position. As the old adageteach us, they must stand with bending somewhere. And recently a seniorantique dealers said to me that ' bad antique dealer grow more thanhonest dealer.'
However, I am never comfortable to say valueless for 300USD value items. I believe merchants can stand only their honesty and service mind. Ifnot so, we would quit our business, and go into the mountains or southernislands.
Thank you for reading to the end! Today we will list kimono, haori,antique items and bolt.We hope you enjoy checking our new arrivals. domo arigato gozaimasu.
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

No 149

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.149.It is raining also today. Four swallow babies left the nest, and inother nest, parents seem to have the second babies of this season. Wedon't know whether the baby bird I helped left safely or not.A gentle man came to our office a few days ago, and he greeted us andsaid that he is going to open a 'soba-ya'( buckwheat-noodle restaurant )at the first floor of our building. The last unoccupied room was rentedby him, and owner of this building must be happy. However, our buildingdoesn't front main road, and I have thought that retail or restaurantmay be difficult. The gentle man seems to begin his first business. Wehopes his soba noodle is very delicious, and his store will becomepoplar restaurant. Anyway I must worry unnecessarily ( he is not a babyswallow!).Around our office, there is not so many good restaurants, so we are veryhappy that we can eat his soba noodle at lunch!
I feel I must write about kimono and antique textile more often. However,this news letter is No.149, and recently finding new theme is becomingvery difficult. Recently I got a book about kasuri published in Showa47(1973). The author 'Sadako Fukui' is the researcher of kasuri, andcollected lots of kasuri, and interviewed old women who were born inMeiji period(1868-1912) and wove kasuri in their usual daily lives. (Book Title is 'Japan Kasuri Cultural History'. The book is veryinteresting and informative. We can not introduce whole contents here,but we would like to introduce some points at random, which I thinkinteresting.
- In Japan cotton began to be produced around 1600. Before the cottonage, various natural fibers were used for fabrics, for examples,asa(hemp), 'kuzu-fu'( Fu means fabric. 'Kuzu' means kudzu. We sometimescome across vintage hakama, which is made of kuzu-fu.), 'fuji-fu'(wisteria), 'zenmai'(fiddleheads) and 'kami'(paper). We call the fabricmade of paper as 'shi-fu'. Speaking of 'shi-fu', recently I came across'shi-fu' noragi at an auction. It looks like very fine sakiori fabric,and have beautiful naturai ai color. The touch is soft and at a time itlooks strong enough, and very difficult to imagine it is made of paper.Owner took out one weft, and showed us how the paper is used as weft.Stripe of paper is twisted as a thread, and when he opened it, it wasreally a stripe of paper! It was amazing to see the material of thebeautiful noragi turned out to be paper!
- You must already know, dyeing with natural ai is very elaborate andinefficient work. To get deep and beautiful ai color, dyer must dip andsqueeze more than 20 times. It was men's work, and adult man could dyeonly 8 kasuri fabrics and 5 stripe fabrics in a day. Chemical indigo(ai)was imported in Meiji 20(1888), and there was a commentary that chemicalindigo was mixed to natural indigo from Meiji 23(1901). In Meiji 40(1907), ai field came down to 25% compared to 10 years before.
- The oldest kasuri in Japan is considered to be 'Satsuma Gasuri' inKyushu (1740). The next is 'Yamato Gasuri' in Kinki district near ouroffice(1751-1764).
- At the peak of Kurume Gasuri production ( Showa 2 (1928) ), approx 54% of the whole production was woven by prisoners. It was woven in 75 prisons,not only all over Japan but also prisons of Korea and China. What a astrange destiny a Kurume Gasuri kimono has! The Kurume Gasuri we send toyou may be born in cotton fields of the United States, imported to Japan,dyed in the Kurume, exported to the prison in Korea, woven by a prisoner,imported to Japan, worn by a Japanese student, stocked for long time intansu, came to our place and send to a customer United State! ( * Mostof Kurume Kasuri cotton material were imported from United States andIndia.)
- At the peak of Kasuri production, Bingo kasuri accounted for 66 % of whole kasuri production. As you know, Bingo kasuri is machine wovenone, and textile is comparatively thin and stiff. However, kurume makerproduced modern design kasuri, and they were very popular at that time.It is incredible, but weaver in Yumigahama and San'in district were saidthat their hand spun/hand tied/hand woven kasuri were too thick anduncool. Unbelievable!
- Kasuri weaving factory girl's life in Meiji period(1912-1925) is asbelow. 'Girls had to quit school at the third-grade of elementary schooland became a factory worker. They worked 14 hours a day, and three yearsafter, they were given weaving machine, and after five years work, theywere given 'kyodai'(dressing table). They married and had severalchildren, and wove their cloth by themselves with weaving for wages.'Their lives are also unbelievable!
- We sometime get antique futon. Usually they are very small ( 87-105cm- 34-41in long). We didn't know why, and we thought they were forchildren. But I found a comments of old man in the book. 'Smaller futonis more economy. It needs less cotton padding. And also sleeping with exposingthe feet is very healthy.' We understand why the antique futon is verysmall. It is not only because people in olden times were shorter thannow.
Thank you very much for reading to the end! Tomorrow we will list haori,karinui, yukata obi & bolts. We will list also cute Japanese antiquesselected by Hisami. Recently we got lots of uchikake(middle grade ones,more than 70 pieces ) and obi design sheets. We will list them this week.Don't miss them!

**We are sending Ichiroya News Letter - the information of new arrivals and bargains. If you would like to join our mailing list, please visit here:http://www.ichiroya.com/~webichiroya/mail/join.htm
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

No 148

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.148.Thank you very much for many reply to our previous mail news. We havemade some customers' recommend pages. Did you check their advices aboutour items? Each presenters' selection and advices are very informative andfun. I strongly wish if I could write descripions as they do. Somecustomers are longer time fan(of fukusa, natural ai and thers) than us!We hope you also enjoy their pages.http://www.ichiroya.com/recommendpagetop.htm
Here in Osaka, 'tsuyu'(rainy season) began a few days ago. It is veryhot and humid, and cloudy or rainy days continue. A few days ago, I wentfishing to the river in the mountain after a long interval. Rain anddrizzle never stopped, and got wet and no fish. When no fish was caught,we say `bozu`-- it means bald head!
This morning, I noticed a baby swallow lied upside down on the ground.At the ground floor near the elavator, swallows come and have babiesevery year(last year the nest was on the second floor, and also thisyear, four babies were born, this time on the first floor and we weredelighted to see them growing in the nest. They grew up very fast, andsmall nest became so full as they grew up. The baby on the ground seemedto have fallen from the nest, might be pushed out by her sisters orbrothers. I picked her up carefully, and looked closely her body. On myhand she sit up, and became better. I went to our office ( on the thirdfloor) and brought our footstool with her on my hand. At last she stoodon my finger, and looked fine. Calmly I appoached and streched my arm,and put her back to her nest. She dropped in the nest, and only her tailcould be seen from outside.I was worried whether she was fine or not. After an hour later, I found four babies's heads and chests lined in thenest's hem. She had to be fine! However, her body is the smallest among her sisters and brothers, and Iam very worried she can survive aginst tough battle for existence.We hope she will leave the nest safely, and can go back to warm placesin the autumn.
I didn't see yet, but in many places 'ajisai'(hydrangea) must be fullbloom now. Hydrangea is the most impressive flowers in this season. WhenI was a boy, more people grew hydrangea in their garden, and earlysummer expression of my boyhood are always colored by hydrangea's vividcolors.
I am very sorry that there is not special news in the letter. It must bebecause this begining of hot and humid days. Today is Sunday but Hisami went to one of the antique auction. Tomorrow we will list some kimono, furisode, hikizuri, nagoya obi,antique items and so on. We also list some interesting stage costumes.If you like interesting woodblock and stoneblock print books, pleasecheck Ichiroya antique too! There will be charming new arrivals.http://www.antiqueichiroya.com/
We hope you could check them and find your favorite!
Thank you again!

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

No 147

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.147.Ichiro is writing this latter. After quite an absence, I am enjoying relaxing Sunday. Every last half moth, I have many auctions, and I don'thave enough time to relax or enjoy hobbies. All staff are off today, andI am writing this letter, listening to JAZZ, my favorite music.
Here in Osaka, it is getting hot as if summer already has come. As usuallots of unhappy affairs happens everyday, however, we are especiallyworried about Indonesia Earthquake. It is reported that more than 3million people were seriously injured, and most of them are stillwaiting curing and medical relief supplies. Just same as Japan,Indonesia is on the quake zone, people can never be free from the riskof earthquake. We have donated 100,000 yen to Doctors Without Borders. They say theamount can supply 80 surgical narcosis kits or 1250 immunizationinstruments. We hope their aid will reach injured people as soon aspossible. This donation is from our profit, which you allowed us toleave for our works. So it is from ICHIROYA and Ichiroya's customers.Thank you again for your orders and help, which makes this donationpossible!
Be that as it may, I sometimes feel why some very valuable items havebeen in our store without being sold. Our stocks have grown to hugevolume, so we feel some very charming items are buried in lots of items,and they seem not to be checked by customers. And we always feel thatour (especially my ) English skills are not enough to convey their value andcharms adequately. If some customers(presenters) recommend our items, we feel othercustomers must know better about the items. If some customers(presenters) select some items, and add theirrecommending comments, other customers must be convenient to know theidea from different points of views. If we pay several percent of the sales to presenters when othercustomers buy their recommend items, presenters also may be delighted.It is a kind of affiliate, but we do not think it is same as otheraffiliate system. We don't want make everyone presenters - ourpresenters must be our customers, who already bought kimono or antiqueitems from us.
We are not sure this system work well, but recently estimate sheet came,and we know making this affiliate system will cost way expensive than weimagined. We discussed, and we determined that we should begin fromminimum level. We would like to welcome several presenters, and maketheir pages by our side. We have made a sample page as below;
http://www.ichiroya.com/sp/list.php?spid=S44823f588cac0
We welcome 5 presenters from our customers. Would you become a presenter,and recommend our items?
- We pay 5% of the sales, if your recommend items are sold.- We pay by PAYPAL or you can apply it for discount of your payment.- Available period is 2 weeks. You dominate items for the 2 weeks.- Items recently listed can not be selected. Items must be on 4th pageor more back pages in each category. - Kimono site items are available. Except antique site and TJA siteitems. ( Temporarily ) - Please email us '5 select items list' and 'recommend comments'. Itsall you have to do. However, if you advertise you page, sale possibilitywill increase dramatically. You can send emails to your friends of yourrecommend page, or make links from your blog or web page to your page.
Are you interested in this system? If you want to be a presenter, pleaselet us know by email.
Thank you for reading to the end. We will list fukusa, fukusa designingpaper, bolt and antique items. We are very grateful if you can check our interesting new arrivals.We wish you a happy new week.
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

No 146


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.146.How are you? This is Yuka from Ichiroya. Some of you may be feeling the beginning of summer already,some of you may still have cold days. May is said to be a most pleasant month in Japan -- June isour rainy season and we have just heard Kyusyu area(southern part of Japan)has just entered the rainyseason and the seasonal rain front is coming up gradually.
Today, Ichiro and our older daughter both went an auction trip - and I am writing this newsletter.As Ichiro wrote in our website,Ichiro's mother was working as a kimono seamstress for over 50 years.My grandmother also was sewing kimono and teaching how to sew to younger people in her neighborhood.My grandmother's generation, it seemed all women had to be able to sew kimono for their family. At present time, there are many schools to teach how to sew kimono but in old times sewing kimono is a natural thing which women learn from their mothers without taking classes. In other words, women were born to get married, do all the household including making kimono for their families. So all women had the knowledge about kimono sewing for some extent, they could at least sew unlined kimonoprobably.Like my grandmother, there are these older people who could help younger people with sewing and dressing kimono- I remember my grandmother and her neighbors getting together in her small room, chatting and sewing. I was playing with my cousins and waited her little kimono class to end. I was always fascinated by her little sewing kit and haribako beside her.
These are the very similar things she was using:
http://www.city.onojo.fukuoka.jp/culture_rekisi_bunkazai_mingu05
She had this type of haribako and it was full of threads, pins, needles,thimbles and fabrics. Therewas a small hole to put the measuring stick too. The little drawers were full of these things and after she worked, everything could fit in this compact haribako like a magic. On the top you see the tray but behind that tray there is another space or drawer and to me,it was like a secret treasurebox. I think she had a low table and had a folding board where she placed kimono fabric and cut.She was always sitting on her knees,( she was a very small woman) and when sitting on the small zabuton(flat cushion) she was like a small doll. She had her kappougi apron(aprons which can cover sleeves too) and beside here, there was always a kukedai- it is in the left of the photo-it is a stand to holdthe third hand. It may be hard to see but there is a pinch tied to the stand. The other end of fabriccan be pinched to to pull the fabric and make it easier when kimono are sewn. The bottom of the standis tuckedunder zabuton, so the sewer is sitting on it and the stand can be stable. You can also see thescissors just like the ones we have in our J Artisan's website. http://www.tourjartisan.com/index.phpIt is called nigiribasami-these are the kind which were always around and used for sewing.
Sometime ago, I visited my uncle's house to help them moving. They moved into a flat from a house theylived with their mother(my grand mother). There were two big tansu and some small things my grandmotherleft- there were the stand(with third hand). an old type iron-(they were warmed by hibachi, brazier)and her letters to her children and so on.We carried one of the tansu(chest) to my mother's house. The other bigger tansu had no place to go,unfortunately. The tansu had two parts and the bottom part was for kimono and the upper part has a lotof small drawers and the sliding door on the top part. Both my mother and my uncle told me that theyremember their grand mother used to give them sweets she was hiding behind the sliding door secretlyShe called her grandchildren and let them open their mouths and fed them like a parent bird.Their grandmother was very harsh to their mother but she seemed to have spoiled her grandchildren( my mother and my uncle). My mother is 71 years old now but she remembered about it so vividly.
Hisami who is in charge of our antique website wrote her first newsletter the other day. Both Ichiro andHisami do not care to drive long distance as long as there is an auction. In antique auctions, women arevery few and older people often tease her but she laughs away and concentrate very hard on the thingsin front of her- she sometimes have a nose of German shepherd and sniffs out the treasures from a bigpile of goods.She does not care getting up at dawn and looks blissful when she could find wonderful old goods. In our antique store, there are some haribako just like the one my grandmother had- we hope you enjoy seeingthe haribako which have been used in my grandmother's generation:
http://www.antiqueichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=500763http://www.antiqueichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=500562http://www.antiqueichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=500141
We will be adding charming antique items including a horse, misu screen(lovely size!)and antique ko-tansuat Antique Ichiroya and adding kimono, great catch of fish flag, fabrics AND 10 kimono bundle pack --20 charming kimono as a pack.We will be very happy if you have some time to check our new arrivals.
Domo arigato gozaimasu for reading our newsletter. We wish you a wonderful new week!

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

No 145


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.145.I returned from Shanghai 14th Sunday, and this week is comparativelyrelaxed. I attended two kimono auctions ( and Hisami also attended threeantique auctions), and I went to 'Fusuido-no-Shitsurai-Ten'( Handicraft ShowHeld in Daimaru Umeda Department Store ). Approx 50 handicraft artisans and artists are participating. Pages areJapanese, but here is the web page about this fair. http://www.daimaru.co.jp/fusuido/This is the pages of introducing artisans and artists. http://www.daimaru.co.jp/fusuido/umeda/index.htmlArtisans and artists are selected carefully by Mr. Toshihiro Imai, whoknows much about Asia's culture and crafts. All of their technique havegenuine origin in Japan or other Asian countries, and also have moderntaste, which fit our modern lives.About 8 or 9 years ago, when this first fair was held at Daimarudepartment store, I was the windows man of department store. ( It wasvery interesting, but also tough experience!) We are going to sell the accessories of an artist among them, and I mether and had a business talk with her. http://www.daimaru.co.jp/fusuido/art/u19s18/index.htmlShe is a very charming person, and I really enjoyed talking with her. Wewould like to sell her items immediately, but now she is a mother of twobabies and can not take enough time to make her products. She promisedto offer her items at our site, but it will be autumn when enough itemsare made and prepared.
By the way, I didn't write enough about the trip to Shanghai in our lastNewsletter.What an exciting city Shanghai is!People are vibrantly and new buildings are being built all over hell'shalf acre. On the roads lots of cars, bicycles, bikes, pedestrians andsales people are rushing their ways. I didn't understand who have theright to go first - Shoko and I had to have strong courage only to goacross the road. I can never drive by myself in China! I felt the town scenes are very similar to the scenes in Japan when Iwas a boy. 30 or 40 years ago, Japan had to have very similar atmosphereto today's Shanghai. Japan was at the high-growth period, and people andtown were more energetic and wild than now. I convince China must grow rapidly for these 30-40 years same as Japan did. What will happen in this world, if the country with 1.4 billionpopulation grow rapidly? Japan's population is only 100 million, andalso English speakers are also only 1 billion!
We visited a factory, who is specialized in kimono sewing. We wereastonished to see hundreds of seamstresses were sewing kimono without uttering a word.We heard that they are hiring more than 7 hundred seamstresses, andtrain them to be able to sew kimono. As you know, most kimono are sewncustom made. So immediately we understood they need verysophisticated and tough management to sewing hundreds of different sizekimonos at a time. In addition, there must to know about kimono and specialterms of Japanese kimono to communicate with Japanese customers.There are many sewing factories in China, but there are only a few ones,who can sew kimono. One vice-president is a beautiful lady in her twenty's , who was aseamstress when their factory was established. She speaks Japanesefluently and knows everything about sewing kimono. It is amazing thatshe manages 700 seamstressed with ingenuity! She said mentality of seamstresses dramatically changed recently - whenshe became a seamstress, everyone were very hungry and they worked hardto support their families. However, seamstresses she recently hiressatisfy if they earn only their allowance, and never work harder thanbefore. This story is very interesting - in many different aspects,China is coming the same way Japan have come.
We are going to make men's formal kimono and haori set at their factory.It will take a few month to be able to sell at our site. They are madeof exquisite black polyester ( very similar to habutae silk ), and theywill fit to 190cm( 74.8in height). They are sewn by high-tech sewing machine,and similar quality to hand sewing ones. We are thinking the prices, butit may be around 350 USD (retail price). And we will be able to sell at wholesale for bulk buying.
Thank you for reading to the end! Today we will list haori( one piece issuperb one! Must check!), obi design paper and antique items. We wishyou could check them and find your favorite.
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

No 144


Dear Customers & FriendsHello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.144.Just now I returned from Shanghai in China! Shoko ( our elder daughter, who is studying Chinese in university ) accompanied me. Shanghai is very exciting! We felt very energy of people and society. Maybe 40 years ago, Japan also had to had same kind of energy. We visited a kimono sewing company, and had a meeting about men's kimono project. Today is Sunday, but lots of professional seamstresses were sewing sedulously. They sew their kimono not by simple machine sewing method like making T shirts - they sew in two methods - all hand sewing or hand sewing plus high-tech sewing machine. I was astonished to see lots of items are sewn one by one elaborately in each sizes.At first we are going to make large men's kimono at moderate price. And we hope in furture we would make large size yukata for women.We are very sorry but we don't have enough time to write letter - tomorrow I must leave office very early to attend an auction in Iga.I will stop writing here, but we would like to let you know our new items on Tour J Artisan.Do you know Satsuma Yaki, one of the most gorgeous gold china in Japan. And do you know the tradition of Satsuma Yaki is still alive?
Please visit here!http://www.tourjartisan.com/tour/6/index.html
Today we will list Band New Narumi Yukata, Karinui, Obi,Antique items and bolt. And we will list them earlier than usual.
Thank you for reading to the end!Sincerely,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

No 143

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA'S News LetterNo.143.Here in Japan, this week is Golden Week holidays, but my these two weeksare incredibly busy. I had to drive several times, and was often caughtby unusual traffic jam. Roads were crowded with cars with families, andI envied the a little bit.
30th Sunday - Went to yuzen dyer's work shop in Kyoto. I was astonishedand charmed by his skill! He is making our scarves with ancient Yuzentechnique. We believe his scarves will be the highest quality one in theworld. We hope we can offer you as soon as possible.
1st Monday - Attended a kimono auction in Osaka.
4th Thursday - Went a work shop of Satsuma Yaki potter - Shima san. Aweek later we will offer his Satsuma yaki(from 15th May) at our TJA. Youmay know about Satsuma Yaki, but we think you don't know there still areSatsuma Yaki potter in Japan. His traditional Satsuma Yaki techniquemakes most regal gold potteries - We promise they are more gorgeous thanyou could imagine.
5th Friday - Went to a senior kimono dealer's place. She had kept somesupreme items for our customers as always. It took very long time toreach her house for unusual trafffic jam. However, we could get somesupreme treasures! Today we will list some of them - three SUPURB maruobi, men's muso haori ( you may have not seen such items! Please check!)
6th Saturday - President of Tsuzure Weaving company came to our officewith 'tsuzure bag project'. Their bags are exceptionally charming! Wewish we could show you right now! He is making more items than weexpected. About this tsumetsuzure formal bag, we will sell our site TJA at retailprice, and also we are going to sell at wholesale basis. All items havedifferent designs, and they must be very special and unique items forretailers. The bags are unique and there is nothing similar in the world we think.7th Sunday - Going to a kimono auction in Kakegawa ( Shizuoka prefecture).I wish I can take seat in Shinkansen Express - I fear the same thing mayhappen as on roads. And of course we wish we can have fantastic itemsthere.
10th Wednesday - Going to a kimono auctiion in Kanazawa(Ishikawaprefecture ). This auction will start this month. Kanazawa is little bitfar, and I am wondering we should go or not.
11th Thursday - Going to a kimono auction in Osaka.
12th Friday - Going to kimono fabric auction in Kyoto.
13th Saturday, 14th Sunday - I will go Shanghai in China to visit thea kimono sewing company. We are going to make large size men's kimono atlower prices with them. To make resonable price ones, we must make inChina or other Asian counties. ( Of course for the high-end traditionalgoods, we offer Japanese artisan's items.) We are learning how to shipand return fabrics and kimonos to China. At first trial we are going tomake 60 kimono and haori set, and will offer to the customers, who areway taller than Japanese average height. If this trial goes well, wewould like to wholesale these items. Don't you need large men's blackformal haori and kimono set? ( Shoko, our elder daughter will accompanywith me. She is studying China, and we would like to show her howShanghai is.)
15th Monday - Going to a kimono auction in Iga.

Ooops! I must go bed, or else I can not get up early for very earlymorning train! Please visit our site regularily also this week!
*We are adding supreme obi, men's kimono set and also fabulous Fireman's jacket.We hope you have some time to check our new arrivals.In the antique store, there is a very unique wooden Tabacco case coated on urushi.It is truly a charming piece. We hope you will enjoy checking our new arrivals.
Thank you again!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

No 142


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.142.It was a lovely and sunny Sunday. We saw some women using parasols toavoid the sunlight. `Bihaku` is the keyword you hear most often now inJapan - it means `whitening`. Skin-whitening products and UV productshit the shelves and you can see many women with hats or parasols(or longgloves)in Japan.Today, Ichiro is in Kyoto to meet another craftsman(a Yuzen dyer), and I(Yuka) am writing this e-mail. I sit in front of my computer almost all day but I am not good atoperating computers at all. Sometimes my computers behaves badly and verymean to me, but when I ask Kayo or Mami for help, the computer worksjust correctly. They think I am crying wolf all the time.Regarding our website, we have added revision once in a while but stillcannot be perfect at all. I would like to add some things which may notbe described clearly in our website- and if this becomes helpful tosearch the things you like I will be very happy. For the next revision,your advice will be very much appreciated.
The categories of our items are shown on the left of the top page butthere are quite many pages for each category, so to narrow and reach theitems you like faster, there is a search corner on the right of the toppage.* If you are looking for a certain type of kimono, for example, a formalblack kimono to wear, then you can choose `kimono section' at Item pulldown menu. If you know the word `kurotomesode', it is easier but if youdo not know the word, you can enter key words as `black, formal' and soon. If you have any request about size, history, fabric, condition &price, choose what you like.(Regarding size, kimono sizing may be quiteconfusing, so if you could e-mail us directly, we will be happy toanswer any questions)The MOST IMPORTANT thing is to check ` Only selling now'. It meansit shows the things available. If you do not check here, the both `sold` itemsand `on sale` items show. We are sorry this expression must not beappropriate, We will be revising to show this point more clearly in thefuture. When you want to see the things on sale only, please check here(Only selling now).
The reason we have `sold` items remaining for a while(usually sold itemsremain one week and then deleted automatically), is we often receiveinquiries about the items which appeared on the site. To identify theitem which are inquiring about, the sold items remain for a while. Weare sorry this may be making it inconvenient, and thank you for yourpatience and consideration.If you browse each page and when you want to go back to the top page,you can always click the logo mark to go back to the top page.To see the new arrivals, please click the items of New Arrival corner.
Since we have started our website, our fixed idea has been blown awaymany times. Obi as a table runner? Kimono for interior display? Haori asa jacket with other clothing? Wearing a haori inside out? Shibori fabricmade into a dress? All these things seem to be very natural now but tobe honest, everything was a big surprise at first. We found ourcustomers were wonderful decorators, designers and stylists using kimonoand fabrics and learned so much. Many customers thank us for introducingJapanese culture and traditional items but you are the ones who enhancedthe possibilities of these old and traditional Japanese clothing.By re-creating, many kimono and fabrics were reborn to be used again.
We want to introduce the two charming people who are doing thisre-creation of kimono and fabrics in Germany. Their company's name isSAI SO and SAI SO literally means to recreate, and this is their website:http://www.saiso.de/Please try the wonderful movie of their new collection for the comingseasons. Martin san and Gabriella san make this alluring and stylish company. Martin san who is from `music` field and Martin san's wife Gabriellasan who works as a movie producer and also works with Martin san are creatingfantastic fashion items using old kimono fabrics. We had an opportunityto meet both of them in April and are charmed by their friendliness andopen mind. Martinsan's encounter with kimono fabrics was a long time agobut he never imagined he would be working with kimono, but his career inmusic and art field led him to the new world of recreation using thesevery old fabrics from Japan. Some handembroiedered flower motif fromvintage kimono are reborn as one point of a fashionable dresses, andfamily crest becomes like a subtle but stylish accent of shirts. Like awonderful fusion music, they create dresses, jackets, accessaries andinterior products which are highly fashionable
Thank you very much for buying tiny traditional scissors made byFujiwara san. He is very happy that his scissors are sent to all overthe world - when our stocks are all sold, it may take some time ( acouple of weeks to a month) but he says he will be happy to make morefor you, so please contact us any time for more scissors.His scissors are basically for sewing(cutting threads and fabrics) butyou can cut paper too, however if you cut paper often with the scissors,it may be better to add some oil(machine oil or salad oil)to keep theblade not to get too dry.
We are adding kimono, furisode and fabrics(including charming patternBingo kasuri)tomorrow. We will be very happy if you have time to check our new arrivals.We wish you a happy new week, antatani totte yoi issyukan dearimasuyouni.Domo arigato gozaimasu.
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

No 141


Dear Customers & FriendsHello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No. 141.We visited Gramma Ashiwa's workshop two weeks ago, and made her page in Tour J Artisan. We got new sakiori item - Oshima brown color one for TJA.We are very happy if you could check Gramma Ashiwa's work and technique at our site.
http://www.tourjartisan.com/tour/5/index.html
Today we have listed lots of fantastic obi, Bingo kasuri and bolt at kimono site, and some woodblock print, urushi bowl, rare yagen, zushi and vintage mirror at antique item site. We are very happy if you could check them.
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0424http://www.antiqueichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0424
We wish you a nice spring weekend! Sicenery,
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

Dear Customers & FriendsHello from Japan! This is Kimono FLea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.140.Today we have listed a new item on 'Tour J Artisan'. Please visit here!
http://www.tourjartisan.com/tour/4/index.html
Today we will list karinui, bolt, supreme urushi set and others. We are very happy if you could find you favorite items among them.
Thank you very much for your partonage! 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

No 139

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.139.Cherry blossom is now in full bloom. Also today I came to our office seeing lots of cherry blossoms.Petals scurried, and roads are scattered with petals.Writing about cherry blossom must be third times, but every this season I couldn't resist not towrite about cherry blossom.Recently I heard an interesting story from a senior kimono dealer. She said cherry blossoms in the kimono from Edo period were 'yamazakura'. 'Yamazakura' is one kind of the cherry blossom, and beforethe Meiji period(1868-1912) yamazakura was the most usual cherry blossom in Japan. After Meiji period,'someiyoshino' became popular, and recently most cherry blossom we see in town are 'someiyoshino'.Shesays yamazakura has also leaves when it is in full bloom. So the pictures of yamazakura also has greenaccent,which makes kimono more beautiful and colorful. Someiyoshino has no leaves- at her best, andonly pink flowers decorate tree. Of course it is also very beautiful, but in the eyes of art motif,yamazakura may be able to more beautiful motifs. I nodded her idea, because Irecaled some impressive cherry blossom motif kimonos, and all their impressions are colorful with leaves's green, trunk'sbrown and pink of flowers.
Cherry blossom blooms at a time, and fills towns, street and mountains all over Japan, and is dispersed in a moment. During the war time, cherry blossom's beauty was always used to urge peopledie. Samurai and soldiers had to die beautifully for their prides and loved ones just like cherryblossoms. We know this history well, but cherry blossom is still something special for our Japanese. Cherry blossom bloom ends so shortly - everything come and go, nothing is immortal, and beauty is morevaluable because we know it must lost near future. Cherry blossom remind us that we are all mortal- in this season we often say, 'How many times can I see cherry blossom till I die?'
http://www.e087.com/flash/yozakura2.htm
Tomorrow I will visit an artisan who makes 'nigiri-basami', Japanese traditional small scissors for sewing. It is small and cute one, and you can use thumb and forefinger while you 'nigiru'( hold ) it.It is very useful for sewing, and from Edo Period( 1603-1867) Japanese people traditionally have beenused it. Nigiri-bashami is still made with traditional techniques in Ono city. We would like to introducehis work and items at our site 'Tour J Artisan' next week. ( We are very sorry if we can not make pagesuntil the week after next.)The day next tomorrow I will visit Ashiwa san's work shop. You may already know, grandma Ashiwa makesfantastic ai 'sakiori' fabrics. We will report her work and technique with more photos at Tour J Artisan.Both their work shops are not so far from our office ( approx 2 hours by car ). Next week I must attend also three auctions. What a busy week it is!
Today we will list haori, katazome fabric, sakiori rag, antique items and so on. We are very happy if you could find your favorite ones in them. **We are sending Ichiroya News Letter - the information of new arrivals and bargains. If you would like to join our mailing list, please visit here:http://www.ichiroya.com/~webichiroya/mail/join.htm
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

No 138


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.138.Sakura(cherry) starts flowering here in Osaka. Mugi, our younger daughterattended an entrance ceremony of her college with Yuka. I am very surprisedto hear that the college have an exhibition soccer match with a professionalteam from Osaka for celebration.
Two staff left our office, and both go to school to learn new things. Most school starts in April, and many people start new things in spring.Some people leave and some new staff are coming--April really has come!
In this letter, I would like to some short topics about our daily life and works.
*I am wearing a jeans, which is dyed with natural 'ai'(indigo). As you know, Japanese natural ai is different from chemical indigo, which is ordinarilyused to dye jeans. Natural ai dyed cotton has beautiful deep navy ai color,and when it is washed, its color become deeper and more beautiful, same as theold cotton we have at our site. Chemical indigo dyed jeans's color only becomeslight and whitish. I want to check how the natural ai color will change on jeans.Natural ai dyed jeans is expensive ( approx 300USD), but if the jeans becomebeautiful like old Japanese cotton by wearing many times, don't you think theprice is worth? I started to wear this jeans a few weeks ago, and washed once. Its navy color is deepand beautiful now. I will inform you how the color change during the long time!http://www.sugarcane.jp/original.html
*Last week I went to Tokyo, and looked accessories made of 'kumihimo'. Kumiko Muramatsumakes elegant accessories with 'kumihimo' technique. 'Kumihimo' is a technique ofweaving(brading) cords for obijime and other kimono accessories. She learned 'kumihimo'technique, and uses for making her charming accessories.We are asking her to offer her items on our site Tour J Artisan.http://www.jade.dti.ne.jp/~yu-do/regular/muramatsu.html
*Tow days ago, I talked to an fan artisan in Kyoto. He makes fabulous fans and selling alot mainly at his shop. He is a hard-core artisan, but he seemed to be interested in ourproject. We said we were looking for supreme Japanese fan for our site, with the highestquality of hand work and exotic Rimpa taste. If our customers become to want buy fans,they never want the souvenir level ones. He says there must be the market I suggested,but now he nor other Kyoto fan makers don't make such items. He is very busy to produce ordinary items now ( summer is coming!). But during that timehe said he will study about the taste we wanted, and after high product season he promisedto try to make special fans for our site. We are very happy to know he thinks our plan isvery valuable to be tried. We will send some photos and documents for the fan planning. Don't miss it!
*About two weeks ago, I met a lady whose name is Anna Nakajima. She is making Western dressusing uchikake and other kimonos. We knew some people who were makin dresses with kimonos,but she is special because she is selling mainly to European customers. I visited herworkshop, and checked her items. They have good quality and well thought designs forforeigners. She is very young ( early 20's), but she had lived in Europe for a long time.She speaks English fluently, and already has lots of customers in especially in theUnited Kingdom. From her speaking, I came to know she has very good Japanese servicemind for her customers, and also business plan.She has her website in Japanese, but now she is making English site. We are going tointroduce her to our customers, for those who are interested in making a custom made dressusing kimonos. We will let you know when her new site is open. If you are interested,please check the site below ( Japanese site).http://annaniponica.com/
*We are trying to make large size men's kimono. We are often asked about large size men'skimono, but Japanese men's average height is approx 170cm, which is about 10cm less thanWesterners. In addition, people in olden times were shorter approx 10cm compared to now.So always we were frustratedt that we could not offer matching size used kimono for tallermen. Todays men's average height become higher, but making large size kimono cost veryexpensive. We are trying to make men's formal black kimono and haori set for tall men ( it will fit up to 195cm- 76.8in height) at very moderate price. We found polyester black fabrics,and found sewing company in China. We must study and arrange for consignment manufacturingtrade, but in future we will sell them at our store.Recently we found men's hakama for tall men ( approx 185cm-73in height). http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=94122
*Yesterday my mother called me, when I was attended a kimono auction. She said my fatherhad a car accident yesterday. He run his car toward the opposite lane ( he seemed to lethis mind drift). Fortunately, no one have been harmed, but he gave scratches to two cars.Police men came, and my father apologized the drivers. He arranged the fix of the cars.Everything seemed to be settled, but next day a driver called my father and made an appointment to meet my father.My mother said, 'I am worrying whether your father can manage. He is very unreliable.Can you go with him?' I couldn't go, but I gave some advice - Apologize sincerely.But never promise anything, for examples giving money or something. All monetarynegotiations must be done by the insurance company. After the auction I called my father and got angry to hear that he promised to pay about1000 USD to him. Now he is 76 years old, and turned to be like a little boy! ImmediatelyI called the man's cell-phone,and I declared that I will never let my father pay anythingto him. Immediately he said he understood, but would go to police again, and say he wasinjured by the accident. I said OK! No problem! You can go to police and assurancecompany to deceive if you can! I felt interesting he seemed to be slightly scared,because of my strong wording and the word of 'I am the son of him, and dealing kottou(Japanese antiques)'. I couldn't imagine my father and mother became to need my such kind of helps, whenI was young. Yuka feelingly said that ageing is such kind of thing. Yuka also is feelingthat her parents are sometimes like kids recently.
Thank you very much for reading to the end. Today we will list moderate price uchikake, haori,antique items and bolt. We wish you could find your favorite ones amongthem.
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

No 137


Dear Customers and FriendsHello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.137.
This is Yuka writing this newsletter today. Ichiro was traveling to Okayamato attend an action there. Okayama is a prefecture lacated in western Japanand is famous for `kibi dango' the sweet dumpling.Momotaro(Peach Boy) was said to bring kibi dango when he started on a journey to fight off Oni(ogre).
Today I am going to write about tanmono and karinui. Tanmono is 'bolt'whichyou can see many numbers in our website. Some of you might remember one scenefrom the movie, `A Memoirs of a Geisha'. When Sayuri was evacuated to acountryside during wartime, she was working with village people and dryingmany colorful tanmono by hanging up high and all the long strips of tanmonowas wind-whipping and it was an impressive scenery(especially in that darktime of the war).
Tanmono are fabrics to make a kimono or haori, and the width is around 36-40cm(approx 14 -16 inches). If length of a fabric is around 800cm(approx 315 inches), it is a fabric forhaori and if the length is around 1200cm(approx 472 inches), the fabric is forkimono making.We are often asked about a kimono for a tall person and also if it is possibleto make a kimono(custom made) from these tanmono.Kimono are made to be long, so the problem with the length can be solved mostof the time but what becomes the problem always is the sleeve to sleeve length(yuki). To make it very short, kimono are made by placing four panels of tanmonofabric - two panels for the body part and one panel for each sleeve.So the maximum sleeve to sleeve length which can be made from a bolt is:
the width x 4 minus seam allowance
If the width of the bolt is 36cm(approx 14 inches), the maximum sleeve to sleevelength we can make is 136cm(approx 53.5 inches). It does not mean the shoulder towrist is 36cm--as you notice, unlike western shirt, the seamline of the shoulder drops toward sleeves when the kimono is worn.Taller person have longer arms and with the regular tanmono it is quite difficultto have enough sleeve to sleeve length for a taller person. The kimono can be likea half-sleeve kimono. Younger Japanese people are taller, so there SHOULD be widerkimono blots but because of the change of lifestyles, they just do not wear kimono,so the wider bolts are not just made.We are seeking for fabrics which are not originally for kimono (probably for Yofuku-western clothing) but suitable to make a kimono for a taller person.
Karinui fabrics- which are cut and sewn roughly to kimono shape must be a confusingitem too. It looks just like a kimono and looks wearable. But karinui also is originallya bolt. Usually the kimono like furisode which has a dramatic flowing design are madeinto karinui and can be shown to the customers so the customers can have the ideahow the whole patterns looks like when the fabric is made into a kimono.
As you know, an obi belt is worn over a kimono, so the prominent patterns are usuallyaround the bottom. It is amazing to see our customers creative work using kimonofabrics. I mean it is just so fantastic. Suit, blouse, pants, skirt and vest---wehave some photos of enchanting handmade clothing but we are sure there are morecustomers who are using kimono fabrics and making charming things. Not only clothingbut tasteful bed cover and other things too!Domo arigato gozaimasu for using kimono fabrics with wonderful and creative way.The narrowness of kimono bolts may be restrictive but you have already overcome this.
****************************************************************
We are very happy to inform you another very charming craftsman, Watanabe san.
http://www.ichiroya.com
He make beautiful urushi (lacquered) ware. Urushi wan has warmth of wood and keepsfood (especially miso soup) not to become cold easily. Please enjoy the harmonyof warmth of wood and the lacquered surface of urushi.
We are adding ranru, yogi(do not be surprised by the size!), charming futon, sakiori,antique and bolts tomorrow morning. We hope you will enjoy browsing ournew arrivals.domo arigato gozaimasu for reading our newsletter.
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

No 136


Dear Customers and FriendsHello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News LetterNo.136.Last Friday I went to Kanazawa to visit urushi artisan's workshop.I left our office at 6 a.m. after listing antique items and fabrics. FromOsaka station I got Thunderbird Express, and reached Kanazawa at about9:30 a.m. Watanabe san was waiting just out of the ticket wicket, with full smile.Two weeks ago, I met him at a department store in Osaka. I was lookingat beautiful urushi wares, and he spoke to me that he made those items.His urushi wares were simple and strong atmosphere, and has beautifuldeep natural urushi surface. In addition they have beautiful grainpattern beyond the urushi coat. At a glance I came to like his work andwished to introduce at our site. I asked some questions, and soon I cameto know he is a genuine ARTISAN, and simply hopes to make good items. Hesaid that all woods are alive and beautiful itself, and he doesn'(Bt wantto add too much artificial decoration. His father was'kiji-shi'(B, anartisan who carves the wood to table wares'(B shapes with 'rokuro'(Bwheel.To complete making urushi ware, makie-shi ( makie painter) and otherartisan do their work on their 'kiji'(B (wooden basis) and products arecompleted. Among the whole procedure, kiji-shi'(Bs work is most severeand most unprofitable. But kiji-shi knows most about wood and carvingdetermines the quality of urushi product. He learned how to make kijifrom his father, and later learned about urushi$B!!(Bby himself. I asked himto let us offer his items in our site, and he said to be willing to doso.Kanazawa city is one of the most beautiful castle town, and called `Shou-Kyoto'(B. 'Shou'(B means small. It means Kanazawa has beautiful oldcityscape and rich traditions of art and crafts like Kyoto. It is famousfor Kaga Yuzen, beaten gold, Kutani pottery and others. Kenroku en issaid to be the one of most beautiful garden in Japan. This time, Ididn't have enough time to take a walk in the city, but I still rememberthe'(Bwonderful day when I walked around Kanazawa almost 15 years ago.Watanabe san put me in this car, and drove into the mountain towards west.His workshop is in the Fukumitsu, approx 20km west from Kanazawa. Fukumitsu is small and old town with large rice paddy and old people. Mostfamous sightseeing spot is the house of Shiko Munakata, an outstanding printmaker. Before he became famous, wealthy people in Fukumitsu supportedhis life. Watanabe san said he knew one of his major patron, whose housealso became reference library and sightseeing spots. When Watanabe sanwas a boy, he knew Shiko Munakata but he seemed to be only a difficultman, and Watanabe san never knew he was such an admirable person. Shiko'(Bs house is very interesting. On the walls of bed room and toilet (also on the ceiling of toilet ), very large pictures are drawn. Before heowned this house, he rent a house in Fukumitsu. Shiko couldn'(Btstop drawing pictures on walls of houses, and again and again his wifehad to apologize the house owners and move. At last no one in Fukumitsuoffered him to rent a house. Shiko had to be delight when he owned hishouse, and had walls which he could freely draw as he wanted. All suchpictures were wiped out or threw out except his house'(Bs ones, before hebecame famous. People who did so must regret now ! They wiped out thevaluable artwork without knowing how valuable they were.
He also drove me to Gokashoyama. It is on 17th March, and Osaka was almost in early spring. But we went over a mountain to Gokasyoyama, I wasextremely astonished to see exceptionally thick layer of snow! Besidesthe driving roadways, thickness is nearly 2 meters. Gokashoyama is inthe mountains, and snows heavily. In olden times people in Gokashoyamacouldn'(Bt come out to town for its heavy snow in winter season. FleeingHeike warriors were said to build these villages in isolation from thesociety. To live in the very heavy snow, people built unique housecalled Gasho-zukuri'(B. It has three or four floors tall house, with verythick straw roof. Roof is very steep, and under the hem, wide water poolis made to melt the snow. and Shirakawago are famous for its Gosho-zukuri houses ( theywere built in the ending Edo Priod( 1603-1867) or early Meiji period(1868-1912),and recently registered as a World Heritage Site.I touched the pile of snow. And Watabane san laughed and said, ' I can'(Btbelieve there are people who want to touch snow purposely'(B. And he told mehow the people in his district struggle against heavy snow.Especially for the old people, how the snow removing take too much work,how danger it is , and how expensive to hire persons for removing. Hepointed a house, whose roof is broken in the hem and support logs areadded. He said house owner had to be shamed for failing removing.Watanabe san says, this severity of the winter had to make this district as urushi ware product center. Long winter locked in heavy snow drovepeople to making various handicrafts like urushi. In the district urushiwood were abundance, and in his father'(Bs age there remained some urushicollectors. And he says this tough weather cultivates good wood. 'Keyaki'(B (zelkova)in this district has more thick and beautiful grains, compared to otherdistricts'(B zelkova.
In his work shop, he showed me his incredible 'rokuro'(B work. He has lotsof good wood stocks, which he inherited from his father. He touchesturning wood with a gear lightly, turning wood changes its form perceptively.With using original gages, he makes the precisely same form at incrediblespeed. He says he has absolute aplomb about speed and preciseness of his rokuro'(B work. He coats his kiji with natural urushi. He coats all kijimore than several times ! He coats, drys and polishes, and repeats thismethod several times. His urushi surface has very deep, clear and characteristicurushi colors. His origin is kiji-shi so beyond the urushi coat, grains ofzelkova, chestnut or other woods can be seen. To make wood strong hesometimes add fabrics 'nunome'(B) on the hems and bottom and coatedwith urushi. Nunome also gives interesting accent on the wares. Hedoesn'(Bt agree, but I think he also has good design sense.specially his 'Katakuchi-bachi'(B(lipped bowl) has great charm - bold chiselbut surface, round rokuro bottom and inside has strong and exotic atmosphere,and must be good sake pitcher. I think his product can be put more expensive prices same as other popularurushi Artists(not Artisan). But he says he wants to please customers byoffering genuine urushi wares at moderate prices, and keep to make moreitems with his father'(Bs stocks.
His items will come this week, and we hope to list them at our Tour J Artisansite in next week. All of his items are unique and if they are sold, we mustwait for a long time. If you are interested in Watanabe san'(Bs urushi work,please don'(Bt miss when we start listing.
Today we will list men's kimono, haori karinui fabric, chirimen bag, antique items and others. We are very happy if you could check our new listing items.

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

No 135

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.135.Do you know Sekka Kamisaka?Recently I hear TV commercial says Takashimaya department store will mount the exhibitionof Sekka Kamisaka from 5th April to 17th April. ( Takashimaya Osaka Store will hold this exhibition, and later Tokyo Store will hold same one from 24th to May to 5th June. ). And whenI looked the current issue of 'Ginka', which has most sophisticated Japanese crafts articles, I found his name and his design.Recently we are thinking and trying to make high quality Japanese handicrafts items, which will be well accepted in other countries. I knew his name, and we also sold his wood block print book in past times. But recently we didn't remind his name and works when we were discussing the item designs.We have noticed - his idea and work must inspire our plans!
Sekka Kamisaka was born in ending Edo Priod, and did great art work from Meiji period(1868-1912) to early Showa period. He learned traditional Japanese-style painting and designing, especially made a commitment to Rimpa style. Rimpa is the artists group in Edo Priod( 1603-1867), includes Soutatsu Tawaraya, Kourin Ogata and others. Their designs are bold and dramatic, and had greatimpact to Japanese art and also Impressionist school of Europe.He went Europe and studied Western art and crafts. It was 1934, when exotic Japonism effected European art, and art nouveau was very popular. He had to re-realize that Japanese design had great power which captivated modern Western people. Return to Kyoto, he did lots of design work for various artifacts, and became a leader of artifactsdesign. His design works inherit characteristics of Rimpa, and at a time they are futuristic and modern. The borderline of Japanese and Western seems not to exist. His design themes are always the closest thing of our ordinary lives, and also he was willing tomake designs for usual artifacts.
If you search internet with his name, you can find more than 48000 hits. ( Japanese pages hitonly 16000. He is said more popular in other countries, and we can confirm the reality bysearching internet.)In these some pages you can look his unique design works.
http://www.japangalleryprints.com/artist_list.asp?artist_id=86http://www.shinise.ne.jp/options/shinise/pa_categorylist.asp?c_id=277&temp_id=24&shownum=30&offset_val=0&shp=34http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:dtfhw_B4GmQJ:www.chiso.co.jp/info/topics/2003/08-04.html+%E9%9B%AA%E4%BD%B3%E3%80%80%E5%B1%95%E8%A6%A7%E4%BC%9A&hl=ja&gl=jp&ct=clnk&cd=45http://www.artdaily.com/section/news/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=10578
In 2001 Hermes's catalog magazine used Sekka's design on their cover and had opening articleabout him. His exhibition was also held in United States as above link. In his design works, there must be important hints about the design we are looking for - very Japanese, but acceptable also in other countries.
I heard that we can enjoy about 80 Sekka's works at Takashimaya's exhibition. If you have chance to come Osaka or Tokyo, we highly recommend to visit.
*We are looking for Sekka's woodblock print book, but seldom come across. We have sold only one Sekka's book in the past. His woodblock print books were re-publised several times, and we sometimes see comparatively new ones.Two issues of his design collection books ( modern print one) are also sold now.********************************************************
We are adding furisode, yukata and bolts. Charming antique items are added to Japanese Antiques Ichiroya, too.(http://www.antiqueichiroya.com)
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

No 134


Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.134.I visited an atelier of a dyer, Mr Yasuhiro Takahashi on Saturday. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, he has been a dyer nearly 40 years and from ten years ago, he is doing a project of restoring and re-creating of dyed fabrics from Edo period and he is one of the most famous expert of recent dyeing field in Japan. He lookes like a big bear but he is a very quiet man-I noticed his finger tips are all dyed also which can tell his work.I knew him from ten years ago and I felt so honored to meet him again - this time I could meet him to work together. I was too happy and bombard him withquestions! (Thank you very much Takahashi san)
Generally, it is considered that chemical dye stuff is used after Meiji period(1868-1912), but actually it was started in the end of Edo bakufu-government of Edo. The colors which did not exist were done by chemical stuff, so it may sound strange but supreme items of that era often has chemical dyed stuff used(because the chemical dye stuff was very expensive)It reminded me of Shobo banten(Fireman's jacket ) from Edo period, which had very strong purple color so it was the reason.Takahashi san said dye stuff have been basically the same going back to the time of Nara period(Nara period 714-784). Dating the things from that era is quite difficult by seeing the dye stuff or colors and rather designs and the fabric can be a better clue.Regarding dye stuff. it can be 2 major kinds. Just as Yuzen technique, use dark colors applied by brush(fude) or just as Ai dyeing, soaking into Ai many times-one time soaking can only made very light color)The former dyeing(Yuzen) is invented by Miyazaki Yuzensai in early Edo. According to this technique, all colors are said to be made by four basic dye stuff.red- nama enji(cochineal insect )yellow- syou(tree sap )blue- airou (indigo)black-kuro (Japanese ink)
The shading of three primary colors seemed to have produeced all colors. To fix the colors, `gojiru'(juice made by grating soya bean )is added.Takahashi san showed me a part of his collection from Edo period. How gorgeous and genteel the colors on the kimono! I was fascinated by the coloration. They are not dusky ( I thought natural dye stuff would not be so bright)He also showd me the dye stuff for soaking. Akane(root of tree, red color), Kariyasu(plant, yellow), benibana(flower red), and other plants as Suo, Ukon, Yamamomo, Binroujiand more. About half of these dye materials needs catalyser to help the coloration. After Meiji period, chemical materials have been used but before that, `ash' was used. He said the effect differs according to the trees used to make ash. He is researching ash and by now only certain kinds of trees could work as a catalyser( the trees such as peony, hisakaki, sazanka, ocha, sawarutagi)In olden times there was an occupation `haiya'(ash seller) who makes ash to sell to dyers, ( and actually they were said to be very rich).Takahashi sensei is very interested in making ash and he is planning to stay in the mountains to make ash from trees he can obtain, and sell in an event in May. Ash(hai) are used to refine silk thread, as a glaze of pottery also, and I feel it is a very unique blessing from nature.He showed me one of his work- supreme woven fabric(tsumugi) called Ushikubi tsumugi dyed with genteel pink color. It had butterfly and flower motif with such subtle colors dyed with Yuzen technique(Itome Yuzen). He made is as a scarf and I fell in love with a first sight. The silk thread is Japanese silk and Ushikubi tsumugi is a finest kind of tsumugi(woven fabric), it is dyed with the same dye stuff from Edo period , using the same technique from Edo period. The scarf is just like a gift from Edo period. He offerd this scarf for our Tour J Artisan website, so I will be showing the photos soon.He said he can make about 10 scarves -- we would like to ask your idea again just as we did last time with Tsuzure bag designs. We would like to show you the examples of designs and we will be very happy if you could let us know which design you like.We are looking forward to offering Takahashi san's silk scarves in the near future.
*The Tsume tsuzure bags will be finished in the end of March or the beginning of April.(we cannot wait to show you!)
We are adding obi, karinui, bolts and tea ceremony set today. We hope you have sometime to check our new arrivals!
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

No 133


Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.133.I visited an atelier of a dyer, Mr Yasuhiro Takahashi on Saturday. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, he has been a dyer nearly 40 years and from ten years ago, he is doing a project of restoring and re-creating of dyed fabrics from Edo period and he is one of the most famous expert of recent dyeing field in Japan. He lookes like a big bear but he is a very quiet man-I noticed his finger tips are all dyed also which can tell his work.I knew him from ten years ago and I felt so honored to meet him again - this time I could meet him to work together. I was too happy and bombard him withquestions! (Thank you very much Takahashi san)
Generally, it is considered that chemical dye stuff is used after Meiji period(1868-1912), but actually it was started in the end of Edo bakufu-government of Edo. The colors which did not exist were done by chemical stuff, so it may sound strange but supreme items of that era often has chemical dyed stuff used(because the chemical dye stuff was very expensive)It reminded me of Shobo banten(Fireman's jacket ) from Edo period, which had very strong purple color so it was the reason.Takahashi san said dye stuff have been basically the same going back to the time of Nara period(Nara period 714-784). Dating the things from that era is quite difficult by seeing the dye stuff or colors and rather designs and the fabric can be a better clue.Regarding dye stuff. it can be 2 major kinds. Just as Yuzen technique, use dark colors applied by brush(fude) or just as Ai dyeing, soaking into Ai many times-one time soaking can only made very light color)The former dyeing(Yuzen) is invented by Miyazaki Yuzensai in early Edo. According to this technique, all colors are said to be made by four basic dye stuff.red- nama enji(cochineal insect )yellow- syou(tree sap )blue- airou (indigo)black-kuro (Japanese ink)
The shading of three primary colors seemed to have produeced all colors. To fix the colors, `gojiru'(juice made by grating soya bean )is added.Takahashi san showed me a part of his collection from Edo period. How gorgeous and genteel the colors on the kimono! I was fascinated by the coloration. They are not dusky ( I thought natural dye stuff would not be so bright)He also showd me the dye stuff for soaking. Akane(root of tree, red color), Kariyasu(plant, yellow), benibana(flower red), and other plants as Suo, Ukon, Yamamomo, Binroujiand more. About half of these dye materials needs catalyser to help the coloration. After Meiji period, chemical materials have been used but before that, `ash' was used. He said the effect differs according to the trees used to make ash. He is researching ash and by now only certain kinds of trees could work as a catalyser( the trees such as peony, hisakaki, sazanka, ocha, sawarutagi)In olden times there was an occupation `haiya'(ash seller) who makes ash to sell to dyers, ( and actually they were said to be very rich).Takahashi sensei is very interested in making ash and he is planning to stay in the mountains to make ash from trees he can obtain, and sell in an event in May. Ash(hai) are used to refine silk thread, as a glaze of pottery also, and I feel it is a very unique blessing from nature.He showed me one of his work- supreme woven fabric(tsumugi) called Ushikubi tsumugi dyed with genteel pink color. It had butterfly and flower motif with such subtle colors dyed with Yuzen technique(Itome Yuzen). He made is as a scarf and I fell in love with a first sight. The silk thread is Japanese silk and Ushikubi tsumugi is a finest kind of tsumugi(woven fabric), it is dyed with the same dye stuff from Edo period , using the same technique from Edo period. The scarf is just like a gift from Edo period. He offerd this scarf for our Tour J Artisan website, so I will be showing the photos soon.He said he can make about 10 scarves -- we would like to ask your idea again just as we did last time with Tsuzure bag designs. We would like to show you the examples of designs and we will be very happy if you could let us know which design you like.We are looking forward to offering Takahashi san's silk scarves in the near future.
*The Tsume tsuzure bags will be finished in the end of March or the beginning of April.(we cannot wait to show you!)
We are adding obi, karinui, bolts and tea ceremony set today. We hope you have sometime to check our new arrivals!
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

No 132


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.132.These two days we attended two auctions in Kyoto. Recently at most kimono auctions antique kimono and fabrics are rare, but yesterday's auction offers only antique items. Almost all major antique kimono dealers attend, and tactics full of wiles and tricks are done on the every fabrics and kimono. Approx 15 members sit around a kimono, and they say jokes and comments about every offered items. They are all our seniors, and all of them look as 'tanuki'(raccoon dog). In Japan tanuki is considered to deceive human. If a kimono some members really want, they say and do something to try to reduce the other members' bidding prices. Most ordinary technique is 'hai-wo-maku'(scatter ashes), which means 'point out the defects around.' Members point out stains and tears ( or sometimes the chemical dyestuff, which tell us its age ) also by kindness, but a member point out most loudly often bids highest price and win.I also try to scatter good ashes, but often I am said, 'Wada-kun is scattering ashes now!'I seem to be too honest and awkward to scatter ashes with sophisticated wa as other senior members do.
By the way there are some clues to know the age of textile and kimono. Difference of dyestuff - chemical or natural, is one of the important points. Before Edo period ( before 1867 ) all dyestuffs were from plants. In Meiji period(1868-1912) chemical dyestuffs were imported, dyers became to be able to dye with vivid colors. Chemical ai ( chemical indigo ) was also imported in Meiji period, and dyeing with natural dyestuff was missing. Colors dyed with natural dyestuffs are soft and delicate, and mixing the dyestuffs makes more sophisticated colors. Also today dyeing with natural dyestuff 'Kusaki Zome'( plant dyeing ) are done, by the dyers who want to get more 'natural colors'. But philatelists of antique dyeing say there are difference between antique natural dyeing and modern Kusaki Zome.
As next artisan of 'Tour J Artisan', we will visit a famous dyer 'Yasuhiro Takahashi' this week end. He is philatelist of antique dyeing, and he is trying to restore antique dyeing with studying antique documents. He dyes with same techniques and materials as antique documents, and come to know the difference from the modern natural dyeing. I got to know him more than 10 years ago, when I was a sales promotion manager in a department store. He was a very calm person, and his fingers and nails were stained with dyestuffs. He said he was 'some-shokunin' - dyeing artisan. His works - kosode dyed with antique technique was supreme, but it took long time for us to reach and be able to recognize his work level. For our 'Tour J Artisan', we were looking for a dyer, who dyes scarves with natural ai and other traditional natural dyeing works. And at a sudden I remind him, and looked for his name card and called him. He said he was making scarves now, and could dye with other natural(and really traditional) dyeing technique for our customers.We are very very happy to introduce his scarves and his works, and his knowledge about antique dyeing technique. What a wonderful thing we can offer you scarves which are dyed with genuine-antique-kimono technique and dyestuffs!
Bizen ware offering week ends. We will keep several items in our stocks, and send back the rest. Thank you very much for some orders to Wakimoto san's fantastic works.
Today we will list furisode, kimono, yukata, antique items and bolts. We are very happy if you could check them. Have a wonderful Sunday! 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

No 131

Dear Customers & FriendsHello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA'S News Letter No .131.Last week was very busy week - began Bizen Ware at Tour J Artisan, attended new auction in Shizuoka prefecture, recruiting and interviewing new staff and arranged stock rooms ( recently we rent one more room for stocks). At the end of busy week I went my favorite 'Sento'(public bath), and allayed my fatigue.Some customers may noticed, we didn't have enough fabric bolts from mid January to beginning of February. We attended many auctions also in January, but offered items were less than other months at almost all auctions. In Japan, New Year's Day week is holiday and 'ubudashi-ya' ( seller who buy kimono and antiques from ordinary family) san are also difficult to get new items from ordinary family. The situation above had to be the same in these past years, but this year we felt items were less than before.We hope the situation will be definitive. If the items become less, prices must be higher, and we should offer our items at more expensive prices. But in these three years, we had similar experiences. We were asked from a few customers about the future of fabric listing, but we think the situation will be better near future. (Just yesterday, we got about 4 or 5 boxes of bolt at fair prices - although the prices were slightly higher than usual. We can offer them this week! ) About the kimono fabric bolt, we buy them from 'discount kimono market', and items are ordinary from dead stock of kimono retailers. ( If we buy them from regular channel, prices must be way expensive. ) Sometimes we wonder how long we can offer silk fabric bolts at these prices. There are some figures, which may relieve us.--- Market Size of Kimono 1800 billion Yen ( mid 1980s) 600 billion Yen (2005)So the market size dramatically shrank, but still 600 billion yen remains. And we can imagine lots of dead stocks of 1990s remain, and they will come to our market constantly. BUT, someday in the future, the day must come when we can not have enough kimono to sell. Kimono fabrics have great quality and exotic charm, and people will cut them for their handicrafts everyday. We recently become to think one of our important mission is selling modern Japanese textiles (and other crafts). If the modern textile and craft sell more, Japanese artisans can inherit their techniques and traditions. We began 'Tour J Artisan', and are trying to sell Japanese handicrafts. Already bamboo bags by Takae san sold well, and some of Bizen wares by Wakimoto san were also sold. Thank you very much for placing orders at our website!We are looking forward to accomplishment of tsume-tsuzure bags, and also planning to visit Bingata dyer in Okinawa. We also have a contact with 'Ai dyer' in Shikoku. He is one of famous 'Ai-shi', and says he will dye fabrics by weight. Visiting his workshop and introducing how natural ai made must be exciting for our customers. But we are wondering what fabrics will be the best for our customers. It may be cotton, but what types of cotton and how about thickness and width do you want? Or selling products like 'Natural Ai Shibori Scarf ' ' Natural Ai Dyed Kiku Motif T Shirt' ' Natural Ai Dyed Jeans' may be better ? If you have any idea about natural ai fabric and products, we are very happy if you let us know. By the way you must know much about Ichiro and Yuka, so we would like to introduce also about our charming staff here. Today I would like to introduce Kayo san 's unique character. She is our oldest staff, and writes emails to you. She is very warm hearted person, and now she leads Ichiroya's high touch service. She learned English at a college, studied in Cambridge for a year and worked in Disney World of United States. Always she writes emails at with incredible typing speed, and we have 100% confidence in her writings because she never forget hospitality mind. She has many hobbies, and one hobby is seeing cinemas. She has special ability to get free tickets of previews. She often goes free previews, which must be limited for fortunate persons. We can not believe but her applicants by post cards seem to win at incredibly high ratio. She says there are some writing know-hows to be selected, but we feel she must have a magic. She is also crazy at 'manzai'( comic backchat ). Yuka also loves manzai, so the conversation of these two persons about manzai can not be recognized by other persons. At her biodata summary, she writes she loves snow board. I have never seen her boarding. Recently she goes a gym, which Hisami san ( the manager of Antiques ICHIROYA ) also goes. They sometime come across at the pool. And I hear that Kayo san is learning Yoga at that gym.I have never seen how she is doing yoga, but I imagine she wants to be able to drink long nails.Kayo san is really a warm hearted and magical person!
Thank you for reading to the end. Today we will list men's juban, chirimen goods, hakoseko, vintage post cards, samurai figure, tea ceremony set and others. We will be very happy if you could check them.In addition we would like to offer you '10 Kimono & 10 Haori Pack' only for news letter readers again. Sometimes our stock rooms become full of items, and we need to sell them by the gross. They have some stains, and not good items for site listing. But most of them are silk ,and will be good material for handicraft, and some kimono may be sold at ebay auction. Price is 98 USD. It weighs 12kg to 16kg ( different weight for each boxes), and if we send them by sea, the shipping costs will be 60- 80 USD. We can make 12- 15 boxes. So if you need this bundle box, please let us know. We will send the to the first 12-15 customers.
Bizen ware listing at Tour J Artisan will end 19 Feb. We selected best items at his kiln. We think the opportunity to get Wakimoto san's best items is rare. We are very happy if you could check them again, and select your favorites among them. Bizen ware fits very well with your antique kimono and especially natural ai dyed cotton items. Don't miss this opportunity!
Thank again!
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

No 130

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.130.Today was Sunday, but I was very busy to list new artisan in Tour J Artisan.This time we introduce my favorite pottery - Bizen Yaki. Its earthy and powerful feel fit well with vintage cotton or other hand-made or natural-material items. And you must be astonished to know how Bizen yaki are elaborately made.Please please visit new pages.
http://www.tourjartisan.com/tour/2/index.html
Most of these items are offer only two weeks from today. We wish you find favorite one among them.
About kimono and antique new arrivals, we will list them several hours later. Today we have 2 supreme geisha's susohiki and others.
Don't miss it!
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

No 129


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.129.Last Sunday we transferred our contents to new server, and launched a new site 'Tour J Artisan'. We checked new server before the transfer, but unexpected troubles happened, and we are very sorry that our server was very slow for about six hours. But now our new server behaves very good performance as we expected. We are very happy that now you can look at any pages at any time rapidly. Have you already check our new site 'Tour J Artisan'? http://www.tourjartisan.com/We begin to introduce and sell today's Japanese handicraft at this new site. We selected Takae san for the first artisan, who makes fabulous bamboo bags in Oita prefecture. His works are not inexpensive, but if you check details of his elaborate and very skilled work, we are sure you could know his bamboo bag has best quality in the world. Two black ones are already sold, but we can ask him to make more. We promise his bags are the best bamboo bag in the world, and you have never seen supreme one as his.http://www.tourjartisan.com/result/artifact.php?srtechnique=all
We already went to a tsuzure weaving company in Moriyama and a craft potter in Bizen. I was a manager of Japanese table ware of a department store, and know about Bizen-Yaki, but I heard that people, especially people from foreign counties don't know about 'Yakishime' pottery like Bizen-Yaki. Bizen-yaki is the pottery, which is burn at higher than 1200 degrees C. Kiln is built on the slope of the mountain, which is called 'Nobori Gama'(climbing kiln). Bizen potter burns their works in climbing kilns for more than 10 days. During that period, pine tree firewoods are continued to be burned night and day. I hear that there is not similar pottery like Bizen Yaki in Western world. Please just wait a little while till you see the details of Bizen Yaki.
We sometimes offer tsume-tsuzure fukusa at our site. As you may already know, tsume-tsuzure is one of the most valuable textile in the world. Weavers use their nails to push and weave weft threads, and it takes incredibly long time to weave only a small fukusa. I showed our one vintage fukusa to the man from tsuzure weaving company, he said that if they wove this class tsume tsuzure fukusa now, it would take about three months, and cost 2 or 3 million yen! http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=67096As we wrote before, we are planning to introduce Kiyohara Orimono corp, tsume-tsuzure weavers. We have been discussing what items will be good for foreign customers - fukusa and obi are their main items, but both are not used in Western world. After the long discussion, we have reached one item - formal bag.Tsuzure ori silk is thick, and has very comfortable touch. And textile is very strong enough for bags, and if it is woven with black, silver and gold threads, it has exceptionally gorgeous atmosphere. Before we visited their company, they had never thought to sell and make products for foreign customers. But now we become to have a dream - our customers dress up, and have our tsume-tsuzure bags, and go to opera, Paris Collection or formal parties like Oscars ceremony! From olden times tsume-tsuzure textile had been very special textile which was used only very wealthy people. What an exciting thing, if people in foreign countries come to like the tsume-tsuzure work, and use them in formal occasion!
Details of tsume-tsuzure will be listed on our site soon. But now we are planning the design and details of bags, and have 2 prototypes, and some design samples.http://www.tourjartisan.com/top/yokoku/yokoku.htmlWe are discussing again and again, and try to make them good products for foreign customers. But we think if we could have advice from you about it directly, they would be a great help. Your help is very much appreciated.So we have made special pages for comments and popularity vote. We are very happy if you could check them and give advice about products, design and details. For comments http://sha.boo.jp/ Popularity Vote http://sha.boo.jp/vote5.cgi
Thank you very much for reading to the end. Today we will list karinui fabric, shibori haori, Haori Karinui, bolt( Kimono ), and tansu, mirror, copper crab, urushi tray, Kodou and others( Antiques ). We are very happy if you could check ore new arrivals. $B!!(B
domo arigato gozaimasu, Thank you very much. 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

No 128


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan. This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.128.Several days ago, an ambitious young guy became subjected to a criminal investigation. He is the CEO of one of the most biggest internet company of Japan, and was a frequent guest on TV shows and author of many books like "How to Make 10 Billion Yen." He told a dream to make Liverdoor 'the most biggest company by market value', got more than 100 billion dollars at Fuji Television Network purchasing tactics. He tried to buy pro baseball team, ran unsuccessfully for parliament in last September, and stated to begin the interplanetary travel business. Started in 1997, began from making software, took over many companies,and recently he was eyed as a new executive who could break the deadlock of Japan. His technique to take over was making their stocks higher with share splitting, and buying with exchange of shares. He have attracted heavy doses of both praise and censure, because of his audacious statements and his fashion style( we have never seen his necktie style!). In his book he wrote he could buy also women's heart with money, and went a resort with female personality by his private jet. He is very popluar among young people, and establised and aged people bend their brows to see him.Authorities seems to think there were some illegal activities on the processes of buyouts. Mass communications dramatically change his figure - from a hero to a fallen idol, and they are waiting the arrest of him.I didn't know him personally, and have nothing special affection about him. But media's stance, which reflects populace, make me sad. I don't like him always, but there is no doubt that he is one of the most ambitious and strong man in Japan. He is only 33 years, and he was strong enough to endure the takeover war against all economic circles. I never could do!I hope he will survive, and become a more great man - maybe I wish he change his goal.
By the way very tiny entrepreneurs, Ichiro & Yuka Wada launch new site now!We have started 'Antique ICHIROYA' last week. We will offer more charming Japanese antiques at that site with careful Hisami selection.And today we have opened new site 'Tour J Artisan'
http://www.tourjartisan.com/ What is 'Tour J Artisan?' During our ICHIROYA business and my 20 years career at department store, I always wish to sell contemporary handicrafts. There are huge amout of various traditional techniques and crafts all over Japan, which have great charm for us. But in the modern economic ambience makes the handicraft situation bad, and their traditions are being replaced with engineering products or cheaper (and with low quality) imported items. We always are astonished to see the antique items's incredibly elaborate details, and imagine how they will cost if they are made now by contemporary artisans. The prices of valuable antique items are not expensive compared to modern handicraft. But we know they were way expensive when they were made. They were made only for very prosperous minority people, and they supported artisans and artists.We are very happy if you are interested in Japanese handicrafts and become a supporter of the tradition. For you, we will try best to make or change the items for Western lives. We want to introduce valuable( and only in the topflight) Japanese handicrafts at our new site 'Tour J Artisan'.You are invited to acompany us, as I tours the workshops of JAPANESE ARTISANS all over our country. I will introduce Japanese modern handicrafts, while informing you who the artisans are, how they work, and what types of artistic or environmental climates develop their interests and skills. At the first tour, I went to Oita prefecture in Kyusyu and visited a bamboo artisan. Mr. Takae is the foremost authority on Bamboo Bag. He is really a charming person, and we are very proud to introduce him as the first artisan of our site.His bags are not inexpensive, but you must to tell their qualiy and design if you check the photos. We guarantee his bags are best of best in the world, which we can have now!
After him, we are plannning to introduce Tsuzure Ori Bag and Bizen pottery now. You must be astonished to see how the Bizen pottery burned with 'Nobori-gama' for TWO weeks.
http://www.tourjartisan.com/
Today we will list our items from now.Haori, Yukata, Geta, Men's Cotton Kaku Obi and Bolt at Kimono Site, and Usabata, Panel, Lacquerware, Kodansu and others at Antique Site. We are very happy if you could also these new items.And we have changed our server last night. We hope our server response becomes more rapid than before.
Thank you very much for reading to the end. We wish you a nice weekend!
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

No 127


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No127.We hope you are having a lovely weekend.It seems like there has been less snow in certain area, more rain, snow and heat in other areas-abnormal weather seems to be continuing this year also.
Today, Yuka is writing this newsletter about our daughter Shoko's Seijinshiki(Coming of Age Ceremony).When you turn to 20 years old, you are considered to be an adult-acutally, you can drink or get a driver's license when you turn to 18, but in general,becoming 20 is a big issue and celebrated.As we might have mentioned in our last newsletter, neither Ichiro or I did not attend Coming of Age Ceremony when we became 20 years old.I felt it was like a kind of imposition from the city ( each city holds the ceremony and invites the people), and was not interested in the ceremony at all. Ichiro seemed to be the same. We did not want to go to listen to the lecture of the mayor.
As a father and a mother of a new adult, we were really late to start preparing for the day. Our kimono seller friends said both of us are TOO slow and theywere like `our parents-and helped us hurrying to choose accessories and proceed and proceed the custom made kimono. At 3:30, I woke up in the morning and drove Shoko to the saloon. I could hardly sleep for fear of oversleeping, The whole city was still in a sleep, only the beauty saloon had lights on and some people were already working. I left Shokothere and went to our office at 4 o'clock. I knew Ichiro would be in the office in around 4:30, so I wanted to make the office warm for him.We worked while waiting the call from Shoko.When Shoko called to tell that she was ready, I picked her up and brought her to our office.
I have never imagined I would be working with Ichiro like this. I have never imagined we would be selling kimono. Ichiro was working at the department store and I cannot remember how we could come to this place after he left the department store. As I watch Ichiro taking photos of Shoko, I just could not believe what I was seeing.He has been a really good father always but he just did not have time at home when he was at the department store. He could never be home before 10 o'clock at night, so most of the time, children were asleep. He chose the fabric to make a furisode kimono for Shoko and I could really see him feeling satisfied. We were both overwhelmed by the joy of doing this business together. Her red furisode has Yuzen dyed classical patterns-we liked the shading colors of the patterns and the red color. The green obijime and obiage are tied over a Kara ori weaving obi. Shoko wanted to try green color kimono but we found red seemed better on her. The bag and zori sandals were sold as a set and they were made from woven obi fabric.We thought the pattern looked very similar to the obi.I drove her to the city assembly hall for the ceremony. Boys seemed to come with their friends together, and girls came by their parents' cars. The number of girls in furisode and shawl increased and it was like a garden of flowers. Most boys were in a dark suit, only some boys were in kimono and hakama.Afterwards, Shoko told me, except a few girls in a dress, all girls were in furisode. Some of them rented and some said they were given by parents. I could not know which was more in numbers, but it was surprising. I thought more girls were wearing dresses. I could understand parents are eager to see their daughters in kimono, especially furisodewhich is a formal wear for a single women and the most decorative garment. The average rental cost seemed around $440.00. Here is the photos of her taken in our office room:

We want to thank you for your e-mails to congratulate Shoko's Coming of Age ceremony. We are so lucky - we like this job so much and receiving so many warm words and wishes from all over the world was such a wonderful surprise for us. We savored the special day as a father and a mother, and the red kimono became a very special piece for us. It made her Coming of Age Ceremony day unforgettable and also gave us a happiest memory.
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We are adding obi, karinui fabric and bolt in about 5 or 6 hours. Please check our new arrivals.domo arigato gozaimasu. We wish you a peaceful and blissful new week.
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

No 126


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No126.Tomorrow is Coming-of-Age Day, and our elder daughter Shoko is going to attend the ceremony wearing a furisode. In Japan city government hosts Coming-of-Age Day celebration at a hall, and invites young people who came of age(20 yearsold) in that year. Both I and Yuka didn't attend the celebrations when we became adults, but recently we feel more young people attend the celebration than before. We hear that some urban city governments have to limit the attendances because of the capacity of the hall. It is very curious phenomenon because the figures of children is dramatically decreasing, and many schools and universities are in struggles to survive. At the same time, recently attendances in some cities' celebration mess around, and it become social issues. Also this year we think there will be some mess in some of the ceremony, we guess and there will be some newson TV programs.When we were young ( about 25 years ago), of course we had disaffectedness against adults and society, but we only absented the governmental ceremonies. We can understand today's young people may have more aggressive feelings. As symbolized by astronomical government debt, adults are thought to be bringing down the minus asset. But why they attend the ceremonies governments arrange, and break the ceremonies?Recently I am thinking it is because they want to hold more attention and hope adult do something more for them. I feel this recognition well explain this affair.But, gentleman! Don't worry too much! Prime minister Koizumi is changing the irresponsible structures of Japan. Only a year ago hopeless mood covered all over Japan, and we felt we might have catastrophe to slash away all sorts of vested interests. Everything are changing now.We also promise to try hard to do something good to next generations!
Be that as it may, in my family there were some battles about the ceremony. As we wrote in the previous news letters, we made her furisode and obi in time at the 11th hour. ( It is really a beautiful red one, with Kaga style dyed pattern! We will show the photos in future. ) We also need some more accessories, hair accessory, zori, bag and so on. Shoko tried to wear the furisode roughly, and delighted at a night of year's end, but it is all. She is very busy with university classes, intern at software company and home tutor job. Every day she leaves home very early morning ( about 6 a.m.) and came back late ( about 11 p.m.). We are proud that she is so eager to learn many things, but problem is she doesn't do anything except she is interested in. After that night she seems not to interested in wearing furisode, Yuka must arrange everything. Naturally, are girls eager to select their furisode and arrange accessories by themselves? I heard quarrels several times about it in my bed(futon) - although I pretended to keep sleeping. And today Shoko had to go to the parlor with bringing furisode and all accessories ( to be checked by staff ), but we can't believe she forgot to go ! And the day before that day, who else forget the important appointment with the parlor?
Yuka and Shoko will go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow morning, they will wake up at 3 a.m. in the morning, and go to a beauty parlor near our home with furisode set. Appointment time is 4 a.m.! On this day almost all 20 years old women rush to the parlors, so both have to wake up very early. They dress her furisode, and do her hair. It is little bit funny Shoko must dress up from very early in the morning, and sit and wait for long time until the ceremony time. Before the ceremony ( and our office open ) , we are going to meet at our office and take some pictures of her.
At the hall of the ceremony alumna of junior high school will gather, and she is looking forward to meeting them with dressing up. We hope her furisode style will be outstanding among them, because her family is a kimono seller.
Today we will list haori, obi, gold threads and some antique items. We are very happy if you could check them. About the new server and sites, works of our software company little bit delays. Until the middle of the January we will start them. Thank you very much for inconvenience espcially the delay in response of our server.
We wish you a wonderful weekend and a nice new week.domo arigato gozaimasuIchiro & 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

No 125


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.125.Here in Japan it is getting colder and colder these days, and I noticed only two weeks are left before New Year's Day. Almost in all over the world, it must be the peak of Christmas shopping season now. Also at our site, to send our items before Christmas, the time limit almost passed. If we send our items by Express now, it may reach you by Christmas Eve. But the package may stop at the custom, and we canno't assure it will reach before Christmas. And if you need items within this year, please let us know. Our store will be closed for winter holiday from Japan Time : 27th December to 2nd January ( 26th December to 1st January USA Time). We are very sorry for inconvenience during the holidays.As we wrote in previous News Letters, we are making new sites - 'ICHIROYA Antique' and 'Tour J Artisan'. We would like to sell Japanese handicraft besides antique items, and if we can do, we hope we can find new customers from over the world to artisans. Site designs are nearly completed, and we visited two artisans.We thought we could easily find artisans, who want to sell their items on the internet to all over the world. But such idea seems not to be good for many artisans. We sent more than 10 emails to introduce ourselves and asked them to sell their items. I was a manager of sales promotion division of department store, and from my experience I expected responses from most of them even if they may not agree to our ideas. But except Kiyohara Weaving Company, they all ignored us. At last we realized that we were only a stranger and they thought they could not expect anything by replying us. I do not belong to a famous department store, and we didn't have actual performance to sell handicraft items. Even though we are well known in the antique kimono market, our email must be just same as junk mails for them. But we have confidence that there are a quite many customers all over the world who want to buy high-end Japanese handicraft, and selling on the internet is the most efficient way to reach them. We will be taking more time than we expected.We must let artisans know our policy and our business ways, with showing the best practices. And we must ask them to make different design or items compared to their ordinary ones, because the life style and tastes are different between Japan and foreign countries. For example, we suggest to make gorgeous formal bag for tsuzure-ori weavers, who always weave obi, fukusa and wallet. Visiting artisans, studying how they make and discussing about new items or design will take long time, but without these processes we think selling to foreign countries must be very difficult.We will start our site in the end of the December or January. We will visit artisans one by one, and would like to introduce them with more detailed information including their personalities.
By the way we would like to introduce about bamboo artisan Takae san a little more. Now he must have returned from Honolulu ( I checked the Honolulu marathon page, and found his record - 7 hour, 26 minutes. Great! He run out!) , and is making bamboo bags as usual.Now his bamboo bags are deemed to be one of the best in Japan ( we think his is best of best), but he didn't plan to become an artisan when he was young. After graduation he got a job with a chain restaurant company, and worked for them about 10 years. But he quit his job to start living in the country, just same as I quit my job. He emigrated to Ajimu village in Oita prefecture, and started agriculture. His senior advised him that he had better to get a skill to earn cash too. Oita prefecture is famous product center of high quality bamboo, and he started to make bamboo crafts besides farming. He says he found that making bamboo basket was very interesting, and later bamboo craft became his avocation. He is very cheerful person and a great innovator. Besides making bamboo he also made his log house by himself! ( We will show you the photos of his log house in our new site.)His bag is made of exceptionally thin bamboo plates, and he made many distinctive inventions on it. His got some major prizes for artisan, and his bags are highly-regarded as very modern and stylish bags made with very traditional technique. He has warm and flexible mind, and he offers 5-Years-Free-Repair-Service on every his bags. He laughed that a squashed bag came home, which had to be sit on by someone. But he said he repaired it with no charge, and sent it back to the owner. His bags already came to our office, and all staff admire its elaborate work and beauty. We asked to sell his best ones, even though the prices are not cheap. We think his bamboo bag is the very best in the world we can order now. And all process takes more than a month, so we don't think the price ( approx 2000 USD - 600 USD) is too expensive. I'm looking forward to offering his bags on our site.
Today, Yuka and I went to one of the auction held in Kyoto- it was snowing in Kyoto, even thought we had no snow in Osaka.The place where the auction was held was at a house on the slope and the road was so slippery--neighbors were trying to melt the snow for the tourists. We worried whether we could come back by car but there was a nice sunshine in the afternoon, so we could drive home safely.The snowcapped Kiyomizu dera temple was pretty. There are not so manytourists to Kyoto in winter time but the temples were charming.Thank you very much for reading our newsletter.
We will be adding our new arrivals in about 6 hours from now.We are adding Maru obi, Antique items, Katazome fabrics, shibori kimonoand bolts.
We wish you a pleasant weekend, dozo yoi syumatuo!

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

No 124

Dear Customers and Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.124.Our office is closed for Sunday, and Yuka and younger daughter went out for shopping. Yesterday I went to the downtown to drink with a few old friends, and noticed that it is on the Christmas season, and downtown and department stores were verycrowded. It reminded me the days when I worked for a department store. It must be crowded today also for sure, and they will come back extremely exhausted. As I wrote in the previous mail, I visited a bamboo artisan in Oita a week ago. I will introduce him first at our new site, ' Tour J Artisan'. He is very friendly and lovable person, and his bamboo bag is said to be the best in Japan. I am very excited to be able to introduce him and sell his bags. Please anticipate his supreme hand works. Now he is in Hawaii to attend the Honolulu Marathon - I can't believe his vitality ( He is 50 years old! )Three days ago, I visited Kiyohara Weaving Company, who are weaving tsuzure ori fabrics. The company is in Shiga prefecture, near Biwa Lake. CEO Kiyohara san welcomed me very warmly. I will introduce this visit and his merchandise precisely at our new site. Modern Tsuzure weaving items are very expensive, as you know. Tsume-tsuzure is woven with nails one thread by one thread, and only making small fukusa, it will take nearly a month to be completed. In addition artisan must train for 12 years before they become to be able to weave at that professional speed! 12 years training, one month for a small fukusa! But when I saw their weaving scene, I marveled at their technique and fully understood. I will show you some photos at our new site.I also was very astonished to hear the market price of tsume-tsuzure fabrics. Very small tsume-tsuzure fukusa are selling at about 3000 USD! ( I don't mistake the figures of zero). Piece as belows.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=86335And if the size are large, and its design and colors are complicated, the price will be two or three MILLION DOLLARS! We showed a best tsume-tsuzure fukusa to a person who came to our office from Kiyohara weaving company two weeks ago. He was very astonished its quality and he said if we made this fukusa now, cost would be more nearly five million dollars. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=86886Seeing their works, now we completely understood why the tsume-tsuzure fukusa is so valuable and expensive. To weave he piece like above one, they select the best weaver, and let her concentrate on the piece for more than three months. We can calculate the labour cost of artisan, and in addition we must put the cost of distribution and profits of participants.
A staff showed me the best piece now they had. It was in the heavy wooden box, and she removed the lid, and removed the cover fabrics. Its design was from Kourin, and has exceptionally gorgeous pattern - I got extremely excited and had an exclamation in spite of myself. And --- I found three very small saliva bubble drop on the supreme fukusa.They seemed not to notice, but I indicated and said I was very sorry that I made it. She was astonished and hurried to patted with the wipe. Bubbles were removed, but three very small stains remained in the pale color parts. She said, 'Salid is only the water, and stains will disappear, don't mind ---'. But I couldn't feel confidence in her voice. Three small saliva stains on the 5 million dollars fukusa. I couldn't concentrate on the baraza after that time. What can I do for 5 million dollar fukusa? If I buy it, can I sell? Are there some technique to remove small stains from tsuzure weaving.She said 'don't mind', and covered the fukusa with fabric again. About 30 minutes later, I went to the fukusa box, and removed the fabric slowly.And I found that stains disappeared completely! How I relieved to see it!
We discussed what items are best for ICHIROYA and foreign customers. Their main items are obi and fukusa, but both of them are not used in foreign countries. We suggest formal bags - black or silver background, large impressive kamon pattern on them, and a tassel on it. The price must be more than 1000 USD, but it must be exceptionally unique, gorgeous and sophisticated bag for specially formal occasion. How do you feel, if a very skilled artisan weaves a special formal bag for you, and it will take a moth to be completed!
And anyway I decided to buy every vintage tsuzure-ori items if they are offered at the auctions. They are extremely underestimated compared to its real value.
Thank you very much for reading to the end. Today we will list some kimono, furisode, antique items and bolt abut 5 hours later from now.
Ichiro & Yuka WadaKimono Flea Market ICHIROYAhttp://www.ichiroya.cominfo@ichiroya.comaddress:Koyodai 3-3-10-109Tondabayashi city, Osaka, 584-0082 JAPANPhone & Fax ****(international number)-81( country code)-721-29-5446

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.123.
*We are having New Year's holidays from December 27 to January 02(it may be December 26 to January 03 in your country). We are sorry we cannot do shipping or respond to e-mails during the holidays. Thank you very much for your patience and consideration.
I am writing this letter earlier than usual. I am going to Oita prefecture in Kyusyu this weekend. To prepare 'Tour J Artisan', I will visit an artisan, who makes supreme bamboo basket. It will be two days trip, and I have a little time to go around there. At our new site, we will introduce not only the merchandise, but also artisan's character, technique background, and the climate of the area where the artisan lives.Ichiro will trip the first some trips, but later Yuka or other staffs also visit artisan's places, and will report interesting items and articles.Let's discover what is waiting for you!
A few days ago our younger daughter Mugi passed the entrance exam of university. Both of our two daughters finished all the entrance examinations of their lives, and we are relieved they passed exams. In Japan entering the university is more difficult than graduating.
Our next ordeals are our daughters' Coming-of-Age Day celebrations. In Japan parents prepare furisode for the Coming-of-Age Day celebration, and daughters wear furisode and attend celebration as the memory of grown-up. Our elder daughter Shoko became 20 years old this October, and she will wear a furisode on January 9th. We know how brand new kimono become expensive, so we don't want to buy a furisode at brand new kimono retailers. For long time Yuka kept saying, 'Please buy a furisode for Shoko at auctions'. But I thought we had lots of furisode, and we could use any of them. In addition Shoko herself was not so interested in wearing a furisode. So we were too easy mood for long time. But recently we noticed that only several days left, if we make new furisode from 'karinui fabric' for her size. Sewing a kimono usually takes a month.We were preoccupied by younger daughter's entrance exam, and were not careful about the schedule. We tried several furisode from our stocks in a mad rush, but we couldn't find perfect one for her. We had to get her furisode karinui fabric immediately, and send it for sewing right away.
The day before yesterday I attended an auction in Osaka with firm resolution ( - ' I will buy for her furisode absolutely!"). I said it to a familiar kimono dealer Y san. She was astonished and said, ' I prepared furisode for my daughters about six months before the day. I can't believe you don't have it yet. Only a month and a few days are left!'The situation was tough for us, but Lady Luck smiled on us. At the ending of the auction, a fabulous red furisode karinui fabric was offered. It was red one and has fine flowers pattern ( like Kaga yuzen) on it, which was ideal one we discussed before at home. I determined to buy it for her, and dared to bid higher price as usual. But there was a higher bidder than me! We lost it.Y san laughed, and advised me to ask the winner to sell the piece with some profit. I followed her advice, asked him to sell and he was willing to sell it to us.I brought it home and showed to Shoko. We were very happy to know she liked it.We sent the furisode fabric yesterday. We made it!But we still have to find a matching obi and many accessories for the furisode in this month.
Yesterday Yuka called a beauty parlor to reserve on the Coming-of-Age Day. But already the reservations were full, and Shoko must go to the parlor at 4 a.m. She must get up early in the morning ( maybe 3 a.m. ) and go to the parlor. They will set her hair and dress her furisode. She must wear furisode from very early in the morning ( Can she bear wearing furisode for a long time?)Younger daughter Mugi was seeing our romp, and she said she prefers green furisode with rare design. We learned the lesson and will start preparing her furisode earlier.Yuka may wrote before, but some time ago it was said that if there are three daughters in a family, the family will go bankrupt by preparing kimono for them.To prepare a furisode and all the accessories to go with the furisode, it was said that you had to have about US $8000.(for one set).When daughters get married, parents used to have them bring kimono for each season, funeral kimono for (with lining and without lining), formal kimono and all the accessories. We used to see a big track with red and white ribbon and the back full of furniture in the transparent glass( so the people can see what the bride is bringing toher husband's house. Husband's parents invite the neighbors to see what the bride brought-they open all the drawers and show them all to the neighbors.This tradition sounds so old-fashioned but we could see these kind of trucks quite often before but we noticed we have not seen them for years.The average age of both men and women to get married is so high now, and we heard daughters ask their parents to give them money to buy a car or for a trip instead of making kimonos. Things are changing so rapidly, we are glad our daughter seem to be glad to be able to wear a furisode, and I am looking forward to see her in the furisodenext month.
** We added fabulous haori, charming antique items, pre-tied obi and fabrics.We hope you have sometime to check our new arrivals!
New Arrivals : http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=1205
Thank you very much, domo arigato gozaimasu.
PS We went to a concert today - it was `Roger Wagner Chorale'. We savored the subarashii`wonderful' voice- it was a blissful moment. (Yuka)

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

No122

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 122.Yesterday I went to Okayama to attend a kimono auction. It took more than three hours to drive to Okayama, and I took by heavy traffic jam on there turn route. I got tired for long drive, but I could enjoy the autumn colour of leaves of mountains along the roads. I didn't think, but now is the most beautiful foliage season, and we must be able to enjoy colored leaves scenery in Kyoto and other famous places. Unfortunately we couldn't get many rare items at the auction. Auction ended earlier than usual, and I went to a museum in Himeji( Shosya Art & Craft Museum) after that auction. Now they exhibit tsutsugaki, titled ' Ai no shosou - Tsutsugaki - Kurashino some'( Aspects of Ai - Tsutsugaki - Dyeing of Ordinarly Lives).Here is the page of that exhibition although it is Japanese.
http://www.city.himeji.hyogo.jp/kougei/04kikaku-tenji/20051015tutu_gaki.html
They exhibit about 70 pieces, and approx half of them are the collection of Horiuchi san. As we wrote in our site and news letters, Horiuchi san is one of the most famous Japanese antique fabric collectors, and she always gives us valuable information and advice to us. We knew she has the best collection of vintage Kurume Kasuri, but we didn't know about her tsutsugaki collection. At the exhibition, almost all impressive pieces are the pieces came from Horiuchi san. Seeing such lots of supreme tsutusgaki piece at a place was my first experience. Tsutsugaki pieces are often offered at auction, but we rarely come across the pieces like Horiuchi san owns. She must have taken a long time to collect these pieces with concentrating only on the supreme and very very rare pieces. I had to catch my breath in my throat again and again in the front of Horiuchi san's piece. For an example, one piece is large futon cover, and it has colorful circle patterns all over it in the beuatiful deep blue color background. That piece looked as if it was the unique picture of the universe!
As many customers know, 'tsutsu' means tube, and 'gaki' means paint. The technique, tsutsugaki, is a rice paste resist technique unique to Japan. Tsutsugaki dyers draw the picture with tube filled with paste. The tube is just like the one used to put cream on a cake. So the most charming point of tsutsugaki is its free and spontaneous touch of the lines. Dyers dips it to the 'ai game'( ai pot) and dry it several times, for getting deep natural ai color. Its methods are very elaborate and took long time, but if the textiles are dyed with natural ai with this elaborate methods, blue color will not be discolored, and but the color will be deeper for long time use. Tsutsugaki is often used for furoshiki, futon cover and so on, so its not-discolored color is important. If indigo are used, its color must be discolored for long time just as jeans will be, and its picture will lost its impression and beauty.
Here is the most famous tsutsugaki artisan 'Nagatasomekoujyo' 's HP. Also at the museum their techniques are shown with TV. Pages are written in Japanese, but you can enjoy the photos of dyeing methods and his works. http://www.izumo.ne.jp/~koujyou/
We also have several fabulous pieces. We think these pieces are valuable, and gives us great fun to look at.
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=75692http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=70941http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=69198http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=59052
Today thinking about natural ai, I suddenly wanted to wear 'natural ai dyed jeans'. I went to a shop in Osaka Umeda, and check them. I liked the deep natural color, and I decided to pay approx 300USD for one jeans. I wanted to report to our readers how its color and touch change for long time use. But my size was sold, and I couldn't have any. Near in futue we will get 'natural ai dyed' jeans, and will report about it.
* We added charming sakiori rag, tasteful Nagoya obi, haori, kimono and fabric bolts now.
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=1128
We will be very happy if you have time to check our new arrivals.
Thank you very much and have a pleasant new week. dozo yoi issyukano!
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

No 121


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.121.Yuka is writing this newsletter instead of Ichiro-for I was reallyimpressed by the wedding of Sayako san, who used to be a princess Sayakountil last Tuesday, and I wanted to share the story with you.
Sayako san is an only daughter of the Emperor and Empress. and herbrothers, Prince Hironomiya and Prince Akishinomiya were both marriedand have children. Sayako san (36) got married to a commoner YoshikiKuroda (40) who is a civil officer of Tokyo. They knew each other quitea long time, Sayako san knew him as one of her brother's friends.
Sayako san's mother-the Empress was a commoner. Michiko san became theEmpress Michiko, and her daughter who was born in a royal family as aprincess went to the opposite way-- Princess Sayako became Sayako san.It is said that the Empress knew her daughter had to leave the royalfamily sooner or later, so she tried to raise her as an ordinarydaughter for her future life as an ordinary person.Sayako san was working as a research worker of a research institute ofbirds and nature in Tokyo. She quit her job but will continue herresearch.She took a driving lesson, learned how to cook- for her, going shoppingand paying taxes are the things she has never done before. They said shewas worried about `gomi dashi'(how to take out trash properly) and askedall kinds of things and is trying to live as an ordinary person without bothering other people.
Before her wedding there was a traditional ceremony which is to reporther departure from the royal family to the shrine, and she wore Junihitoe(twelve layered kimono), the traditional royal costume from Heianperiod:
http://www.asahi.com/national/update/1112/TKY200511120140.html
The wedding reception was held on November 15th at Teikoku Hotel inTokyo. I was really curious to see what she was going to wear at thereception but it was very different from what we expected. Everyone was surprised and then impressed by Sayako san's decision. At wedding receptions, brides usually wear either uchikake(wedding robe)or furisode(long flowing sleeve kimono) or both with very bright colorsand decorative patterns as far as waso(Japanese style) is concerned.
Sayako san entered in the reception room in a kimono with very soft andgenteel colors not even furisode but it seemed like a houmongi- whichwas unexpectedly quiet as a bride. The kimono looked very nice butpeople must have thought how austere the kimono was.Actually, the kimono was one of the Express's kimono. Sayako san askedher mother to lend her one of her kimono for she wanted to be a womanlike her and she was the one Sayako san respected most. The Empress wassaid to tell her to change her mind, `You are young. Of course I amhappy to let you wear my kimono but why don't you think about it again?'However Sayako san's resolution never changed.I love the photos of the both Emperor and Empress when their onlydaughter entered and came to their table:http://www.asahi.com/special/051115/photo/index.html
You may not believe it but they are the first who attended theirchildren's wedding reception. Royal families never attended weddingreceptions, they attended ceremonies but not the receptions. You can seehow happy they looked and their peaceful smiles are the ones of ordinaryparents. They greeted all the guests stayed until everything was overand thanked and sent the guests off -- it is a natural thing but wasa very unusual thing in the royal family history.
Sayako san said, in the morning of the wedding day,"The empress then hugged me tightly and told me 'Everything's going to be OK,' many times," As a mother, the Empress must have included all her thoughts in thisshort message for her only daughter.I smiled very much to read the Emperor's words to her. He told her totake good care of her husband and the people related to him, and thensaid `ori ori ni irashai' which means, `please drop by from time to time'.
The children used respect language to the Emperor and Empress, and inpublic, we could never see them hug each other or speak frankly eachother but in these short words, we could see their bond and warm caringof each other. Many people lined the streets and wished their happiness. Some peoplesaid, they felt the royal family is now very close to them and theycould never forget the smiles of relief of Sayako san's parents-theycertainly looked different from the faces we see in their public appearance.
Our daughters are 20 and 18, and I found myself sympathizing with theEmpress, and I am sure all mothers must be praying and saying to theirdaughters, 'Everything's going to be OK'.
domo arigato gozaimasu for reading our newsletter.
*We are adding kimono, bolt and the FABULOUS Shima cho, which we introduced in our last newsletter. We will be very happy if you have time to check our new arrivals we are listing in about 5-6 hours.Wishing you a wonderful new week, 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

No 120

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No120.Recently we got some very rare items, and which includes a fantastic 'shima-cho' in them. As some customers already know, shimacho is the vintage scrapbook of pieces of fabrics. We already have sold some shima cho at our site, and here is photos of one we list now.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list3.php?no=70257'Shima' means 'stripe', and 'cho' means 'book'. Shima cho is considered to be very valuable because we can know what kinds of fabrics people used in olden times. Not only weaver in Japan, but also famous designers in the world are attracted by shima cho, which seem to inspire them.In olden times many people wove fabrics in their home both for merchandises and home consumption. Good weaver had to study design and technique by themselves, and most antique shima cho were made by them for collecting samples of weaving design. They ( most of them were the wives of farmers, and wove fabrics to supplement the family income ) collected fabric pieces from their ordinarily used clothes, and put them on the discarded papers or books.We have seen some antique shima cho, but the piece we recently got is exceptionally lovely piece. That piece looks very special not only because it includes lots of antique beautiful fabric pieces, but also its pasting way is very elaborately. Pieces are pasted with fine spacing, and all its pages look very beautiful. We can feel the very deep affection to the fabrics of the owner from each pages.Owner had to collect fabrics she liked for long time, and paste one piece one piece with great affection to them. Recently shima cho is very expensive, and we sometimes find recently made shima cho, which must be pasted at a time without cares on the old books. We can easily find antique books and old fabrics, so making fake shima cho is easy. But this piece is absolutely different from such pieces. We will list it on our site near in future. Please enjoy the photos of it at that time.
To know the ages of pieces, we will list here some hints here.
*Most of fabric pieces of shima cho are stripe pattern one, although the 'koushi'(check) pattern fabrics are included. It is because that shima (stripe) pattern is comparatively easier to be woven, and at a time fine stripe pattern was thought to be very 'iki'(cool).
*Fabrics before mid Meiji period of populace at large were cotton or asa(Japanese hemp). Silk was the fabric for samurai, court noble or monks, and most ordinary people were prohibited to use silk. So farmers only could blend useless short silk threads within the cotton fabric for their home use. Shima cotton pieces of early Meiji period(1868-1912) or earlier are often blended silk.
* Before early Meiji period(1868-1912), threads are hand woven one, and after Meiji 10 (1878) machine woven threads increased.
*Colors of antique fabrics are dyed with plant dye stuff, and most of them are made of two or three colors, like natural ai blue, brown and yellow. Chemical dyestuff was invented in Meiji 23(1891), and from ending Meiji period(1868-1912) colorful chemical colors became to be used.
*Kasuri cotton is become common after Meiji period(1868-1912). Machine woven kasuri like Bingo kasuri were made from early Taisho period(1912-1925). So chemical dyestuff and kasuri are the good clue to know the ages of fabric pieces.
By the way sometimes our stock room become almost full. Do anyone want kimono bundle package? We can make approx 12-13kg bun dle package, which include about 10 kimono, 10 haori and more. They have some(or quite many) stains and most materials are silk, but includes some synthetic ones. We can not they are valuable pieces like items listed at our site. But we often see many feign buyers buy such quality's kimono at low price, and send them to their countries. It must be different between selling at site and selling at real stores in the feign countries.We can offer the package for 88USD(we can not discount the price). Price is the almost the same to theseller's auction price, but we can not provide any more informationabout this package. Shipping cost by sea will be approx 70 USD to UnitedStates, Europe and Australia. We believe if you are a seller, you canmake good profit with these packages. We seem to be able to make approx 20 packages. We will offer them for the first come 20 e-mails from this news letter readers.
We feel we had to write little more about samurai spirits at the previous news letter. Of course we know 'samurai spirit' and 'Japanese artisan souls' lost against the 'pioneer spirit' of United States. While Japanese people sticked to polish the details with artisan soul, United States and other Western countries invent new technologies, and take the world by storm. Chemical indigo beat the natural ai, computer beat mental arithmetic and soroban(abacus), and the strongest samurai was easily shot by gun. We don't think Japanese way is always best at all.
** To see our website, there was certain time which took quite a longtim to see sometimes, because of many customers visited at the same time.We are proceeding to have better server so that each page can be seenfaster. Thank you for your patience now and the server will be soonready.
We have just added today's new arrivals including supreme Kurotomesodekimono and obi-we will be very HAPPY if you have time to check:
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=1114 domo arigato gozaimasu and have a subarashii(wonderful) new week!
with many thanks from JapanIchiro & 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

No 119

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.119.Bobby Valentine is reported to get offers from major league teams, and reject the Chiba Lotte Marine's offer, which is approx ten million dollars for three years. It is said to be 60% increase with three years contract. Lotte Marines seems to be re-offering twelve million dollars, but agreement is not reported.We hear that manager Torre gets nineteen million dollars for three years. We think Bobby's demand may be moderate, because he is the one of the best managers like Torre.But Lotte's is reported deficit of 2.5 million this year, and some people feel Bobby is too calculating and demanding, even if he loves Japanese Baseball. They say, 'How about giving him three-years' gums as extra?'( Lotte's holding company is a famouschewing gum maker.)
In these days Japanese ethics is changing with following Western way. Bobby's demand reminds me the difference between Japan and United States. We hear most people in United States don't hesitate to demand highest salary as possible as they can. Executives of major company usually get incredible amount of money, and at the same time they usually lead the company to make huge profit as equity holders expect. It is famous also in Japan that Jack Welch got huge salary at GE, and he was said to be the best of best among the major executives for a time.In Japan one of the respected top executive is Uichiro Niwa, who had been the CEO of ITOCHU Corporation for these six years. Itochu is one of the most major four commercial firms('shosya') in Japan, and ran into difficulties after the collapse of the asset-inflation bubble. In the first year he had to post a loss of approx 35 million USD. He didn't take any salary for a year and six months after that. He quit to use company vehicles to commute to the office. He commutes to work by train as regular employees. His private car is Toyota Corolla, which is the popular car. It must be very difficult to find other executives in Japan, who use a Corolla as their private car.His policy is, 'Clean, Honest and Beautiful'. And he says its backbone is Bushido(Samurai)Spirits. He demanded employees to be honest and clean(not-greedy), and he also kept hardened attitude as he said.He inspired the employees greatly, and transformed the company dramatically to the profitable company in six years. He quit on this April, as he said when he became the CEO.I think Jack Welch can inspire only a handful of elite, but Uichiro can inspire almost every employees, even though the financial results are the same.
Bushido spirits as Uichiro says is losing in modern Japan, so his way was looked fresh and impressive. But this spirits must have been the foundation of international competitiveness for Japanese products.If the all workers didn't have the passion to make better things, how the elaborate and fine textiles like kasuri or tsumugi could be made ?
We hope Bobby stay in Japan more three years, and hope to show us exciting story as this year. And we are very interested in his decision.
**We are adding haori, children's kimono and bolts- we hope you havesome time to check our new arrivals!
Thank you very much and have a wonderful new week!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

No 118

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.118.At last Mr. Bobby Valentine led the Chiba Lotte Chiba Lotte Marines win the Japan Pro Baseball championship series. Marines won 4 straight titles at incredible scores, 10-1, 10-0, 10-1, 3-2. Our Osaka's team Tigers seems to return to Dame-Tora ( weak tiger!) again. But Marines inspired us - 'Most weak team can be strongest, if a leader motivates all players with ingenuity and they do their best'. Now many Japanese people love and admire Bobby - his cheeriness, skill of motivating players and his affection to Japanese baseball. Already many people are concerned that the Major Leagues teams may call him back with huge money. But now Japan Pro Baseball is suffered from many difficulties and unpopularity, and he is giving great impact to Japanese baseball. Please leave him for a while in Japan! Here in Japan, another great record is enthusing many people. Last Sunday a race horse made won the major race, and made a great record. After the last year's debut, Deepimpact won seven races without any defeats, and he won the third major race on last Sunday. He won the triple crown without defeats, which is the after an absence of 21 years. I have never bought betting tickets, and usually I do not care about horse races. But he is special for people even like me. He is not a big horse, but his cardiorespiratory function is incredibly strong, and his arthro is very soft. At the races he always stays in the middle of the horses until last corners, and around the last corner he puts forth his last spurt. He almost fly and the distance becomes short perceptively, and finally he goes to the front, and when he pass the goal, the next horses are always far away behind him. It is always sweet and icredible victory. Some people say Deepimpact is the highest horse in the world now. We are looking forward to see he run among the foreign horses. But we must also be concerned about his legs - his legs are thin, and his blood line horses have tends to have trouble with legs. His legs looks too thin to support his incredible speed.
We really hope Bobby stay longer in Japan, and Deepimpact will be healthy forever.
Today we ( Ichiro & Yuka ) went to the Nara National Museum to see 'The 57th Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures'. More than ten thousand treasures are said to be stored from the eigth century, and they are said to the world's finest existing repository of early Asian art. Here is the particular English page about the exhibition.http://www.yado-nara.gr.jp/shosoin/pdf/shosoin_57th.pdf
Visiting this exhibition and writing about the exhibition was the promise with a friend. This exhibition is annually hold, but we have never visited before. First we were astonished to see lots of visitors, and we had to see the treasures beyond the people. We rarely come across such crowds of peopleat art exhibitions.Many people seem to decide to visit annually, to see treasures as much as they can. This year's top treasure seems to be the Go Board. Go is a game like Othello. Exotic animal motifs are fashioned from various woods and inlays in side parts, and tortoise design drawers are made in each side - pulling one drawer activates an internal mechanism that makes the other drawer slide out. Its very fine work is incredible!It is so vivid and we could know the people in that time loved playing games-the exceptionally detailed decorations are not only gorgeous but also very playful touch and full of sense of fun. Several textiles are also found. We could enjoy beautiful red nishiki-weave fragments. About the fabric also, we could not easily believe they are from more than 1200 years ago, and weaver in that era could weave such detailed patterns.We saw some facemasks made of cloth too. Most of masks are men's face with beard. They are considered to be used as some kind of dancing. The part where eyes are have holes and these masks must have been very suitable for acting or dancing-the masks are so light and the bottom part of the facemasks had extra length--the part are considered to be tucked in the collar of their clothing. The necklaces made of glass were so vivid and captvatng too-all things seemed to be made only some time agoand used with a lot of pleasure. People really must have enjoyed to have used and had them around.Some items are shown for the first time- the exhibition is held only 17 days a year and for the rest of days, they are not shown in public.
While I was writing this letter, an old friend called me. He owns a famous potter's ware shop in Toyonaka city, and I often worked with him when I worked for Daimaru department store. He knows many ceramic artist all over Japan. After a long interval chatting with him was very fun and familiar.I said him about our new project 'Tour J(apanese) Artisan', and we feel there must be great possibility of our collaboration.We are planning to begin 'Tour J Artisan' within two months. Thank you for reading to the end. Today we will list some fabulous obi ( and fabrics). Our new manager Hisami begins to attend various auctions and try to get valuable items for you. We think we can offer more antique items from now on.We wish you a lovely Nchioyobi(Sunday)
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

No117

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA'S News Letter No.117.>From a few days ago, it was getting cooler dramatically, and I became to need to wear a down jacket while I rode a bike. Only less than ten days leave before November, so it must be usual temperature now.Yesterday the first game of Japan Pro Baseball championship series was held, and Hanshin Tigers was beaten by Chiba Lotte Marines 1- 11. Hansin Tigers bases in Kansai district, and there are many fans here in Osaka. Tigers became No.1 in 1985, however after that time team had been weak and lowest in rank always, and fan called their team as 'Dame-Tora'( 'Dame' means 'Not-good, impossible and so on -strongly negative adjective. 'Tora' means tiger.) But many fan loved Tigers, and continued to cheer for the Tigers. Two years ago manager Hoshino dramatically changed the team and led this 'dame' team to No.1. Last year Tigers was in the forth in rank, but this year manager Okada won in the Central League, and now team is trying to win Japan Championship series.
I am not a hard-core fan of Hanshin Tigers, but I had to hope Tigers win if the opposing team's manager was not him - Mr. Bobby Valentine.
Some customers must know Bobby Valentine, who was the manager of New York Mets. Before he worked for Mets, he was the manager of Lotte Marines for a year, and strengthened the team incredibly during only a year. For a long time Lotte was always lowest in the rank, but that year the team nearly won in the Pacific League. He promoted players independence, cheered players and led the team tactfully. And he never forgot to serve fan. Fan and players anticipated him to stay the team and win the Pacific League next year, but general manager dismissed him suddenly.>From next year Lotte returned to the lowest rank again. Bobby returned to USA, and became a manager of New York Mets, and won National League in 2000.
This year Bobby returned to Japan as the manager of Chiba Lotte Marines again. And Lotte recovered from the doldrums, and won the Pacific League.
He wrote an essay several months ago in the news paper. He wrote that he believed to return to Japan and work for Japanese baseball again when he came back to USA. He felt an unaccountable bond to Japan, and he had a dream to become a leader of Japan pro baseball.
In 1970 he was a player of minor league of Dodgers, he got hit a pitch in the cheek. He walked back to club house by himself, and an unacquainted Japanese came with him and said that the injury was very serious and he needed emergency operation. Bobby was brought into an ambulance, and that Japanese also came with him.American doctors tried to cut off the bone fragments, but it seemed to be very difficult. As a matter of fact, that Japanese was the hard-core fan of Dodgers, and at a time he was a good orthopaedist. He had a God hand of operation, and helped the American doctors and finished the 32 stitches of surgery without leaving any scars. He left while Bobby was in senseless sleep, without saying his name.Bobby greatly appreciated him, and tried to find him later. But when he got his name, the Japanese doctor already gone. He was the first Major League player who used Japanese made gloves, and that maker invited him to Japan as a teachers of baseball. And there were some more occasion to nature his feeling to Japan.
A 6 years boy in Chiba is suffered serious cardiac disease, and he needs the emergency operation in USA. It costs more than 60 million yen, and parents and friends started to collect money by charity. 20 million yen was collected, and then Chiba Marine Lotter joined the charity. This topic got a lot of media exposure, and the sum reached the goal. This is another story, but ---.
Which team should I cheer? Lovable Dame Tora of our town, or stunning Bobby and his vivid players?Second game of championship is going to start tonight again.
http://www.so-net.ne.jp/marines/english/
We are adding karinu, bolt and obi soon(early next morning here)
We wish you a pleasant Sunday and thank you very much for reading mynewsletter.
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

No116

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.116.14th October was the birthday of our elder sister Shoko, and yesterday night we went out for a dinner celebrating her 20th birthday. We feel it was only a few years ago, when she was born. Recently she entered an university to study Chinese, got a driver's license and started to make up and dress like a lady. On the way to the Italian restaurant she drove a car. I was on the front passenger seat. I noticed that she forgot to release the hand brake, and I let her notice it. It was a long drive, and we didn't notice, it might cause of serious accidents. I had to shout several times to let her know the signal was RED! I was not sure whether she noticed the red signal or not, but her speed seemed not to be reduced enough for smooth stop. It was a rainy night, so we told her she had to be very very careful and not to speed up.Near the restaurant she mistook to turn and stall in the center of the road. We all got panicky to see cars were coming both from forth and back!She is 20 years old, and already an adult. But we felt she still needed more help and advice to cope with her life alone.
Yesterday I attend an kimono auction in Iga. One of my friend started a monthly auction several months ago. My mentor Mr. Fujimura is invited as an auctioneer.
About six month ago, when I attend an auction in Okayama, we bought lots of 'ranru'(cotton rag). Its auction is Mr. Fujimura's one, and a seller offered a pile of cotton rags. All bidders and Mr. Fujimura knew we prefer 'ranru', and I was anticipated to buy them at good price. They were made of ai dyed cotton, and many parts were repaired with other cotton, included kasuri and katazome cotton. White thick stitches were used for repairing, and at a glance they looked charming.I won the first several ones, and felt their touch were stiff, and looked like starched. And when I looked closely, stitches were too rough, and I didn't get special kind of feeling when we touch good ranru fabrics. At the details of good ranru, we always find elaborate stitches, good combination of cotton stripes and affection to fabric and owner's family members. Auction is always speedy, and some joined to compete us, so I won all the ranru there. At the middle I felt these ranru might be made recently and intentionally, but I couldn't stop to bid. The prices were not high, so even if they were not charming, I thought they might be good merchandises.But when we brought them back to our office, and checked them again, and we came to know my judgement was wrong. Regardless of the prices, we don't want to sell them at our site. I had to recognize they were not beautiful or charming - only rags. We put them back into the box, and I wrote the side of the box as 'Dame-Ranru wth a marker'. ( 'Dame' means 'bad', 'Not suitable for **', 'Not good' , 'Not be able to ***' and so on.)The box had been six month in our office, but these days we bought lots of antique items, and we became not to have enough space. We decided to sell 'Dame-Ranru' at Iga auction.I thought, ' If I sell these ranru, bidders must wonder why I sell them, and may believe they are not suitable for selling. So we had better ask someone to offer them as their merchandises'.I asked my friend to offer them. Some antique dealers ask someone to offer their items, and bid up to their own items to sell at high prices. But I only want to sell them and didn't have idea to bid to sell them higher.The friend is a good guy, and said OK. I asked him, 'Please not to offer by a piece, but offer them at bundles. We don't need to sell them at high prices'.But he is a very very good guy, and tried to sell higher than we expected. When his turn came, he began to offer our ranru by a piece. Of course bidders looked me anticipating the bid, but I only smiled. First a few pieces were sold at moderate prices, and then Mr. Fujimura seemed to notice where they came, and looked me and said 'Do I have seen them?'But at that time I noticed that the side part of the box at the feet of my friend looked toward us(to all bidders). Black and bold characters read 'Dame-Ranru' and 'Wada'. The box was used to stock kimono at auctions so we had to write our name.
None seemed to notice it. But I couldn't stop to burst to laugh.Box is saying - 'Dame-ranru' of Wada is selling now!And I couldn't stop to tell it to the friend beside me. She also burst out laughing. At last other bidders noticed what we were laughing, and a bidder reads the characters around ' Dame-Ranru Wada!'.
Mr. Fujimura won all 'dame-ranru' of us at way cheaper prices as we bought.We are very sorry for bringing shame on my good friend. But its situation was very very funny and interesting, and we lost some money with feeling happy.
By the way we donated 100,000 yen ( approx 900 USD ) to Doctors Without Borders Japan. As usual this donation is from our customers and us. We hope helps will reach as soon as possible to the disaster victims of the earthquake in Pakistan.
We will be adding charming vintage cotton items, katazome, interesting vintage items and the bolts soon.We hope you have tome time to check our new arrivals later when they are added. 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

No 112


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market Ichiroya's News Letter No.112.Today I went to Fukuoka City Museum with Yuka to see the exhibition named 'Donza - Unknown Marine Sashiko Collection'.
http://museum.city.fukuoka.jp/jf/2005/donza2/html/donza.html#snap
http://museum.city.fukuoka.jp/jf/2005/donza2/html/donza2.html
It was a wonderful exhibition. More than a hundred sashiko donza were collected from all over Japan, and we could enjoy the variety and know their produced places. Ordinarily 'donza' indicates the workwear for fishermen, which are made of layered cotton and fine sashiko stitches on them all over. We heard so, but we didn't know what 'donza' precisely indicates by now. The definition above is right, but we come to know that in some districts 'donza' meant also workwear for ordinary lives. For examples, farmer's wives also wore 'donza' when they worked at fields and mountains. And sometimes yogi ( heavily padded sleeping kimono) was also called 'donza'.In olden times dialects had more variety than now, and commomn words seemed to indicate different items around them. We saw the map, which illustrates the distribution where the words 'donza' was used. Its dots are mainly on the west part of Japan, but also in Hokkaido and Tohoku district dots are put. But we can think most typical 'donza' is from Setouchi (The Inland Sea) district and Kyushu region, where the fishery was flourishing.
The exhibition says,Donza was made by fisherman's mother, grand mother or his wife. They are mainly made of three layered cotton fabrics. Ordinarily fabrics are solid ai dyes cotton, and strip or kasuri cotton were also used sometimes. Very fine sashiko stitches are done all over it, with thick white cotton threads. Sometimes blue dyed or black dyed threads were also used. Because of its elaborate handworks, supreme donza needed to be made for two or three years. Sashiko stitches were to strengthen the fabrics, and give the warmth to fabrics, which were necessory for the hard job on the fishing boats. But it was also for decoration, in which women had to compete their senses.There seems to be two kinds of donza - one was worn during their daily work on the ships. Such kinds of donza at the exhibition are well well worn, and sashiko stitches are comparatively rough. They are really work wear, and textiles, stitches and repaired parts are made for real hard use.But another type of donza is a kind of gala attire - owners only wore them at the special occasions, like bossing the fishery job or going out into the town. As we feel now, incredibly elaborate sashiko works elated owners, and they had to use with great care. Such type of donza has exceptionally fine and artistic sashiko stitches all over it - some look as if its patterns were dyed or woven. The exhibition says there might be the professional sashiko artisans for such kind of supreme sashiko works.
At this exhibition we felt and enjoyed the fishermen's pride, their tough life, women's affections , their unique traditions and so on. This exhibition is held until Sep 25th. If you are happened to be in Japan, we would like to recommend you to visit there. In furture we would like to add supreme donza to our collection ( shops ). Always we are strongly enchanted by this kind of folklore touch wears. And we noticed that some sashiko noragi, which we offered and sold, might be called 'donza' by their original owners.
**We are adding haneri(collar), geta, haori, sakori and bolts in about5-6 hours.Please check our new arrivals.Thank you very much for reading our newsletter. We wish you a peaceful new week.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

No 115


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.115.Today is already 9th October, and a few days ago I changed the morning coffee from cold one to hot one. Last week I went two auctions, Kobe and Tanba, and got some treasures.
On Monday a new staff joined us. Her name is Hisami, and she has rich experience in interior and Japanese antique market. She had lived for 5 years in San Francisco, and worked as a store manager of Japanese antique shop. Some customers might notice, some wooden items recently listed were got by her, and descriptions are written by her. She especially knows much about wooden items, and knows how to distinguish wood and repair them. Her description is way better than mine ( all our staff's English are better than me ), and she also can suggest how to use Japanese items in Western interior. Now she is studying all kinds of works of our business. Soon she will respond your e-mails too.
Recently I became to feel that I must know more about web and system, and started to study computer programming - 'Perl', 'PHP'and 'SQL'. Studying programming s not easy. Not same as English writing, only a smallest mistake stops the running program. Even if I think I wrote exactly the same as the books, program often returns 'ERROR'. I check all characters and marks with eyes like saucers, but I often can not find the difference. I thought learning program was impossible for me, but I become to know learning program is easier compared to learning rare antique items. I bought a couple of books for each programs, and if a part can not be understood, I read the same explanation part of other books. Other ways of explanation clarify my questions. And anyway everything are in the books, which I want to know. And I can believe almost every descriptions .
Learning about rare antique items has different type of difficulties. Very often answers of questions are not found in books. We must ask some people, but often we can not believe the answers, which are told by others. Sometimes people don't know well about the questions, and sometimes they will give wrong answers intentionally. To see and touch the rare items, we must visit all over Japan, and we often miss the occasions to see rare items. It cost a lot not only money but also time. Famous Kasuri collector Horiuchi san always teaches us, 'You had better keep items as data, with commentaries. Such data must become property of your study and skill.' When I visited her house, she showed me lots of 'kire-cho'( fabric sampler book) she had made over a long time.
I don't know which level I can reach in programming. But anyway what a fun to learn new things! My English is not still good, but way better compared to three years ago. English skills opened the window to the world!Now I am 46 years old, but my age seems not to be late for beginning new studies.We know Grandma Moses started to paint pictures when she was 75 years old. And we want to let you know another great man who lived in Edo period.
His name is Tadataka Inou(born in 1745). He made precise Japanese map in a historical first. He walked every corners of Japan for 17 years, and completed the whole map. Incredible thing is that this 17 years are from his 55 years old to 71 years old. It was the olden times, when people thought the lifetime is 50 years. He run his family business well until 50 years old. And retired the business, he suddenly went out to Edo (Tokyo) and started to study Western astronomia and mathematics. His teacher was almost 20 years younger than him. Before his works, the maps of Japan were like children's pictures, and for the frst time he let people know how figure the real Japan was. His work contributed to the modernization of Japan greatly.
So compared to him, I have more time to study and make some great work! I must hustle more!
Today we are going to list child kimono, haori, tetsubin(iron pot) and fabrics. We will list them about 6 - 7 hours later. We are very happy if you could check them.
Thank you for reading to the end. Have a nice weekend!
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

No 114


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.114.Ichiro is struggling to get valuable items with fighting with competitors, how are you? In our business, sometimes everyone look gentle to us, but sometimes everyone look very tough - sometimes fighting with competitors is a very tough and difficult works. Business bibles say that we must hate the competitors, and must wish to make them bankruptcy. They say we always must be tough negotiators to leave the profit to us. When my daughter said, 'My hope is only to be the person who contribute the world!" , I advice her " You can become easily the person you want. If you pick up trash on the street, your act must contribute to our town. You are already the person who can contribute the society. But if you want to help more people efficiently, you must prove you have the best ability to do that. So you must not hesitate to be competitive, and defeat antagonists."Yes, we must always be strong and tough player in the market, if we want to offer more good value and contribute to the society. But sometimes we want to be too gentle to the competitors and other business partners, and feel gloomy mood to fighting ---- But yesterday I went to Super Sento ( Huge Hot Spring Bath ), and washed the gloomy mood off, and slept enough time to refresh my fighting spirits.
Today I am going to write about the 'pachinko'( Japanese pinball) and 'slot' ( Japanese coin game). There are lots of glitzy pachinko halls not only in the big towns, but also at the small towns all over Japan. If you have been to Japan, you must notice the showy signboards all over hell's half acre. In front of the them, you can hear the continuous noise of jangling sounds of pinballs, noisy music and annoying announces. If you get into pachinko hall, you will be surprised at the serried ranks of pachinko ( or slot ) machines like soldiers. Many people sit in front of the machines, and look intently at the machines. They are not only the adult men, but also women, young lady and elder people. A figures says the pachinko population is nearly 20 million, approx 1/6 of the whole Japan population. Officially pachinko and slot are said to be the national 'leisure' .
If you have a chance to come to Japan, let's try Japanese national leisure.At first you must buy(rent) balls or coins in thousands yen, and you must select machines, which seem to have different rules and design, but look the same. Once you select the machine, you sit in front of it, and only turn the hundle or push buttons as casino machines. Your balls or coins will be lost only a few minutes. And if you want to continue another few minutes, you must buy with another a thousand yen. You can easily lose more than several hundred dollar in a day.Of course you may win more than thousand dollars a day, if you are a very very lucky person.When you win you bring the balls in the container to the counter. They give you some `keihin'(prize)like chocolate or something which seems worthless to you and these things can be coverted into cashat the very narrow backstreet where there is a very small and almost unnoticeble booth with a small window. You just give the keihin and you will receive cash. No need to speak a word.
Polices in Japan says it is a 'leisure' , and never say as a 'gamble'. The total sale of pachinko(and slot) of Japan is said to be 25 trillion yen, which is more than automotive industry. You must to feel how pachinko market is giant, if you compare to Japanese national budget, which is approx 70 trillion yen.Many retired police bureaucrat get plum jobs in pachinko companies and economic group. Pachinko groups also sponsors the mass communication largely. So the pachinko is destined as 'leisure', and not 'gamble', even though there are many problems about this national gamble.
There are many people, who become pachinko addict. They pour all their disposal income in to pachinko, and many of them continue to play pachinko with renting money from consumer financing. Many people become heavy debtors, and turn to crime,or suicide. Lots of college students abandon their studies because of addiction to pachinko. Every year pachinko company's owners are charged with evading tax, and pachinko company said to be the nest of huge evading tax. Some people say 70% of the pachinko owners are the North Korean residents in Japan and their families, and send huge amount of money to North Korea.
When I was young, I had enjoyed pachinko for 20-30 times. It was the good old days, and the machine was an old fashioned type--I had to bring by finger for each single ball. I was a very weak player, and I always lost a few thousands yen except a few times.
Pachinko and slot halls are very familiar to us, and usually I feel nothing about them. But only an occasion, I feel gratitude for slot. One of my competitor likes slot, and he sometimes wonders at kimono auction - 'whether I should go slot or stay late for more valuable items. I have found the slot machine, which I can win --'. At that time, I whisper him, 'Your are the genius also in gamble! Your select slot machine must be way profitable than waiting rare items at this auction. You had better go --- '.
Thank you very much for reading our newsletters.On Monday morning(it will be in about 6 hours from now)we will be adding new arrival kimono,a very unique vintage susohiki, a sublime vintage fursode, a few contemporary furisode and bolts.We hope you have some time to check our new arrivals.We wish you a happy new week.domo arigato gozaimashita
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

No113


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA' News Letter No.113.These days we must carefully watch the CNN News about Hurricane Rita, and worry about our customers must be effected by her. We cannot help beng astonished by the damages by hurricane, which are far more serious than typhoon. We sincerely hope you and your friends are safe, and can return to ordinary life.
Today I would like to write about the illegal indication case of Yuki Tsumugi. As we wrote several times in our news letters, Yuki Tsumugi is the most expensive and valuable tsumugi silk textile, which needs incredibly elaborate hand works. To weave a Yuki bolt, it is said to takes more than three months. Its touch is very very soft, light and comfortable, and if you touch it you must know the difference between Yuki and other silk fabrics. Here is the English page of Yuki Tsumugi.http://www.tsumugi.co.jp/yuki_info.html
On 11th July (this year), Japan Fair Trade Commission(JFTC) warned 10 Yuki Tsumugi dealers in violation of the truth-in-advertising laws. They put 'The certificate stickers of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage' on the fabrics, which were not met the necessary requirement for it. They had sold 6000 bolts a year, four billion yen, but approx half of them were not met the requirement.This illegal advertising started with the beginnng of the stickers, which was made in 1963.
The requirements of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage Yuki Tsumugi are three conditions below,
1)Hand Spun2)'Te-gukuri' - To make the ikat pattern, threads must be dyed with 'kukuri' technique. Weft and warp threads are tied with cotton threads to prevent penetration of dye during the dyeing process. ('Te' means 'hand'). 3)Hand Woven with 'Izaribata'^- Izaribata is the old weaving equipment, and genuine Yuki tsumugi must be woven with it.
There is a page, which has lots of movies of 'Yuki making process'http://www2.edu.ipa.go.jp/gz/y-kwm/y-fkg/y-fyk/IPA-tac550.htm
We were astonished to hear the case, and most major Yuki dealers were involved in it. Their certificated Yuki Tsumugi didn't met the second condition 'tegukuri'. Theirs seemed to be dyed directly on the threads without cotton-tied-dye-resisit process.When I visited Kurume ( contemporary cotton kasuri product center), a dealer said the tegukuri process is most difficult and elaborate, and 'kukuri-artisan' is becoming less and less. The situation of Yuki must be the same as Kurume.In addition 'kukuri' process will not effect the touch of the fabric, and it must be impossible to tell between 'tegukuri' and direct-dyeing after they are completed. ( I mean 'dyeing directly on the threads, and weaving with them, and making kasuri pattern. Not dyeing after weaving.)
One bolt of the Important Intangible Cultural Heritage Yuki Tsumugi are sold approx from 7 million yen to 20 million yen. But without certificate stickers they are sold from 4 million to 10 million yen. Yuki dealers had made huge profit with deceiving consumers.
Also at our used and antique ( and discount fabric) kimono market, telling the 'Certificated Yuki' have been the one of important skill. At our market, ordinarily kimonos don't have stickers, so we must tell only its touch and look. And its price range is dramatically different if it was genuine Yuki Tsumugi. I heard a dealer sold their not-certificated Yuki Tsumugi, which he made soften with some kind of steam. He didn't say 'It is certificated Yuki'. But some dealers judged it certificated one with its soft touch, and won at the high price of certificated Yuki.
You can see the stickers of Yuki Tsumugi at this page.http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:a1SNJM5pU0wJ:www.yuki-tsumugi.co.jp/sinmiwakekata.htm+%E7%B5%90%E5%9F%8E%E7%B4%AC%E3%80%80%E3%83%A9%E3%83%99%E3%83%AB&hl=ja
Last four photos are the very similar stickers to genuine one, but they are seemed to imitated.
This case made us sad. Already the Kurume Kasuri become to need government assistance to keep its tradition. But we think Yuki Tsumugi has solid market in high-end kimono market, and dealers and makers don't need help or cjeat to maintain its traditional techniques.It was a very sad news, but we want our customers to know today's problems of kimono market and take as a topic of our news letter.
Today we have listed some kimono, furisode and bolt. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0926
Have a nice day!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

No111


Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.11.It is still hot here in Osaka, and only in the very early morning I notice the coolness of wind, and feel the autumn is at the corner.Today we have a general election. Yuka and I went to the neghbor school and voted. Soon TV will begin to have a live about the result of election, and when we will send this mail, general trend will become apparent.We hope our next government dare do what they must to do, before we may close our descendant's future. I am always very nervous that popularism always win over the hard recognition of current situation.
Yesterday evening our family went to Arima Onsen ( Arima hot spring ) with my (Ichiro's) parents, my younger sister and her family. Several month ago I asked my mother what she wanted most, and she wanted a family party with her children and grandchildren. We 10 members stayed at a public onsen hotel, and enjoyed Japanese cooking and sang at karaoke box. Each three generatoions sang their favorite songs one after another, and mine was BEST!Several months ago she worried about her legs might be weakened rapidly, but her legs are not so bad now. So the Wada Family's party was fun and we were very happy.
On every season I buy some Paul Smith's wears. He is one of the most popular designer of men's fashion in Japan.http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/He seems to have great interest in Japanese old fabrics, and I often find some influence in this works. At spring I bought a shirt, which had embroidery and dyed pattern like houmongi. Another shirt I bought had fine stitches on all over it, which looks like sashiko.And this time I find and bought two unique shirts. One has elegant flower design, which has exotic atmosphere, and like houmongi composition. Another one astonished me. Textile looks as if Kurume Gasuri, which has bold dot pattern like 'Yukinko Kasuri'. And several parts are repaired with other check pattern cotton, whose design we often see in old futon and other fabrics. It looks as if Japanese designer made it with kimono fabrics. I looked the kasuri fabric carefully, and I noticed that its pattern is dyed. It is well made, inside also has pattern, and which is also dyed. Paul Smith must be interested in Kurume Kasuri and old Japanese textiles, and want to use similar ones. But if he used genuine Kurume Kasuri, the price would be more than triple, and he had to decide to make 'kasuri imitation fabric' and used it. Kasuri imitation fabrics were also made in Japan in early Showa period, so he might know also about it. I am look forward to wear it and attend kimono auctions. Kimono dealers must think I am wearing a shirt made of vintage Kurume Kasuri, and they must be astonished if I say who desgned this shirt.
I bought them at a department store, and I also dropped in Japanese table ware section. I looked some urushi items and their prices. Department store is Kobe Daimaru, and one of the most famous department store in Japan, but urushi items were not displayed much. I felt urushi items were becoming less and less. Bowls are priced mainly $18 - $20 ( per one bowl), which are made of 'mokkan'( wood powder resin) - not made of real wood. Wood one coated with genuine urushi are prices approx $100-$300 for one bowl. I re-realized how valuable antique urushi items are. I spoke a little with a sales person about urushi items. When I said that it was difficult to make better urushi items compared to antique one ( with equal or less expensive prices), she said urushi liquid was all made in Japan before pre WWII, and their quaily was very high compared to modern urushi, which are almost all imported from China.But I also find some very interesting design ones, which is designed for modern Japanese life. We wish modern urushi maker will find larger market in moder life.
Today we listed some men's kimono, men's haori set( Big Discount!) and some antique items. We wish you could check them.I must return to TV for watching the result of election! Have a nice day!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

No 110

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's Newsletter No.110.We wish to express our deepest sorrow over the destruction and loss of lifecaused by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast.We are worried some of our customers may be affected by the disaster. And manycustomers in United States must be irritated for still many people sufferedseriously and are waiting for the help.We had a huge Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, and more than 5,000 people were killed. We can not help remind the disaster when we see CNN news.
Yuka and I were awakened by the shaking we have never experimented with before. It was five forty-five in the early morning, and strong shaking continued quite a long time(I thought it was quite long). Several things dropped on the floor, but fortunately we didn't have serious damage by the quake. We turned on the TV, and we saw the news said ' There was a big earthquake in the Hanshin district. The earthquake intensity in each place are ---- . One lady in Wakayamais reported to be injured slightly ---' The news went like this. We went back to sleep with an easy mind. But at that moment, lots of houses and buildings were broken, and many peoplewere under the wreckage in Kobe and other cities. How optimistic we were.Later in the morning TV began to convey damages of the disaster. At that time I worked for Daimaru department store, and was a manager of tableware department.Kobe is approx 60minutes (by car) away from our house, and my store was in Umeda,just middle place between Kobe and our house. On that day our store was closed for its regular day off. I called the store, and knew many china and glass itemswere broken. I went to my store by train, and I saw our displays and stockroombecame a mess. Our store was in the very tall building and we could see the direction of Kobe. Beyond the Osaka Bay, Kobe town could be seen as usual, but several black smokes were rising uncannily.Later I came to know, just at that time fires was burning wreckage, included many people who couldn't get out of them.What could I do for them? Most people outside Kobe didn't know the worst situation, and anyway trains stopped and roads couldn't use, and we didn't have the way to reach them. I only tried to call some staffs lived near Kobe, and only gathered the broken glasses and China. These were the only thing I could do.
During the recovery period, we provided lots of items, which were essentials forthe life - polybottles, portable gas stove, vinyl sheet, battery and so on.Boss ordered not to consider the profit and offer as much as we can. Little later many people came to buy china and glasses to make their lives ordinary ones.I wanted to go to Kobe, and help people more directly, but we were not allowed to do so. I only worked harder for the customers who came to our store. I didn't take holidays, and only one day during the month I took the holiday, and went toKobe and joined the volunteers. But during that time, I realized that retail was very important and valuable work. Before that time I thought the work of retail was to force the visitors tobuy our merchandise regardless of their wants. But seeing the customers relievedto get their items, I noticed the bottom of the retail business had very important role in the society.
We think many customers may have same feeling as I felt 10 years ago. We are far away from New Orleans, and we can't help or join the volunteers. We wish helps reach them immediately, and ordinary lives come back soon.
* We donated $1000 USD to 'United Way/Hurricane Katrina Response Fund' by PAYPAL.It is the part of money you allowed and gave us as profit of ICHIROYA. This donation is from ICHIROYA & ICHIROYA'S CUSTOMERS.
Today we have already listed some antique fukusa, oshie doll, uchikake, nobori bata and bolt. We are very happy if you could check them.
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0905
Thank you for reading to the end! Have a nice day!
Ichiro & Yuka WadaKimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"http://www.ichiroya.come-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

No 109


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News LetterNo.109.
I expect some customers hear about the snap election of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. In this letter I would like to write about our feeling about the election, although it has no relation to kimono.Here in Japan, summer is ending, and autumn is around the corner, just like our country's future. The declining birthrate is going to bring down the nation's population in very near future. Our annual government expenditure is approx 80 trillion yen, but we only have 40 trillion tax revenue. The debt of all national and local public entities is said to be almost 1000 trillion yen.It is because we couldn't change our system after bubble economy burst. Many business enterprises did brutal restricturing and remodel themselves to meet the shrinking economy, and otherwise enterprises went bankrupt. During the depression, government spent incredible money on public works with issuing a huge amount of government bonds. But public works didn't not get anywhere, and only the debt piled up.Finally people noticed that we couldn't rely on public works as ever - We had to transform the whole nation's system. We should stop to make express highways in rural district, where we can not expect much traffics. During the high-growth period, people had selected the politicians who could make their local regions rich with public works. In a manner, people, politicians, officialism and civil engineering constructor had been made the iron quadrangle. For example, THREE huge bridges were made between Shikoku Island and Honsyu Island. It is the similar scales as the tunnel of Straits of Dover - please imagine the three tunnels there. The population of Shikoku island is only four millions. As a result the debt of the bridges piled up to 3 trillion yen, and annual transit fare is way under the interest payment. So the huge three bridges symbolize the bad situation of whole Japan. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) made and maintained the system. The huge money for public works had been collected by post offices as the post-office savings, and its sum ( it is called 'special account') had been way larger( FIVE TIMES!) than official government expenditure . And it had been difficult to be watched, and politicians of LDP and officialism used them as they wanted. People noticed to change the systems instead of public works. And at that time, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi appeared on the scene with shouting ' I will knock up LDP by myself '. He saved the JDP, which might to have to step down from power. People greeted him as a savior of the nation. It was four years ago. And he failed to privatize the Public Roads Administration. Road construction lobbyist were strong, and we thought even Koizumi couldn't beat them. He looked as if he abandoned his belief. I was also very disappointed to think we couldn't change the systems because the iron quadrangle was still very stiff - We had to be ruined again, before genuine revival.
But this time, Prime Minister Koizumi firmly insisted to the proposal to privatize the country's postal system. There were some oppositionists also in LDP, and the proposal was rejected at upper house of Parliament. This proposal is very important for the restructing the existing Japanese system, and scale down the government. Old type politicians of LDP opposed the proposal, and also all opposition parties opposed. In the opponents, some powerful party members were included, who were the member of the iron quadrangle. And both only opposed the proposal and procedures of Prime Minister, but they didn't made counterproposal.
Maybe all Japanese thought that Mr. Koizumi would come to a compromise at the last second, and also this reform would be significantly watered down. Prime Minister Koizumi defy the prediction.He insists the proposal, and declared to ask people about the propriety of the proposal by votes (general election). He didn't give official party endorsement to the candidates, who opposed the proposal. Not only that he run party-endorsed candidates for all opposed candidates. He says it is because every people must have a candidate who approve the proposal.So the election became the battle of the reformist vs. the conservatives of the same party LDP, instead of the battle of ruling Liberal Democratic Party vs. opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Koizumi looks as if he was the opposition leader, and he looks he is the most radical reformer. Many people must feel like me, and approval ratings for Prime Minister Koizumi is rising.
Three days ago, the vice-president of Public Roads Administration was arrested for violation of the antitrust laws. He is the virtual president, and the key persorn of the bid-rigging on public works projects. Sometimes officer are arrested, but always they were only petty officials. We really astonished to hear that HE was arrested. Major news papers don't write, but some mass media writes Mr. Koizumi had to order to arrest him. He looked to abandon to reform the Public Roads Administrations, but he seems not to abandon. He seems to have stepped back once, and waited for opportunity.
Now we have bright hope for our future after a long interval. We may be able to change our country without leaving the adverse legacy to our descendent. Thank you very much for reading our newsletter.We are adding some charming ranru and haori soon. We will be happy if you have time to check our new arrivals.domo arigato gozaimasu
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

No 108

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan. This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.108.We are very sorry about the closing time of our store for summer vacation. Two days ago our family returned from a trip to Hokkaido, and tomorrow morning staffs will come and we will return to ordinary days as before.We hope we could introduce more interesting and valuable items from tomorrow again!
In Hokkaido we stayed at a hotel in Niseko during 4 days. The hotel is a good hotel, and Yuka said proudly that she found this hotel a hundred times. We were all satisfied and liked the hotel very much. It has large onsen (hot spring) bathes, and Yuka and Shoko soaked in the hot spring several times a day. I ( Ichiro ) was busy with fishing, and younger daughter Mugi was busy with her study for entrance exam in next spring. But of course I also enjoyed the onsen - broad bathtub, sulfury smell and white birch trees from open-air bath. It is in the forest, and the room was neat and very calm. Every night piano live was held. Dinners are well-prepared, and fresh sea food and vegetables are used richlly, DELICIOUS! Hokkaido has broad and rich land, and is product center of sea food, agricultural crops and cattles. We dropped in a small sushi restaurant when we drove along the sea side, most expensive sushi dish was only 2800yen, and its sushi was fresh and very DELICIOUS!
In Hokkaido, trouts and salmons run the rivers, and some rivers are not allowed to be fished to protect their spawning. In Niseko, Shiribetsu River, one of the purest river in Japan is allowed to be fished, and well known for big fish spots.I went fishing a few times to beautiful Shiribetsu river, and I caught several medium and small size trouts! Nature of Shiribetsu is very rich, and very small insects bit me nearly hundred times in my arms, and my arms became mottle and feel itchy still now.
This is the river I went:http://www.hkd.mlit.go.jp/zigyoka/z_kasen/kawa/pro_siribetu.html
There is a mountain called Yotei zan-which is also very famous as Mt Fuji of Hokkaido, because the beautiful shape resembles Mt Fuji very much. Sirbetsu river has pure and rich water for the snow fallen on the top of Yotei zan comes down with 40 years time to the river and the river runs affluently all the time.
We rented a car, and our elder daughter Shoko drove almost all roads. She just has got a driver license, and her driving was thrilling. It was good, there were a very few cars and roads are wide and so straight-it was not like the roads in Osaka at all! It was excellent for a beginner driver. It was very good feeling to sit in the backseat and enjoy landscapes.

Hokkaido is the northernmost island among the four large islands of Japan, and its latitude is near to Seattle in United States and Bordeaux in France. And its average temperature is more cooler than those cities. Most of the names of the place in Hokkaido are from Ainu language, so many places are written by Katakana letters for reading the names of the places in Kanji w very difficult.We saw many red dragonflies, which tell us the coming of autumn. A man who brought us to rafting said autumn was around the corner, and short summer would end in several days. In winter it snows a lot, and he said that especially Niseko is fantastic for its good powder snow. In winter skiers come from all over the world for its famous powder snow, and ski area become very cloud with foreigners. Usually they started to have snow in October.
Our summer holidays ended. Osaka is still hot, but autumn must be coming also here.We got enough rest, and I am tired of fishing. We are very happy to come back to our business - and to work with staffs, enjoy antique textiles and other items and serve you again! And we are preparing a new project, which we will began in this winter. Now we are ready to get into business battle field again! We are very happy if you can enjoy our service again.
Today we are adding bolts and obis--we hope you have some time to check our new arrivals:-)
Have a nice new week! with many KANSHA(thanks)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

No 107


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No. 107.Here in Osaka, it is very hot just like we are in the lukewarm water bath. How is it in your place? We are going to take summer holidays from 13 Saturday to 21 Sunday. The 15th of August is 'obon', when most people take summer holidays. Antique kimono market also takes holidays - almost all auctions in the middle of August are not held, or held later in the end of August. If we could, we want to take holidays not in this obon season. But I can not pass on the auctions, so there is not other alternatives. We are going to Hokkaido for the holidays. I wanted to go southern island ( like Okinawa ) again, but all family members resisted to go to the hottest places. So we can not send items or reply to your mails during this holidays. We are very sorry but if you want to close and send your items, please let us know before that days. Very sorry for your inconveniece! And we wish you also have nice summer holidays!(I was always wondering if there are holidays -winter holidays during August in Australia)
These days I attend antique goods auctions several times a month. Yesterday I attended antique goods ( 'dougu' - tool ) auction in Tanba ( rural district of Hyogo prefecture ). Scenes of dougu auctions are way different from kimono auctions. Dougu auctions have prominent grades, and at the highest auctions extremely expensive items are dealt ( from thousand USD to a million USD !). I hear that bidders at highest auctions are very rich, and they always sell and buy very expensive items at several hundred thousand dollars, so they don't mind several hundred dollar's loss. They have very long career, and most of them were born in the antique dealers family. And I heard that they made incredible money during the asset-inflated bubble economy. Such type of auction is limited to membership, and dealers pay by credit.The auction I attended yesterday is different from such highest auctions. It is held in the tinplate shack, and before the shack, lots of old furnitures and other items are stacked. Of course sometimes very expensive items are offered, but most items are from ten dollars to several hundred USD. There offered various kinds of items - tansu, door of old stock house, ranma, lampshade, old book, old post card, samurai sword, sake bottle, china, urushi items, toys, shouji and so on.Its variety is very wide and interesting! Unfortunately some items are too big for sending abroad by postal service, but tansu are not as expensive as I imagined before. ( But low price tansu always have some flaws, and they must be repaired to use.) Items are often in the original boxes or the in the very old boxes, which are covered with thick dust. Every attendants put sheet or wood plates on the floor of their cars' loading spaces. In the old boxes there sometimes are ratshits, bug shells and othe!rs, and after we put the boxes to the cars, our hands become black with dust. Papers in such boxes are often old news papers, and we can know the dates from it. Sometimes they are from Meiji priod(1868-1912), and often they are from early Showa period(Showa:1926-1989). I often check the ads and articles of such papers, and it is very interesting to feel the atmosphere of the olden times. Urushi and china are often in the wooden boxes, and they have owners' name and the purchased date. So we can learn many things not from items but from boxes and wrappings.
At such auctions, items are not checked enough before offered. So some items are too damaged to sell. Some items are not so old one, and no one can find value for them. Some items are nearly waste, and there is only a fine line between them.If the price don't bid up enough, the auctioneer ( very funny and tough man !) ask the bidders higher prices as they bid. He is very tough and lovable man, and most attendants can not refuse his request.
Dealers are speedily closed, sold items are got out fo there from one minute to the next. Yesterday I got lots of interesting items, and my car items are stacked around my car was buried in with items. Before ending the auction I had to worry if I can put them all into my car.
Ordinarily said, dougu auctions are risky compared to kimono auctions. There are many fakes, and many people seems to have no hesitation about deceiving other sellers. Dougu dealers say 'All dougu dealers are professionals. If you are deceived, the one at fault is you. You must have eyes to tell the real from the false, if you are a professional.'
At these dougu auction, some vintage kimono are also offered ( not so many ). And there are not enough kimono dealers there, so the prices of kimono are not expensive like kimono auctions. Yesterday I also bought some bunches of kimono, and fortunately I found a vintage obi made of valuable chirimen silk in them! It has elegant cherry blossom pattern, and embroidery is also added partly.If other kimono dealers noticed it, its price had to be more expensive. At dougu auctions sometimes we come across such fortunes, so dougu dealers sometimes bid too expensive prices for expecting the bunches may include very expensive antique fabrics. As I feel before, many dougu sellers have gamble feeling in their business. We got many interesting items at the auction, and we will list them this week. We are very happy because kimono auctions are very slow, and we don't have so many interesting kimono items now. Tomorrow we will list some wooden items ( small tansu ), china bowls and others. We got very unique antique wood block prints from Meiji priod(1868-1912), which are the design of uchiwa ( round fan ). We will list them tomorrow. Its design is very sophisticated and artistic. Please check its fantastic designs. *WE wish you a nice Sunday and a joyful new week.
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

No 106

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA'S News Letter No.106.Our vintage kimono dealers always dream very valuable antique fabrics would happen to be included in very cheap bunch of kimono. Antique maru obi sometimes unpicked in the side of end stitches. It is often because previous dealers thought that its lining might be valuable fabrics, and if so the lining could be sold way expensive than obi. Sometimes sellers may be selling very valuable piece without knowing its real value at the shrine market. So anyway we must be very careful about what we are seeing. Recently at an auction I saw a dealer got this kind of fluke. At that time not so rare items were not offered, and so every bidders seemed to lost their sharpness. Ordinarily cotton fabrics bunch were offered, and a bidder suddenly bid high price and he got them. Every one was astonished by his price, because it seemed to be way high for ordinary cotton fabrics.My mentor Fujimura was the auctioneer at that time, and he also didn't noticed, and closed the bid. And before he passed the fabrics, he gave a close look to one of them, and said. 'Damn it all! This is Tanba-fu!' That dealer took the fabrics from Fujimura san, and said 'Yes, it may be!'.All dealers got awake, and were thrown into a commotion. Some said it was Tanba-fu, and the rest said it was not.But I heard from him later that they were genuine Tanba-fu from Meiji priod(1868-1912), and he already sold two of them at nearly 1000 USD for each.All the day my mentor grieved over his mistake with offering items.
Tanba-fu is one of the lost antique fabrics. Here is the page of Tanba-fu, although it is Japanese only.http://www.geocities.co.jp/SilkRoad/2640/Tanbafu was woven in Tanaba district ( near Kyoto ), until Meiji period 30's (1868-1912). It was woven with hand spun thick cotton threads, which were dyed ai, brwon and green with plants dyestuff . And silk threads are blended in the weft threads, which was also hand spun from the spoiled cocoons. This district was the product center of silk, and people could easily got spoiled theads. This silk threads were spun thickly and used without dyeing. Patterns are limited to check or stripe. Its pattern and texture is tasteful and sophisticated. Ending Meiji period, Tanbafu became not to be produced, becase other competitive cotton fabrics drived it out. Ending Taisho period(1912-1925), Souetsu Yanagi rediscovered the beauty of Tanbafu, and collected them. People in Tanba district resuscitated the Tanbafu in Showa 29 (1955 ), and also today Tanbafu is woven by new weavers.
Today's Tanbafu is not cheap, becase of its elaborate and skilled handwork. But Tanbafu in Meiji priod(1868-1912) was moderate price textile, and used as casual wears or bedclothes. So it often mixed with other ordinary cotton fabrics like that auctions, and sometimes it was used as obi lining.
We are not so eager to have such flukes, but it was a very impressive case, and we thought it may be an interesting story to know the antique fabric business. If you happen to find brown/blue/Green check(or stripe) fabric pieces in antique obi, you must check the weft, and check if silk is included or not!
I caused you so much worry about my backache. Now I rarely feel ache, and can walk as usual. I still avoid carrying heavy packages, but it must be completely healed in several days.Tomorrow I will attend a big auction in Kyoto although on Sunday. Now kimono market is slow, because the summer sales season end, and too early for autumn business. At that auction almost all major dealers come, and the mistake like above case will not happen. But we expected to find lots of rare items will be offered.
Thank you very much for reading to the end.
We are adding kimono, furisode, Nagoya obi and bolts-we hope you have some time to check our new arrivals.We wish you a lovely weekend and a happy new week. domo domo from Japan.
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

No105

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News LetterNo.105.My mother turned me up very early in the morning, and I went out the parky street. Cicadas already started to chirp, which seemed to forecast the very hot day. Neighbors and friends were gathering, and the radio began to broadcasted the familiar music, and we started to do gymnastic exercises perfunctorily. After the exercise adults gave us a stamp for the attendance, and we returned to home to take breakfast. On the way back we used to see the sunflowers became dramatically taller than yesterday.
In my boyhood there were lots of sunflowers in the neighborhood, and summer was more hot than now. Our 'natsuyasumi'( summer vacation days) started like above. I had to write diary, and I used to check the air temperature and wrote it with weather marks. I remebered the day when I astonished and shouted to see the Celsius temperature scale rose more than 43C( 107 F)! Mother always didn't forgive me to stay out during hottest hours, and I had to take a nap from noon to 3 pm. How I itched to rash out! I felt I never could sleep, but while I leid on the tatami floor as mother ordered, I always faded into sleep without realizing.
I always wore a white T-shirt and knickers. And I had to wear a straw hat or baseball cap, and our skins were burned brown and peeled again and again. We often went to public pool with friends by bicycles with a few coins in our pockets. Somteimes huge columns of white shining clouds grew rapidly in the blue sky, and in another moment shower came. We were amazed to see the flashes of lightning cut the sky just same as pictures. I don't know why we seldom see the shining clouds like the ones which I saw in my boyhood. I feel the sky was more vividly blue, and shining clouds were more active and huge in my younger natsuyasumi days than now.
Boys knew many street games, which are almost lost or only played at camps now. We went crazy prevalent games, for examples 'kankeri'(kick the can), 'esuken'( hopping tag in S shape field), 'umanori'( mounting game) and others. They had slightly arbarous phases, we played hardly and at the ends someone used to cry. Always dinner time came earlier than the darkness, so we had to end the games by mothers' calls from windows.
Most favorite treat in natsuyasumi was a ice-cold 'suika' ( watermelon).How many suika we ate during summer vacation! From outside we couldn't know the sweetness. In those days not-enough-sweet suika were often sold, and only once third we could eat sweet and delicious ones. One of our serious concerns was the sweetness of the next suika. Mother and father always said that they could tell the sweetness from the sound when they tapped them. But I came to know their assured judgement often took mistakes. Mother and I used to carry the big suika from market to our home by bicycles, with hoping her today's judgements would be right. Insect collecting was the king of playing of natsuyasumi. During the natsuyasumi, my parents always took us ( me and my sister) for the several days staying travel in the seashore or mountains. How I got excited to hear the places were just near the wood, and I might be able to catch beetles or stag beetles. Father and I looked for them and tried to paint the honeydew on the trees, but we could never catch them. Instead of the beetles I had to besatisfied with cicadas, although I enjoyed the variety of the shapes and chirpings. But sadly enough, they died soon in the cages. The memory of natsuyasumi makes us slightly wistful. Summer days are vivid in our memories, maybe they are exaggerated without realizing. This summer must be very similar as in the boyhood, but I feel they are way different. How about your natsuyasumi? I imagine you also feel same kinds of wistfulness.
Byt the way, thank you very much for lots of mails about my backache. From four days ago, I can stand up without holding something, and from yesterday I can carry small packages and today I rarely feel pain! Last week I lied down as long as I could, and it seems to have been good for my back. I am very sorry to let many customers worried about my health more than its seriousness. Anyway I should take care about my back for a while, and should not carry heavy package and move fast.
Today we are addding many packs--packs of haori, children's kimono andso on and als men's kimono set. We hope you have some time to check ournew arrivals, domo arigato gozaimasu.
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

No104

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 104.On last Saturday I caught a cold, and lied down almost 50 hours(not in one time, but during the weekend.) Recently I only sleep about 5 hours everyday, so 10 times sleep had to be the cause of everything. When I got up in the morning on Monday, I felt flood of life, but had a slight backache.As usual I went to our office, wrote descripitons of items and listed them, andselected items for photographing of that day. I lifted the package, which was not so heavy, and I tried to put it down on the carrier. Then I slightly lost my balance, and its heaviness came to one left side of the back.And I felt an acute pain in my back. I felt on my knees, and sweated it out. I called Yuka with handiphone, and she helped me to stand. My back still ached, but managed to stand, and walked slowly to the desk space. On that day I had to attend an auction in Osaka from 1 p.m., so I managed to climb on my car, and drove for about an hour. When I sat calmly, I didn't feel the ache, so I didn't feel so serious. On my way to the auction place, I stopped by at KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN and could walk to the register, order and eat a nice lunch. I arrived, and I parked the car where the staff introduced me. I slided down from the car, and began to walk to the auction house. It was about 50 metersdistance, and I walked very slowly. Staffs and other bidders asked me how did Ifeel today, and I explained and asked them go ahead. At the middle of the distance, backache became heavy, and I had to crouched on the road. Passersby worried about me, and asked me if I was OK. I replied I was fine, and waited the ache to become lighter. Some staffs of the auction came aroud me. I tried to stand up, but I couldn't. Finally I gave up to attend the auction, and asked a staff to drive my car to right where I was. I managed to climb up to my car with their help(literally they pushed me in the car), and drove back to our office.Our office is on the third and the second floors, and there is an orthopedic clinic on the grand floor. Every mornig and evening the grand floor of this bulding is filled with old men and women, and through the windows we can seetheir necks and back are drew. The next room of the clinic is vacant for longtime, and I sometimes imagine it may be a good idea to have a shop to sell somekinds of healthy goods for the patients, but I never imagined I had to be one of the patients.I lied down in our stock room waiting the treatment hours. At 4 p.m. Yuka helped me to stand, but the pain increased, and I couldn't stand up. Yuka went to the clinic and asked them if she could borrow a wheelchair, but they did nothave one. I asked her a cart we use to cart for carrynig kimono boxes. She and a staff brought a cart and a desk chair with wheels in the feet. First I climbed up on the cart, and next I climbed up on the chair on my belly. Theypushed the chair, but I was not good, and finally I managed to move my body andsit on it. During that time I cried outt, I should call an ambulance! Must enter a hospital!'At the entrance of the clinic, there are some bumps, I couldn't enter on the chair. I had to climbed down on the floor, and crawl on my hands and knees to get in.The doctor took an X-ray could hardly stood up. To stand up with holding the machine took long time, and the doctor was very calm just looking at me with his poker-faced look.The doctor said, 'Inflammation of the muscle, and a slight hernia of intervertebral disk. Will administer an injection. And give you oral and suppository. If the pain become lighter, come to rehabilitation exercise'. >From that Monday I have had always backache, and I couldn't stand up without holding something, couldn't crouch down, couldn't have a package and couldn't sit stil for a long time. Two auctions in the early of the week I coudn't attend,but I had to attend two auctions in the middle and end of the week. Fortunately I could hire a young man, Kurokawa kun, and asked him to drive, fold and carrythe packages.Without him I coudn't attend those auctions, and we had not to be able to list new items of this week.Usually you have to sit down on tatami on all auctioins(some people sit on the chairs but I prefer to touch and look close the details). But at those twoauctions I couldn't sat on the tatami, and sat on the chair behind the most front. There are many friends attended the auctions, so they helped me to checkthe offered items. They pulled the items for me to be touched, when my favoriteitems were offered. But when very very good items were offered, and there seemednot to be enough helped and times to check them, I rushed into climbing on thetatami ground and tring to approach to the items.A frined said, ' Greediness wins pain!' and all bidders burst into laughing. And I replied, ' No, no, everything are for my customers!'
one of a seller there said he could heal my pain only pressing my acupressure points of soles. I firmly declined, but he insisted that I had to be able to walk without pain if he pressed only ten minutes. He showed his callous of finger and he said he is a professional. I couldn't decline his WARM proposal anymore, and I gave my foot him. His pressing was painful, and I had to screamagain and again among other bidders ate the lunch. After pressing, he said ' Try to walk!'Could I say ' Still hurts'? Instead I said, ' I felt better. Pain may go away?!'Everyone asked me how I felt. I had to say 'feel better'. And I had to ask him,how could I pay for his pressing. He said, ' It's free. Please bid little bit higher for my items, its enough!'
For the backache this week I thought something, which I have not imagined.- Even if people look healthy, they may have some difficulty to move like healthy people. - On the ground there are many steps, which become the obstacles.- Some people must worry about the public toilets. I worry in the town if I can find Western style toilet. Japanese style toilet is difficult to be used.- Many kimono dealers have backache, which seems to be the professional disease.- Health is most important, and I must take care of my body gently, if I want to work for long time.- Someday, I will not be able to work because I get old or become ill. So I must hurry to do, if I want to make maximum possible contribution to the society.
Fortunately when I got up this morning, backache became slightly better. I could stand up without holding anything! Familiar pain of the previous week seems to be gone away! I should be still careful for the back, but from tomorrowmy life seems to become normal.
We will be listing ranru, katazome and kasuri fabrics and bolts.We will be very happy if you have some time to check our new arrivals.
Ichiro & Yuka WadaKimono Flea Market ICHIROYAhttp://www.ichiroya.cominfo@ichiroya.comaddress:Koyodai 3-3-10-109Tondabayashi city, Osaka, 584-0082 JAPANPhone & Fax ****(international number)-81( country code)-721-29-5446

No103

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.103.What kind of week was the last week for you? Very busy week? Were you on a vacation? Did you have a relaxing week? There was a very shocking news from London which made all of us uneasy. We cannot help thinking about people whoare not found yet.
Yesterday, coming back from the auction, Ichiro felt chilly and had a fever.So this time, I(Yuka) am writing this newsletter.
When I receive e-mails from our customers, I noticed some of the customers apologize about their ignorance about kimono. Everytime I encounter the customers who mentioned about their ignorance, I am always screaming`No,no, no! You do not have to feel that way at all!!'To be very honest, majority of Japanese people have very limited knowledgeabout kimono. Most of us have seen `someone(like our grand mothers)wearing a kimono, and there are some kimono stored in somewhere in the house, but thereis very less chance to wear them actually. I remember most of the mothers werewearing kimono for my elementary school entrance celemony but at my daughter's entrance celemony, I remember only one woman was wearing a kimono. If you come to Japan, expecting to see many people in kimono, I think you will probably seea couple of people in kimono in a week or so--and they are probably wearing a kimono for a paticular reason as a dance lesson or tea ceremony practice or something. (If you go to a Japanese food restaurant, you can see people there working in kimono but they probably change to jeans to go home.) Kimono are very different from other modern garments, and in a way `beauty of form' was the important pillar or the center of its charms.I think most of women (I mean ordinary people who are not particularly doing something very Japanese-like Japanese dance)do not have a courage to go to a traditional kimono shop alone. Kimono corners in the department stores may be all right but still I think people will be very nervous. We feel like we are bad students who are called forward to see a strict teacher.People in most of kimono shops are very nice people, but to be honest, we becomeoverwhelmed --and worry not to say wrong things.I hope you can understand this, and not only the change of lifestyle but also this feeling of `awkwardness' could be one of the reason to avoid people from wearing kimono(of course, kimono price and difficult care of textiels are thereasons too)I want to introduce Hiromi Ichida- who is a charismatic figure in kimono worldin Japan. Even young people knows her for she was in some TV comercial for Japanese tea and a major convenience store.http://www.ageocci.or.jp/jyoseikai/ichida-hiromi-plof.htmlShe was born in Kyoto and started working as a secretary of a company, then worked as a hairdresser, actress and then started having a short corner on a TV program to show how to dress a kimono.She has a liberal view and talks about very basic things--the things which we want to ask but hesitate to ask because we fear the questions were too basic. I read a story in her book about one young girl. This young girl came to her to ask her to dress her for `Coming-of-Age' ceremony. She collected all things forherself and showed her proudly--the things she brought was totally `wrong' things from traditional formal wear and besides she asked Ichida san to tie theobi in front which was a style of a prostitute in olden times. She tried very hard to collect all items, and Ichida san was moved by her passion, she dressedher using all things this young girl brought for her special ceremony. Her father came to see his daughter's proud moment and he became furious to see hisdaughter in such an `avant-garde'style and insisted her to change. They startedto have a big fight.Ichida san suggested them to take the photos of the way the girl liked, first and then change the obi to tie at the back to attend the ceremony, so they couldbe happy after all.Ichida san's lifework is to collect the ethnic costumes from all over the world.She also has a kimono fashion show in all over the world each year.She made many people here not to feel overwhelmed by all the rules but be friends with kimono in more natural way.What I wanted to tell was, please do not be overwhelmed by all the rules and kinds of kimono. You can enjoy wearing or displaying kimono by your own artisticflair. If you would like to dress according to the traditional way, it is greatand if you would like to enjoy by your own way, it is also great. Please do not apologize for your ignorance, you may know more than most youngJapanese people about kimono! Actually, displaying kimono or obi are taken over here from you:-)If I can tell only one rule about kimono, always a left front comes over a rightfront, when kimono is wrapped around your body. If right side comes front, it means you are dead.(burial outfit )We want you to be alive and GENKI(fine) always!Domo arigato gozaimasu for reading this newsletter. We wish you a wonderful new week.
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

No101-2

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.101.I cannot believe it was already seven days ago, when we felt happy to write newsletter No.100. This week I(Ichiro) attended three auctions ( Kyoto, Osaka and Marugame-Shikoku), and went to a bridal costume company to buy uchikake and other formal kimono. This week was comparatively fruitful, and we are satisfiedwith some rare items.
One of very our favorite items is this piece. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=79088A samurai is vividly dyed, and cherry blossom in the upper part makes this piecevery unique. In Japan cherry blossom('sakura') is the symbolic representation of an aesthetic feeling. Cherry blossom burst to bloom, and fall suddenly. It was the image of appropriate Samurai's way of living. Samurai had not to hold onto life, but had to hold on to his privilege. Samurai had to live beautiful andproudful life, and had to die graciously like cherry blossoms go away.
Of course samurai doesn't live now, but we are always familiar with samurai in the movies, TV program and novels. When I was a boy, I couldn't imagine a human could cut his own belly by himsilf, as samurai commit harakiri in TV drama. Novels and books say most brave samurai cut their belly crisscross deeply and afterwords someone cut their necks, or grab their intestines out! And when a coward samurai had to commit harakiri, he only cut very slightly in his belly ( or only pretend to cut ), and another samurai chopped his neck from behind( it is called kaisyaku ). From my childhood I sometimes have imagined if I wasa samurai, which was me - brave or coward samurai.Maybe most of Japanese men must have the experience to imagine their own harakiri scene.
Recently the chances to see samurai wear and sword increase, and I often imaginetheir lives and pride. Samurai's armor and wears in the battle field has exceptionally eye-catching and impressive colors and design. Sometimes it looksway too heavy or obstructive for fight. For examples samurai carried a 'sashimono' in his back at the battle field, which might interfere their action.Sashimono is the some figures or flag, which are attached on the long pole, andsamurai intend to be recognized by them at the battle field. Some wore flags, 'fukinagashi' sleeve target, uchiwa(fan) and others, which samurai thought to beeasily recognized from others. Later this sashimono became to have more and moreunique design, which slightly have the atmosphere of fancy-dress parade.At any hand Samurai had to distinguish himself at the 'snafu' battle field. Evenif he did good fights, he could get nothing if anyone recognized HIS works. In fact, there is a story who made too large 'sashimono' and had to die in idleness.He made a large ancestral tablet ('ihai'), which was approx 3.6m-140in long, and wrote death song. But it was too big and heavy, and he and his horse couldn't run fast for too large flags, and delayed to reach the front. He was said to be starved to death with shaming himself. There also is interesting story about too small sashimono. One samurai was reprimanded by the general thathe didn't wear big flag as other other samurai. He indicated very small flag, which had an ant motif. He said everyone wear large flags, so smaller one is better to stand out in the battle field. He fought well and became famous because of his unique small ant flag. Here is the page of samples of sashimono illustrations, http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~cag38460/public_html/50hata_ezu.html
If you have seen the samurai armor, you must be astonished by its beauty and feel it must be hardest to move first with it. I always wondered if enemy wear acomplete armor, how can I give damage to him. Almost all his body is covered with armor, and there seemed not to be places where I blow the sword. http://www.interq.or.jp/pure/miyatate/armor.htmhttp://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~y-sato/hakubutukan07.htmhttp://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~y-sato/hakubutukan05.htmRecently my simple question is resolved by a book. To damage the armored samurai, you must aim the joints or interspaces. So the aiming points were eyes(and face), underarm, crotch and calf.
Samurai's desire was to die in a spectacular for his master at the battle field,and to leave his name as a brave samurai. In the early age of provincial wars, samurai had frequent chances to act like this way in the battle field - samuraiannounced themselves each other, and begun to fight as single combat. But laterending of Sengoku era, guns became common, and fight style became modern warfare. So the remarkable hard-bitten samurai could be killed by a single bullet of ex-farmer cruit, if he announced himself on the horse in a style that followed theold arrangement.
If I was born in Sengoku era, I should be born in the merchant family. So theremight not be the occasion of harakiri! But I want to be an enterprising merchant,and importing guns and artillery and selling them to daimyo. But anyway I am very happy I was born in this age!
**We are adding Children's kimono, haori and bolt. We will be very happy if youhave some time to check our new arrivals!
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

No101

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.101.I cannot believe it was already seven days ago, when we felt happy to write newsletter No.100. This week I(Ichiro) attended three auctions ( Kyoto, Osaka and Marugame-Shikoku), and went to a bridal costume company to buy uchikake and other formal kimono. This week was comparatively fruitful, and we are satisfiedwith some rare items.
One of very our favorite items is this piece. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=79088A samurai is vividly dyed, and cherry blossom in the upper part makes this piecevery unique. In Japan cherry blossom('sakura') is the symbolic representation of an aesthetic feeling. Cherry blossom burst to bloom, and fall suddenly. It was the image of appropriate Samurai's way of living. Samurai had not to hold onto life, but had to hold on to his privilege. Samurai had to live beautiful andproudful life, and had to die graciously like cherry blossoms go away.
Of course samurai doesn't live now, but we are always familiar with samurai in the movies, TV program and novels. When I was a boy, I couldn't imagine a human could cut his own belly by himsilf, as samurai commit harakiri in TV drama. Novels and books say most brave samurai cut their belly crisscross deeply and afterwords someone cut their necks, or grab their intestines out! And when a coward samurai had to commit harakiri, he only cut very slightly in his belly ( or only pretend to cut ), and another samurai chopped his neck from behind( it is called kaisyaku ). From my childhood I sometimes have imagined if I wasa samurai, which was me - brave or coward samurai.Maybe most of Japanese men must have the experience to imagine their own harakiri scene.
Recently the chances to see samurai wear and sword increase, and I often imaginetheir lives and pride. Samurai's armor and wears in the battle field has exceptionally eye-catching and impressive colors and design. Sometimes it looksway too heavy or obstructive for fight. For examples samurai carried a 'sashimono' in his back at the battle field, which might interfere their action.Sashimono is the some figures or flag, which are attached on the long pole, andsamurai intend to be recognized by them at the battle field. Some wore flags, 'fukinagashi' sleeve target, uchiwa(fan) and others, which samurai thought to beeasily recognized from others. Later this sashimono became to have more and moreunique design, which slightly have the atmosphere of fancy-dress parade.At any hand Samurai had to distinguish himself at the 'snafu' battle field. Evenif he did good fights, he could get nothing if anyone recognized HIS works. In fact, there is a story who made too large 'sashimono' and had to die in idleness.He made a large ancestral tablet ('ihai'), which was approx 3.6m-140in long, and wrote death song. But it was too big and heavy, and he and his horse couldn't run fast for too large flags, and delayed to reach the front. He was said to be starved to death with shaming himself. There also is interesting story about too small sashimono. One samurai was reprimanded by the general thathe didn't wear big flag as other other samurai. He indicated very small flag, which had an ant motif. He said everyone wear large flags, so smaller one is better to stand out in the battle field. He fought well and became famous because of his unique small ant flag. Here is the page of samples of sashimono illustrations, http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~cag38460/public_html/50hata_ezu.html
If you have seen the samurai armor, you must be astonished by its beauty and feel it must be hardest to move first with it. I always wondered if enemy wear acomplete armor, how can I give damage to him. Almost all his body is covered with armor, and there seemed not to be places where I blow the sword. http://www.interq.or.jp/pure/miyatate/armor.htmhttp://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~y-sato/hakubutukan07.htmhttp://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~y-sato/hakubutukan05.htmRecently my simple question is resolved by a book. To damage the armored samurai, you must aim the joints or interspaces. So the aiming points were eyes(and face), underarm, crotch and calf.
Samurai's desire was to die in a spectacular for his master at the battle field,and to leave his name as a brave samurai. In the early age of provincial wars, samurai had frequent chances to act like this way in the battle field - samuraiannounced themselves each other, and begun to fight as single combat. But laterending of Sengoku era, guns became common, and fight style became modern warfare. So the remarkable hard-bitten samurai could be killed by a single bullet of ex-farmer cruit, if he announced himself on the horse in a style that followed theold arrangement.
If I was born in Sengoku era, I should be born in the merchant family. So theremight not be the occasion of harakiri! But I want to be an enterprising merchant,and importing guns and artillery and selling them to daimyo. But anyway I am very happy I was born in this age!
**We are adding Children's kimono, haori and bolt. We will be very happy if youhave some time to check our new arrivals!
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

No100

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.100.(I made it!)One of my dream is making a cappella club in our company, if our company become bigger. I imagine how happy we are if we can sing a cappella in the morning before working hours or at our break. Although I forget the title and author, I loved a short story by an American author. It was the story about a professional baseball player, who loves chorus. He made a chorus team with his team mates, and enjoyed singing. And in spite of the rat race of the pro baseball, he was eager more to keep all parts members, than to make good records in the field.Two years ago, I proposed our staff to make a cappella team, but our staff said that if they had to sing they would quit our job. So I decided to seal my plan until we have enough staffs when there will be some staffs who love singing ( we may have to ask whether they love singing or not at our job interview! ) Singing gives us great cathartic. And what a joy when our voice harmonize! I wanted to sing with my family while driving. Mugi(our younger daughter) can harmonize easily without musical score and practice, so I imagined how fun if we could harmonize while family long driving. Daughters grow, and recently we rarely have long drive with whole family, so the dream seems to end as only a dream.
In olden times Japanese people had to have more chances to sing and dance. Singing and dancing had to need to give ordinary people cathartic maybe for all countries. Last year we went Amami Oshima Island for the vacation, and I heard fantastic folk songs ( which were sung for visitors.) But we heard that also now Amami Oshima people sing their folk songs frequently gathering in their houses. I feel envious them, because the urban area people already lost their folk songs, and never have chances to sing folk songs with neighbours.
The urban area people get singing cathartic in Karaoke. We hear that the word 'karaoke' become world word, and most people know about the words. ( Is it right? Karaoke is singing with backing machine.) We asked some customers who came to our office whether they like karaoke or not, but majority opinion is singing karaoke is embarrassed and not comfortable.But you may have a chance to go karaoke with Japanese friends, because we often go karaoke box ( or bar ) after drinking parties. We would like to write how to get great applause at karaoke party in Japan.
1) Sing Primly --- You must have ability and lots of practice. If you can sing like professionals, members will be lost in music! You feel you are a star!2) Select songs which everyone know and can roar out a chorus --- members will not mind whether your singing is good or bad. Member will roar out, and party must warm up!3) Select popular duet songs, and name antagonist ---- There are lots of Japanese duet songs in karaoke machine, but we are sorry we don't remember English duet songs which are in machine.4) Change the libretto or spoken text ---- If you change the name of the love song to the name of member you like, you can confess your love at karaoke party! If the song has spoken text, almost always party members anticipate to hear your original text. And if the text is fun, members must raise a cheer! This news letter is 100th. We are very very happy that you read our not-skilled English letters, and sometimes gave us warm comment. Still now I am not good English writer, but writing time become shorter than ever. Sometimes we suffer with looking for theme for newsletters, but once I get a good theme, I enjoy writing. If you are here in Japan, we would like to have a ' 100th Aniversary Karaoke & Dancing Party at ICHIROYA' and invite you!
Anyway you may have a chance to have to sing in karaoke, let's practice karaoke song. In Japanese karaoke machine, most of major songs of Beatles and great films are loaded.I was too happy I felt like I were Gene Kelly- and singing in the rain if I could! It is a rainy season here so it is a perfect time!Thank you very much, domo arigato gozaimasu to all of you to let me continue this newsletters up to now.
We will be adding men's kimono, Maru obi, Fukuro obi, and bolts in about 5 hours.We hope you can enjoy browsing our new arrivals. Have a great new week!

No99-2

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No. 99.Yesterday we had a set-in of Tsuyu(rainy season) here in Osaka. Rainy season will continue about a month, and 'hotaru'(lightning bug) season will come in this period, and after the rainy season hot summer will come. Did you see the fabulous 'hotaru-gari'(hunting for fireflies) picture of our recent listed kurotomesode? If you don't have seen yet, please check the page. We think this picture is one of supreme sample of Japanese feeling of the season. If someone have this picture in her kimono now, we must admire her taste. We look forward to see lots of lights of hotaru flying, and it had to be way fun in olden times when there were not many entertainment like modern days.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list3.php?no=78507
By the way, we sometimes imagine how our business will become in future. If our daughter accedes our business, will vintage kimono and kimono textiles still remain during her life? As already you know, NEW kimono market is shrinking every year, and it causes the shrinking of the volume of USED kimono. In addition some portion of modern kimono product are made in China, and imported, and vaulable kimono textiles are becoming less and less. The length of life of silk is said to be a hundred years, and vintage kimono and fabrics are cut and consumed as handicraft material. So the vintage kimono also is reducing. The downsizing of our market seems not to be avoided. Not only kimono but also every kinds of product are displaced by imported product. The population of domestic production is reducing dramatically, and domestic producing population is also reducing constantly. This situation must be the similar to all advanced nations, and there seems not to be easy solutions.
My dream is selling Japanese product(brand new one) to the world on the internet. For textiles, really valuable textiles become too expensive for oridnarily use. Modern hand-dyed, hand-woven Kurume kasuri cost approx ten thousand USD, and only very small amount are produced every year with government assistance. Traditional techniques are becoming too difficult to be handed down orally. Kurume kasuri is the symbolic representation, but some traditional products are in the similar situation to Kurume kasuri. Domestic market is becoming too small for some kinds of items. Japanese population is only one hundred million. But if we can sell to the world on the internet, market size becomes bigger dramatically. Now is the internet age, and we can find easily potential customers in the world on the internet.
We think the most important thing is marketing. I have seen some craft products, which were exported in Meiji priod(1868-1912). They are well designed for Western customers, and made with artisan spirits. They had to sell and earn money for Japan, who hurried to be a modern country. In order to sell Japanese product to the world, we must study marketing more and scheme suggestion of usage. If we change the design, we may be able to sell hand woven tsumugi silk for the textile of western clothes. As we wrote in previous newsletter, Japanese denim become very popular among USA jeans makers now. Not only handicraft, but also machine-made goods(which need some kind of skills) must be able to sell more, if we study marketing more seriously.
It's my dream to help the survival of productive center with selling them on the internet. We are always thinking about it, and we wish to offer them in unique way in some days.
Today we have listed a supreme haori, urushi bowl, men's yukata and obi, cotton, obijime obiage set and bolt. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?pg=0&md=0613
Have a nice Sunday!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

No99

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 99.It has been very hot these days, and the news said the temperature was the same as the temperature of July. Three days ago, June 1st was the opening day of the ayu(sweetfish) fishing season. Ayu fishing is considered to be the most sophisticated fishing among various fishings, and many anglers had longed the day. There is the many photos of ayu fishing. We can enjoy photos of ayu, and the stream sceneries as well. http://www.yuyuyu.jp/photo/2005/index1.htmAyu is also very delicious fish, and ayu dishes are also 'syun'(season).I don't fish ayu, altough I enjoy trout fishing in the stream. For the ayu fishing we use special kind of technique and tools for 'tomuzuri'( angle forwith a live decoy), and it is not easy. I hope to begin ayu fishing someday.
At an auction in Kyoto, which was held a few days ago, I heard an interesting story.At that auction very rare nobori bata ( long flag for boy's festival days ) was offered. It had very unique 'karako'( child figure in China ) motif, and its picture was vivid and very artistic. Width was approx 90cm(35in) and it was verylong. I couldn't win, and winner was the Mr. K, who was the most famous nobori bata collector. He was said to have best pieces of antique nobori bata, and wehave read his article in Daruma Magazine.
Ordinary antique nobori bata is made of narrow size cotton. Comparatively new one has wide width like this piece. (Its width is 72cm-28in).http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=75371Antique nobori bata is ordinarily made of narrow width cotton like this piece. ( Its width is 38cm-15in).http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=64865When antique nobori has wide width, usaully two fabrics are used, and jointed in the center. I thought this was good point to know the age of nobor bata.
But the nobori bata, which Mr. K won had wide width, and not jointed in the center. I asked him about that piece.
He said that piece was very rare, and he didn't come across similar one before. It is from Edo period or early Meiji peirod ( 1868-1912), and its textile seems to be imported. Before approx 1910 ( Meiji 40) weaving loom of cotton could weave only 35-38cm(approx 15in). So if there was a wide cotton fabric before theage, it is considered to be imported. And imported cotton at that age had to be very expensive, and only used by very rich family or made for very special occasion.That nobori bata he won was considered to be made by multiple persons collectively - for example, a village made it for special festival days. We understood why it has wide width in spite of its old age.
Mr. K seemed to be very very happy to be able to get it.
Several months ago, I asked him about his collection. I asked him, 'You must payincredibly lot of money to collect such rare items! How can you do that?'He told us very good rule to collet valuable items.'To become a good collector, you must focus on an unique item you especially like. If you got 10 - 30, you don't need to buy similar items more. If you come across better one you already have, you must buy it even though the price ishigh. And you get it, and you should sell one of your collection, which you think the most valueless one in your collection. If you repeat this way, you collection will not increase with similar items, and you can upgrade the value and rareness of your collection.'
We thought his 'collection rule' is very good idea. Always selling prices are way lower compared to buying prices, but if we do so, we can save lots of money and space. How do you feel his collection rule?
Today we will list fukusa, ranru, oshie dolls and bolts--we will be very happy if you have some time to check our new arrivals.New arrivals will be added in about 4 - 5 hours.
Rice pond and frogs are waiting for rain--our rainy season is almost here!We wish you a happy new week!

No97

Dear Customers & Friends
*For the customers who use credit card for the payment---as we notifed in our e-mails, the future charge by credit card is going to be in yen basis only, in about 16 hours from now. Until then, if you submit the payment at the credit card settlement site sent from us, the charge is in dollar basis.Thank you very much for your understanding. If you have any questions about this matter, please feel free to e-mail us.
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.97.These days it is very hot as if it is already in summer season. In the afternoon we only need to wear a T shirt to work. Before real summer comes, we need to have 'tsuyu'(rainy season), and we can enjoy the 'hotaru'(lightning bugs/firefly).One of the most good motifs for kimono now must be the water plants and 'hotaru'. By the way we Japanese are very proud of the boom of remaking Japanese horror movies ( for example 'The Ring') in the world. We read that Japanese horror movies have different taste of horrors compared to Western's horror movies - more quite, but more scared. We don't know it is only in Japan, we enjoy scary stories especially in the summer. To get scared to be cold in hot night.
The most scared story I have heard was one I heard when I was a school boy. Our class went to a shrine in Mt. Koya for a summer camp school when I was 11 years old. Mt. Koya is one of the famous 'rei-zan'( mountain near the spiritual world), and many old shrines are built. In olden times, Mt. Koya was limited for men, and women were not allowed to be in. In a night we were gathered in a large room of shrine, and a teacher told us the story the below.
Once upon a time, it was a story when women was not allowed to climb the Mt. Koya. A women lived with her baby at the base of Mt. Koya. Her husband went for work, and they lived alone. One day her baby was suddenly taken ill, but near her home she couldn't get medicines. She was told that there was medicine in a house in the Mt. Koya. She couldn't look for anyone to help her, and she was prohibited to be in the mountain. Her baby was becoming worse, and she determined to climb the mountain herself even though it is against rule. She had her baby in her shoulder and climbed the mountain. She managed to reach the house. People there astonished to see her, but gave her the medicine. It was already dark, and they recommend her to stay over the night. But she was scared for she was not supposed to be here, and eager to climb down the mountain as soon as possible. She gave the medicine to her baby, and had the baby on her shoulder again, and departed the house. Path was narrow and dark, and her baby cried. She hurried the long path. She felt as if something drew her back, she didn't know why. She felt it might be the force of the god or ghost. She hurried with leaving behind the force. She sweat a lot, and baby's drool and her sweat wetted her neck. Baby stopped to cry, and she walked. Near her house, the sun was up and she relieved to reach her house safely.She wiped her neck and looked involuntarily.Her hand became RED.And she found that her baby's head was missing.Red was the blood of her baby, and she had carried only her baby's body. The teacher told this story before 'Kimodameshi'(test game of our courage). We had to walk down the dark road of Mt. Koya one by one. Besides the road at several points, teachers were waiting to threaten us, and we knew they were watching us also for the safety, but walking moutain road alone with the image of headless baby was very very scary experience, and I can remind the story and the road we walked vividly even now.
About kimono, sometimes we come across the motifs of ghost or skull bone. Men's kimono have them comparatively often compared to women's one. If we find them in vintage kimono, the price must be very high for its raritys. Once I have seen a beautiful ghost motif yuzen kimono offered at an auction, pirce was amazingly high. Skull bones motif is called 'Nozarashi', which means ' bodies exposed('sarasu') in the field('no'). There are some folk or horror tales about Nozarashi, and it was seem to be popular motif at a term. Nozarashi was considered to be a symbol of the kind, which means the courage or preparedness. Nozarashi motif in the shoubou banten(firemen's jacket) is the very good sample of it.
Several days ago, I came across a vintage kurotomesode, which has bold Nozarashi motif. It is made of ro, summer sheer silk, and has classic 'ryozuma' ( mirror image design, which is the feature of kimono from pre WWII) pattern. It must be old, but I coudn't imagine why the owner had skull bone motif on her kurotomesode. As you know, kurotomesode is the most formal kimono for married women. If she wore it at wedding, how other attendants felt to see it? Why did she want skull bone at auspicious events? We still don't have the answer of it.
My mother says she often looks ghosts when she is in futon(bed). Seeing ghost is not special thing for her, and we hear some people say they see ghost often. Is it special situation in Japan? Or, all over the world are there some percentage of people who can see ghost usually?
I am in a office alone, and little bit become scared to remind some horror stories! I will go home now!
**We are listing some charming kasuri, katazome, Nagoya obi and fabrics in about 6 hours.We hope you enjoy cheking our new arrivals.Domo arigato gozaimasu
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

No96

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan. This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.96.
* Attention, please*Regarding the credit card payment, from next Monday(May 30), the charge by credit card payment is proceeded only by yen basis. It is just like you are traveling in Japan and shop at one of the store here. If you received the credit card payment website for the payment, the website will be invalide after May 30.(The new website of credit card settlemen in yen basis will be available from the end of May.Thank you very much for you patience and consideration.(We can accept Visa/MasterCard/American Express and Diners)
Yesterday I attended an auction in Osaka, and after the auction I went to an event, which is titled 'Fu-Sui-Do-no-Shitsurai-Ten'. It is difficult to be translated to English. Each words means 'Wind-Water-Clay Furnished Fair'.Lots of kind of modern artisans are participating, and we can enjoy fantastic hand work with traditional and natural materials.Hand woven textiles, hand painted silk fabric, persimmon tannin dyed fabric, natural ai dyed cotton, hand carved wooden chair, natural material accessory, hand woven basket, wood building materials of old house and so on. The ambience of the hall is also well designed, and in the hall we feel as if we are suddenly in the another world of the town.There is the page of the event. They are only Japanese pages, but we are very happy if you could feel the atmosphere of the event.
http://www2.daimaru.co.jp/daimaru/shop/umeda/hp/pc/event3_new.jsp?HP_NO=13118
http://www.daimaru.co.jp/umeda/report/fusuido/report.html
It is held in Daimaru department store in Umeda (Osaka), which I worked for nearly 20 years. This is one of the famous annualevent, and this time maybe the 7th. It is planned by a director, Mr. Toshihiro Imai. He looks just as a hsien or mountain hermitand very famous for his study about traditional lives of people in the monsoon Asia. There is a photo of him.
http://www.ruralnet.or.jp/ouen/meibo/014.html
I was a representative of Daimaru department store's side, when this event was held at first (maybe in 2000). It was very exciting and hard experience. At that time I didn't have deep knowledge about textiles, and I couldn't understand enough what Mr. Imai said. He always makes a main work in the front part of the hall. At that time he collaborated with a ceramic artist in Iga, and he ordered a huge flower bowl. He said something about it, 'It was the symbol of something and so on', but I forgot. Anyway we ploughed it in the grand of bamboo grove in Iga district, and took photos for ads. We had to wait more then 6 hours only to wait the the water became clear. In the hall we put it on the floor, and we had to bring lots of clay in and reconstructed it just same as the photo.All artisans had particular obsessiveness about their items, display and everything. I had to adjust their hopes, and they were especially tough work for us.We used lots of bamboo, driftwood, building materials of old house,straw-rope, Japanese paper and natural wood for the display equipment. It also was completely different from ordinary events, so the representative of interior also had to try lots of new things and sweat a lots.But anyway we got an absolute smash at the first one, and the event became annual. I got to know many first class artisans through this work.
Yesterday I got to know Mr Tagaki, who is the famous jeans designer. His wife is selling her skirts at that event, which are made of cotton. Some of her skirts are made of lots of kind of denim, and they look as if they are old ranru cotton. Mr. Tagaki was the first designer of very famous Japanese jeans 'STUDIO D'ARTISAN', and recently he had been making unique jeans in Paris. Recently I heard that Japanese denim textile become very popular among high-end jeans maker in USA, and was wondering why it is. Mr. Tagaki explained me that Japanese denim is different from USA made denim. In United States denim is made with very modernized machine heterogeneously. They are big company and sell huge amount of denim with heterogeneous quality. And Mr. Tagaki said their technique of jointing of threads are not good, and must have uneven points in it. Japanese denim makers are using old type weaving machines, and they are trying to make particular denim which has good texture and characters.When he was selling his jeans in Paris, some jeans makers in USA came to him, and were astonished to see his beautiful textured denim. He was asked, and he told them the Japanese denim factories. He said after that time jeans maker in United States became to use Japanese denim for their high-end jeans.
I was very impressed with his story. Because I couldn't imagine there was a dramatic difference in machine woven textile like denim. But he says its texture is completely different even though they are machine woven one. I have never checked the difference he said, but I must check it near future!
By the way I started a blog several days ago, as some customers already noticed.
http://kimonoichiroya.blogspot.com/
I hope to write everyday as possible as I can. I may not be able to have enough time to write long stories in English everyday, so we will upload various photos,which I took by a cellphone. We want to convey the atmosphere of our office, kimono market and our real lives in Japan through our blog.And if you have a blog in 'Blogger', most major blog service by Google, we can communicate more deeply through the blogs. Making a blog in Blogger is very easy and free. You can make your own blog only in a few minutes.
http://www.blogger.com/start
Thank you for reading to the end! Today we have listed some child kimono, ranru, hi, urushi table, kakejiku and bolt. We are very happy if you could check the new arrival page.
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0523
Have a nice Sunday!
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

No95

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 95.
** May I have your attntion please? --If you have Verizon. net address to conatct us, we are afraid e-mails from outside the United States seem to be blocked.Our e-mail may not have reached you.If you would like to use Verizon address, could your follow the procedure we included here to unblock e-mails from us?
* Please go to the Verizon Homepage. In the address area, type in this address: www.verizon.net/whitelist They will be directed to fill out a simple form and, in three business days, they will be able to send and receive email from you. Thank you very much again for your attention.
*******************************************************************************A month ago, we rented one more room, and hired a few more staff and started to sell other Japanese antique goods. Some antique items, for examples bamboo basket, urushi, doll, china, iron goods, are bigger and heavier than kimono, and have many kinds of shapes. And they are often unclean, and when I buy items, we must wash and check them before taking photos. Selling other antique goods needs more labor than we imagined before.But what a pleasure it is to touch and enjoy the charm of antique items! At morning assemblyI always show the items which should be taken photos, Yuka often says ' I want it! I want to buy and use it myself!' Of course I always say 'No. It is for customers. I will find better items for you in feature.'Often we admire the details. At a blink it only has comparatively plain outlook, but when we look it closely we come to know how the details are elaborately made with the artisan spirits. If you don't look the details of this bamboo basket, please check it out. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=76818 We wish you could enjoy them as well as kimono and textiles. They will be excellent interior decor to add Japanese taste in your house. There is no rule to be displayed although they had particular roles in olden times here. We must be more happy if we could show the samples of using Japanese antique goods as interior decor. Unfortunately our house it too small to try and show the idea now, but in future we would like to do so.
By the way, Our elder daughter Shoko went kimono auction with me several days ago. Kimono dealers auction are always closed to ordinary people, but she could because she is my daughter and as a staff of ICHIROYA. It was second time to come auction with me, and she said she wanted to buy some kimono by herself. She is an university freshmen, but she said she wanted to buy and sell some kimono by herself, and try to earn some money by herself. Of course I thought it's OK, and very good training to know society and business. If she may use her time only to sell without any profit, selling herself must be good experience for her. I lent a hundred thousand yen ( approx 1000 USD ) to her on the promise of paying back it in two months. At the auction, she and I bid separately. In some items, we shout the prices at a time, and in a few times Shoko's bids were higher than my prices! The auctioneer always took the higher prices even if the bids are made by a family members or same company. 'Your daughter is stronger than you!' Auctioneer and all bidders burst out laughing. Shoko won several good items against her father! Some kurotomesode were good ones, and I missed them greatly. Now we have a new rival, greenhorn Shoko! I don't know how she plans to sell her kimono, but if she list on e-bay, please check and bid them. She must sell them even if she can not earn some money by them. She is only an amateur yet!
A famous businessman says he was given a million yen ( approx 10000USD ) by his father when he was a freshman of university. His father said the money was the last allowance. If he wanted more, he had to earn money himself with it. He says it was very good training to become a businessman.Our capital money for Shoko is way less than his, but we think it is enough. Because we started our business three years ago with such small money. The money we spent to buy our first merchandise was only 50000 yen, half of we lent! It's enough. We don't know whether she will join our business in future, but we hope it will be an good experience to become an independent person.
*We are adding rich and tasteful patterned Katazome cotton fabrics in about 4-5 hours. We will be very happy if you could check the new arrivalshere: http://www.ichiroya.com
We wish you a wonderful new week!Thank you very much for reading to the end.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

No94

Dear Customers and Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.94.At the elevator hall of the building where our office is, swallows made four nests recently. I am eager to know there are chicks in them, but I couldn't confirm yet. Maybethey are still eggs now, and in several days or so we will be able to see the chicks chattering for food. The owner of the building puts small mats just under the nests, to avoid to be soiled by parent birds. Swallow is the one of the popular motif of kimono. They make their nests at high-traffic areas, often make them above the entrance of our houses ( they are said that they use the human to keep their natural enemies like crows away ) and very familiar to us. And they always come with spring, and leave with coming of autumn. So swallow is one of the most familiar things which let us know the change of seasons.http://tuba.maxs.jp/bird/bird_tsubame.htmIn your home town, do swallows make their nests at your houses?
Today we have an item, which we would like you to see. Today's news letter is the invitation to ICHIROYA's Museum.
It is an antique shoubou-banten, which is a very best item of that kind. I borrowed it for some reason, and took lots of detailed photos. As some customers already know, Shoubou banten is the jacket for the firemen, made of very thick multiple cotton, and inside has stunning picture. Firemen-- real `Hero' of the time wore the jacket with the right side (which has only simple design) out while working, and after the fire fighting they wore it inside out to show their brave picture. If you are not familiar with the particular item as shoubou banten, please read the description here.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=64046
That piece is owned by a friend. He got it ten years ago in Nagoya, and keep it with rejecting the offers to be sold. He says this piece is a very very best piece of shoubou banten, and never sell under the price he determined. If you see the detail photos, you imediately come to know what he wants to say.Its picture is from kabuki play 'Yoshitsune no Senbon Zakura', and has fabulous pictures in the both front and back sides. Design is artistic, and colors remain vividly. Frankly said, we have never seen such supreme piece before.Please enjoy the detailed photos enough! It's the ICHIROYA's virtual meuseum! http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=76138
If we could offer this item around 15000USD - 18000USD, we would buy it from him, and list our site. But his price is way higher than that range, and it is higher than the price of Toyota Hybrid Car Prius.But its a very good chance to know how the best item of this kind is. Usually this kind of shoubou banten is discolored. And when we come across with vivid colors, we must doubt it may be very contemporary one. Because this type of banten is also made now, and at auctions sellers sometimes offer it without any explanations.( I have seen a scene that a dealer won a contemporary one with very high price with mistaking the age estimate! )
We are very happy if you could enjoy the photos!
We will be adding graceful kurotomesode, interesting shibori haori karinui, haori packs and botls in about 5 hours.We hope you have some time to check our new arrivals. Domo arigato gozaimasu for reading our newsletter.
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

No93

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 93.Firstly we would like to thank you very much for a lot of e-mails worrying about the train crash last week. The accident happened not far from our office ( about 30 minutes by a car). More than 500 people were injured or dyed, but fortunately no friends or acquaintance got involved in the crash. 107 people lost their lives in the accident--the young train driver was included among them.We want to express our sympathy for those who lost their beloved families and friends.Both of our daughters go to school by train and some of our staffs come to our office by train also, and we cannot feel it is someone else's affair.We couldn't imagine more than hundred people dyed by a train crash. We always thought the train was safe, punctual, cheap and reliable. Teachers taught us Japan had most extensive railway system in the world(when I was young). Nowadays most people have their own cars, but our family didn't have a car until I graduated from high school, and we seem to be able to live comfortabley without private car both now and olden times.
Most people go to office by trains. When I worked for Daimaru Department store, I rode a bus from the busttop near my house to the railway station, and took a crowded train, and had to change train near Osaka. It always took about 75 minutes in the morning, and return trip in the late evening it took nearly 90 minutes. Trains during the commute are very crowded, and we can not even open books. Please imagine riding a very crowded elevator more than 30 minutes! When I was very tired, I sometimes fell asleep with leaning to the people around me. Trains are so crowded that some troubles occur. In the passengers there are digger, sexual molesters, drunks and so on. In the crowded train we must take care for the wallet in the pockets, and must be careful about the hand position to avoid to be mixed up with sexual molesters. Everyday's crowded train suffered me a lot. When I had to be freezed in the crowd, I always endured with listening to jazz or English learning CD with walkman.
But because of its mass passengers, Japanese railway system developed many apparatus. I heard that automatic ticket checker was invented in Japan. If you visit Japan, you will be astonished how the system are mechanized efficiently. We don't know what is familiar with you, but we try to itemize.
- Automatic ticket machine can accept banknotes, and we can throw in the multiple coins at a time. We can buy multiple tickets at a time. ( Please check the fare before you get in the lines of machine. The sign above machines shows the route map and fares.)
- If you put a ticket or commuter pass in the ticket checker, it will be ejected at the another end in a blink of an eye. Even if you have two tickets for the ride, you can put them in piles. ( Never pause for waiting the ticket. After passengers will rush against you! And never forget to take the ticket when you go in the station. If you forget to take the tickets, after passenger will take your ticket and all after passengers will take wrong tickets! )
- There are 'Norikoshi-seisanki', which means 'fare adjustment machine'. ( If you have wrong ticket, you can adjust the fare by that machine, which are usually put in near the ticket wicket. But of course, asking station attendants is more easily for foreigners!)
- There are some kinds of advanced payment cards. For example we can buy three thousand yen card, and we can put it in the ticket checker machine. Ticket checker prints boarding station, exit station, fare and the outstanding balance. ( It is very useful to when you must note down the fares. )
- Most advanced ticket is ICOCA, which is issued by JR. Only letting the ticket touch to the machine, everything is recorded. We don't need to put in the machine, and only let it touch which is in the card case.
- We can buy tickets of Shinkansen bullet train on the internet. ( But we need to subscribe in advance. If you once subscribe you can take the ticket even on the handiphone's internet.)
- Very punctual. Except the accidents, Trains always are run on time precisely. Time errors are always within a minute. ( If you ride during rush hour, and get in the last, you must be pushed by station attendants strongly to close the door. Be careful to your bag and cloth. Sometimes bag or skirt are bitten by door, and you will not be able to move it until next stations. Station attendants are eager to be punctual, but do not really care about your bag or cloth!)
The icing on the cake - There are women-only car during crowded time. ( Please check the gender of passengers. If you are male, and passengers around are all female, it is not the time to be delighted! )
Of course there are many other trains which you can enjoy the tranquil scenery and have a very relaxing trip(as Yuka wrote about the train ride to Shikoku last time). Yuka told me that when she was a junior high school student--she was studying for the test in the train and there was a man who were eager to teach herher and her frineds math and helped their study until they arrive at the destination.
We are sorry about the theme, which are not connected to kimono or fabrics.
We are adding new arrivals of kimono, haori and bolt in about 5 hours from now--we hope you have some time to browse our new arrivals, domo arigato gozaimasu.
**** To those who have `verizon.net' e-mail address, we are sorry but we found our e-mails to the e-mail address with `verizon.net' do not seem to reach. We can read e-mails from `verison.net' address. We will be very grateful if you could provide us another e-mail address, if you are not receiving e-mails from us because of this reason.
Thank you very much for your patience and consideration.
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

No92

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 92.Today is Sunday, but we have auctions, and I(Ichiro) attend an auction in Kyoto,and Yuka attends an auction in Shikoku. Attending an auction is always fun, expecting come across something special. We learn lots of things through the auctions. Cherry blossom season ends, and now we become to come across koinobori(carp streamer) in some places. May 5th is boy's festival day 'Tango-no-sekku', and people display koinobori and dolls during April till that day.In this season, at the Ishikawa river near our office, many koinobori are dispayed colorfully. There are many koinobori festival all over Japan, where people display many koinobori at a time often over the rivers collectively. http://www.to-wa.ne.jp/http://www.pluto.dti.ne.jp/%7Ekuriyama/koinobori/koinobori.html
Besides koinobori, people display samurai doll or noboribata with hoping the their boys grow healthy and bravely. http://www2.odn.ne.jp/~cbx41100/sub005-05gatsu-A.htm
In olden times samurai family displayed noboribata(long flag), which have samurai or carp motif and family crest. Ordinary people didn't have family crests but emulated them. They displayed carp motif flags, and later nobori bata ( flag ) transformed to koinobori. Contemporary koinobori has 'fukinagashi', which is top of the carps, which was said to be the remain of flags ( old type one has kamon there).
We can see samurai dolls and koinobori are displayed and sold at big stores. But this tradition is going out. In the urban area we rarely see big ( but ordinary size ) koinobori displayed. In our condominium building only a few families diplay small size koinobori at their veranda. When we drive countryside, we sometimes see the full size koinobori are displayed
This is Yuka I came home from the auction in Shikoku and read what Ichiro wrote.Yes I have seen some koinobori swimming(We say, koinobori swims) in the sky at some houses in country side of Okayama and shikoku today.>From Honshu(main island of Japan )to Shikoku(big island with four prefectures)there is a big bridge called `Seto ohashi'. Since the bridge has been buitl, it made many people come to Shikoku. You can take a day trip easily by Shinkansen.It was unusual--some people did not attend this aucton for the another big auction was held in Kyoto and some people who usually comes to Shkoku did not come.
The atmosphere in the auction in Shikoku is very friendly and there was a lot oflaughter. In big auctions, there exist some `unseen' barriar which newer person cannot get into--you have to read the auctioneer's face, but today's auctions, there were nice atomosphere.Sometimes it is very tricky--some peple say `here is what you like' and try to seduce us. There are a lot of puns and jokes--while the auctioneer keeps offering items. So you have to be really concentrated to the things spreadingin front of you. Many people I met today were `an always tourist'who followsthe auction schedules held all over japan. Before auction starts, usually,ipponjime(handclap) is done by everyone.(and at the end of auctions too)The auction ended quite early today.When you win, you have to remove the items in the center, as soon as possible.There are many empty boxes for us and we just throw in the box what we won first.Some people come with a staff who fold kimono and put in the box and send.If there is a thing you really want, you have to jump to the price quite higher.If he or she says the price like that and becomes the winner, everyone says`beautiful'. Today one bidder really wanted a certain kimono ans she jumped and said a cost but there was another customer who says the higher price. She just said `I am so sorry, my legs are short and I could not juno higher.'It is hard--sometimes you have to let people know that you like to win a particular item and sometimes you have to hide that all through the day. Tactics and concentration is needed.
Thank you very much for reading to the end, domo arigato gozaimashita
**WE are adding new arrivals(kimono, bolt and haori) in about 4-5 hoursfrom now. We will be very happy if you have some time to browse our new house.Thank you very much again,

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

No91

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No91.It is becoming warmer and warmer here in Osaka. Cherry trees are becoming green from pink near our office. Our elder daughter Shoko decided what classes to take at her university, and began to study. Here in Japan, Chinese language class is very popular. Unfortunately there are not enough schools, and very difficult to pass the exam. She had been studied an extra year to pass the exam, but she failed to pass the regularcourse, and passed the night course. She must take several evening lessons, but she can take day lessons without limitation. We think belonging to evening class will make good affection to her. In Japan many students go to the university without having a particular purpose. It has been the same with me when I was a student. After passing the exam many students go to the classes only to graduate and enter good(or famous) companies. Universities in general in Japan are said that entrance exam is very difficult(and need excessive exam study), but easy to graduate. I used to go to classes only three or four days a week, and I graduated.But the school Shoko attends is the university of the foreign languages, and we think most students have strong intentions to learn some foreign languages, which will have good influence on her. At the same time, when we are congratulating her starting new school life, huge anti-Japanese demonstration occurred in China. Protesters say many Chinese believe Japan has never truly shown remorse for atrocities committed during its pre-World War II invasion of China. There are many points of contention for example, prime minister's official visits to Yasukuni Shrine by politicians, educational concept of Chinese government, fair-sized ODA to China and so on. But simply said, I think if Chinese people think so, we must do so. We can not delete the history our grandfather's generation inrvaded China and other Asian countries. I deplore the suffering inflicted upon Chinese and other all Asian people.
Only what I am worried is Chinese public opinion should be shaped with completely free communication circumstances. I feel the both Japan and China should be the mature democracy, but unfortunately our countries cannot be said so. To know each other better, we must learn our histories more and in the more free circumstances.
Anyway we say my daughter that difficulties will increase to travel or study in China, but the learning Chinese must be more important. China is the neighboring country and two countries have strong economic ties. We must struggle more to comuniacte sincerely with China. It may be more difficult, but its must be worth the work than ever.
China is a great country. Our histroy or culture cannot be told without this great country.Our ancestor had learned a lots from this neighbouring country. Characters, cotton fabrics, weaving techniques and most of our cultures have origin in China. And we admire the toughness of Chinese merchant, and we also respect the complete independence in the complicate modern world. We hope the demonstration will cease soon, and two counties begin to make good relationship again.
We are very sorry that the theme of this letter have no relation to kimono. But we can not help writing about this topics. Today we will list some furisode, kimono, karinui fabrics and bolt. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0418
**We noticed that some of our e-mails may not be reaching you--- we seem to have not being able to send our e-mails to the address which include 'verizon.net'.There may be some other cases too. We have heard that `Firewall'( or security soft) may be bloking our e-mails or causing some inconvenienceto some of our customers.We wish we could do something at out end, but there seems to be not much we can do.We will be very grateful if you could check about it in case you do not receive e-mails from us.If you could e-mail us(if you could try from another e-mail address which we can e-mail back to)--we will be very grateful also).Thank you very much for your patience and consideration.
Thank you again for reading to the end. We wish you a pleasant week!
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

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

No89


** Ohayogozaimasu, good morning from Japan.Firstly I apologize you--I have written this newsletter and meant to sendon Saturday night here but I goofed -- I forgot to switch to `send' from `test'that was why it was not sent to you.Domo sumimasen, here is the newsletter and I am really sorry for the delay.
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 89.Spring seems to have come at last. Today we turn off the air conditioner, and I am wearing only a shirt in our office. Sakura blossom front is coming up, and we will be able to see full blossom in several days. In front of our office magnolia are full blossom.
These days items which are offered at auctions seem to be less than ever. Especially these three months almost all auctions we attended didn't offer many kimono. Some kimono dealers say it snowed much in Tohoku district, so the ubudashiya ( kimono dealers who buy kimono from ordinary peole ) couldn't collect many because of heavy snow. But I am wondering there may be other reasons.
Kimono auctions are increasing, and we were invited to two new auctions near our district last half year. Auctions are ordinarily held every month, so if we go the auctions we will have 24 times auction ( chances to buy kimono) in a year. Auction is a place where we kimono seller exchange the kimono stocks each other.And at a time it is the place where we can buy kimono, which have first come to our market by ubudashiya. Kimono lovers may see the the former ones at someone's store or antique fair, and they are the goods left unsold. So we prefer the kimono offered by ubudashiya, and looking forward to see the new items from olden times. Everyone can not buy lots of kimono from ordinary people. Only some experienced major ubudashiya can collect enough kimono to earn for themselves. So when auctioneer begin the new auction, he must draw some ubudashiya from other auctions. It is very difficult to do so. If some ubudashiya dived their kimono to new auctions, kimono for the existing auctions must become less. For us, to collect enough kimono for our customers we will have to attend more auctions than ever.
My mother was born in 1930 ( Showa 5), and she was 15 years old when WWII ended.Just after the WWII, lives were very tough and couldn't afford gorgeous kimono. So my mother couldn't wear magnificent furisode, when she had to want. When we started our business, she showed us her kimono, but what she has are the comparatively new one, and most of them are tsumugi. My grand mother( mother of my father ) passed away when I was 28 years old, and she was born in 1909 ( Meiji 42). Now I feel it is indeed regrettable that I didn't hear much about her adolescence and life. She reached a marriageable age in early Showa period(Showa:1926-1989) before WWII, and had to enjoy fashionable atmosphere of that time. My mother has several kimono from grand mother, but they are the kimono she wore at her old age. I don't know where her kimono have gone. I assume she might sell them when our family had economic grievances after WWII. If my grand mother lived now, she was nearly 100 years old. So the most kimono of her generation must be handed to their daughters, who are also nearly 80 years old. Old kimono often come to our market, when the owner died. Recently the kimono of ubudashiya become comparatively new according to the former owner's age. Anyway we can not expect more volume of vintage kimono from ubudashiya.
About kasuri and other old fabrics, which are popular for handicraft materials, is becoming less and less. Because they are consumed ( cut and sewn). When we started our business, Bingo kasuri bolt was very cheap. Bingo Kasuri is machine woven, and has stiff touch compared to hand woven kasuri. But nowadays the price of Bingo kasuri bolt rise to double compared to two years ago. I think this kind of vintage fabrics will become less and less, and price will rise constantly in furture. Today I will attend an auction in Kobe. We wish we get many vintage kimono and fabrics there!
*** We have added some yukata recently, which had no yukata obi attached.We added new arrivals including yukata obis. We hope the customers who are interested in yukata or who already placed the order of yukata but needs obi can take a look at our new arrival yukata obi, domo arigato gozaimasu.
****In our last newsletter, I mentioned about the folktale `Tsuruno Ongaeshi', (Crane's Story)Ms Elizabeth Falconer who is a fantastic Koto master is telling this story along with her koto music. The story is told beautifully inEnglish, with her enchanting koto music--we thought her CD really tells$B!!(Bthe essence of this sad yet beautiful story.Crane's Story is available here: http://www.kotoworld.com/
Thank you very much for reading to the end.We wish you a pleasant new week--dozo sutekina issyukano!
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

No88

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan. This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No88.In last week some customers visited our office from UK. Thank you very much for visiting us! We are very sorry but our office doesn't have enough space for visitors and couldn't offer enough hospitality for them. K san and J san said they saw a crane in Kyoto. And I was very interested in their story. We often see 'sagi'(heron) in Kyoto and other district of Honsyu, but I have never seen a wild crane in our district. And I asked whether the crane had a crown in her back head, because I thought they might saw a heron.
As you already know, crane is the one of the most popular motif in kimono and other Japanese designs. Crane is very special bird for us. It is the most biggest bird in Japan, and designated as a protected species special national treasure. In olden times crane said to live for thousand years, and tortoise for ten thousand years, and both have been thought to have auspicious meanings. Also today we make 'orizuru', crane made of folding paper, with hoping something. For example in a class students make thousand orizuru 'Senba Zuru' ( 'sen' means thousand ) to pray for the recovery of a classmate in hospital. These students made senbazuru to hope the piece of the world.http://next1.yasuda-u.ac.jp/nagatuka/kids1000/99/index_e.html
And I searched about cranes more through the internet.There live 15 species of crane in the world, and in Japan we can see four kinds of cranes. But only one kind of crane 'Tancho'(Japanese Crane) live in Japan throughout their lives. Other kinds fly to Kyusyu and Yamaguchi district to pass the winter, but they are different colors ( have large gray parts) compared to Tancho. There is photos of cranes, and you will know only Tancho ( Japanese Crane ) the the design source of crane motif - white feather, black neck and tail end and red head. http://www.japanesecrane.com/crane.htmlMore photos of Tancho are here.http://www004.upp.so-net.ne.jp/akanhire/sub31.html
No only 1600 - 2000 tancho live, and only 800 tancho live in Hokkaido, and the rest live in China and Russia. Tancho and their breeding grounds are under protection, but the number of individuals stand still. By Edo period(1603-1867) lots of tancho lived in Hokkaido and flew to Honshu to pass winter. But during Meiji period(1868-1912), they dramatically decreased because of swamp missing and overhunting, and at the beginning of this century Japanese crane was thought to died off. But careful protection during long time increase the number little by little. The situation of Japanese Crane is similar to Kasuri or Japanese cotton. The crane which S san and J san saw may be Common Crane or White-naped Crane(grayish one) or Hooded Crane(black one) from Kyushu district. If they saw a Tancho, it must be exceptionally rare scene and a fortune! By the way do you think what Japanese textile is most beautiful?If you ask some Japanese what is the most beautiful fabric in Japan in history, some must tell a folk story as below.
In olden times, a young poor man lived alone in a village. One winter day on the way home he heard a stage sound in the deep snow. He wondered what it was from, and beyond a field he found a crane was crying. An arrow struck her. He wanted help her, and took off an arrow. The crane flew to the sky. One snowy night someone knocked his door. He was astonished to find a beautiful young lady was there. She said that she strayed and asked to put her up for the night. He let her stay at his home. Next day she asked to put her up again, and he did so.
And they married. They were poor but lived happily. But at a very tough winter they ate all their food and used all their money, and could not live any more.
One day she said she would weave a textile. He put a weaving loom in the inner room. She said to him, ' Never see inner room while I am weaving'. She wove for three days and nights beyond the door. The forth night she stepped out from the room in absolute exhaustion, and handed a incredibly beautiful woven textile to him. It was a fabulous shinny textile, which no one have seen before. He brought it to the town, and tried to sell. It was sold at very high price.
They lived on that money, but the winter was long and tough, and later money and food went out again. She determined to weave again. She wove for three days and nights again, and step out with a more beautiful textile. But she looked more worn out. He went to the town and sold it at higher price.
Village folk asked him how she could weave such beautiful textiles without material. The man became to want to get more money and wanted to know how she wove. He asked her wife one more fabric. She thought they didn't need more money, but accepted reluctantly.
'Never peep in the room', she said, and began to weave. But he couldn't control himself, and opened the door slightly and peep the room.He astonished and raised his voice. A crane was weaving with her own feathers.He came to know how the textile was woven. The crane noticed him and morphed into wife's figure.
She said that she was the crane he helped, and became his wife to repaid him for his kindness. But she couldn't do more, because he broke the promise and became to know her real identity. He regretted to break the promise for money. She morphed into a crane, and flew away.
Thank you very much for reading to the end! Today we have listed nobori bata, katazome cotton, tsutsugaki, furisode, kimono and fabrics. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0328
Have a nice spring Sunday!
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

No87

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No . 87.Yesterday we have an auction in Kyoto, and I(Ichiro) took my elder daughter Shoko there for the first time. Recently she passed her entrance exam, and she is on her spring holidays before starting the study of Chinese and English. She seems to have been interested in our business, and enjoyed the go-go atmosphere of auction yesterday. We wish she will master two foreign languages, and become an independent person. We don't know whether she will join our business or not, but anyway we want to teach her how to earn and stand by herself. At the auction we couldn't buy enough volume of kimono, we went an huge antique sale in Kyoto ( titled 'Kyoto Big Antique Festival') after attending the auction. It is held in huge event hall for three days, and more than 120 antique sellers are gathering and selling their items, including Western antiques. Approx a fourth is kimono and vintage fabric sellers. Almost all kimono sellers are acquaintance, and they said the first day of the event recorded good sales ( it will end today). We couldn't buy something special there, but we enjoyed seeing lots of fabulous Japanese antique goods. Many things which attracted me strongly had the prices more than 100,000 yen ( nearly 1000USD ), and we could find some supreme items, which were put more than million yen. I was especially attracted by netsuke, inrou and other urushi items. I was strikingly astonished to see the incredible details of them. We are going to rent one more room beside our office, and hire a few more staffs. We would like to offer more kimono and fabrics, and besides them we would like to add other antique goods. And in future we are very happy if we can offer very valuable urushi and other items at our site as well..
When I wrote about the kasuri history in previous news letter, I was wondering where did the Japanese cotton go. As I wrote, after middle of the the Meiji period(1868-1912), almost all cotton threads were imported from USA or India. So kasuri and other cotton fabrics from after mid Meiji period(1868-1912) were made of US born cotton threads. But in the Edo period(1603-1867) cotton were cultivated widely all over Japan(except Hokkaido and Tohoku), and people hand spun the cotton and dyed with natural ai, and made their ordinary clothes. My question remained -- Where did Japanese cotton go?The documents says Japanese cotton 'wamen' threads were too short for machine-weave and couldn't be used for textiles after the Meiji priod(1868-1912). Farmers quit to cultivate cotton as agriculture, and only a few farmers have been kept to cultivate only for their futon padding or cloth. Japanese cotton 'wamen' was nearly dying. But I found a man in Chiba prefecture were trying to grow old Japanese cotton seeds, and many people agree to cooperate on the sruvive of 'wamen' and begin to grow the seeds in their fields. He is trying to grow 30 kinds of original Japanese seeds and trying to preserve the species. He says each Japanese cotton 'wamen' seeds have various belongings suited to each climates of their original regions. To cultivate 'wamen' cost way expensive compared to import cotton from foreign countries, but considering the environment issues we should cultivate and use 'wamen' more by ourselves. I am impressed with his affirmation.His name is Takeshi Tabata, and he!re is his page.I thought this page is informative and interesting(Sorry the website is in Japanese only).http://homepage2.nifty.com/wamen-nouen/
Today I also get interested in sericultural industry of Japan. Japanese cotton almost die, now how about Japanese silk? Sericultural industry must have been the major exporting industry in olden times. But we rarely hear about silk-raising farmers, nor have no friends whoare raising silk.I found the figures which are not interesting, which is worse than I expected.* Year-on-year reduction rate of silk production - 17% * Number of silk-raising farmers is reducing dramatically. From 57,320 (1988) to 2,360 ( 2002 ). * Each countries' silk yield of 2001 - China 400,000ton( first ranking ), Japan 1,030ton ( 8th ranking)* Approx 75% of domestic silk consumption is imported.Our country import lots of primary commodities, and most primary commodities industries have disappeared. Sericultural industry also may have the same destiny as cotton. I may have to write in future as below - 'In mid Heisei period( 1989- 20** ) domestic secicultural industry disappeared completely, and after that time all kimono have been made by imported silk.' Thank you again for reading to the end. When I look after the current situation of handicraft, I always renew my awareness about the value of vintage and antique items.
*We are adding children's kimono, uniqe patterned haori and colorful bolts in about 4 hours. We will be very happy if you could take a look at these new arrivals.
Thank you very much. domo arigato gozaimasu
**We are sending Ichiroya News Letter - the information of new arrivals and bargains. If you would like to join our mailing list, please visit here:http://www.ichiroya.com/~webichiroya/mail/join.htm
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

No86

Dear Customers and Friends.
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.86Couple of days ago we felt spring finally had come. But just now we are having snow. Snowflakes are very big, and they are like cotton! It is biggest flake of snow we have had in this winter. To explain this season, we have a phrase 'San-kan-shi-on'. Each words mean 'San'( Three ), 'Kan'( Cool ), 'Shi'( Four) and 'On'( Warm ). So the phrase mean ' We have three cool days and four warm days one after the other. We don't have warmer days everyday, but gradually warm days increase.'
I heard that Hideki Matsui had two home runs at these two pre-season games. As Ichiro Suzuki did, he made impressive records for years at Yomiuri Kyojin Giants in Japan Pre Baseball League, and transfered to New York Yankees. He is expected to be inflexible cleanup batter, and is thought to be. He is an exceptionally good guy ( I am not acquainted with him, but everyone says he is a good guy who never changes and has a humble heart even though he has been a super star for a long time ), and we Japanese are very proud of him as much as Ichiro Suzuki.In Japan, baseball is the most popular pro sports. And when I was a little boy, how I was eager to become a pro baseball player! At that time manga (comics) titled 'Kyojin-no-hoshi' ( Star of Youmiru Kyojin Giants) was very popular among boys. It is a story about a father and his son, who are very poor and tried to become an ace pitcher of Yomiuri Kyojin Giants. It was serialized in weekly comics magazine, and almost all boys were absolutely-fascinated with this particular story . Hideki Matsui is way younger than our age, but he also must had read it. The central character of that manga ( Hyuma Hoshi) was our hero, who all boys wanted to be like him. Hoshi literally means `a star' but also it could be a name in Japan. We seem to have to give up many many things during having ages. It is a sweet and sour memory when I gave up my ability to be an pro baseball player. I was very short, and my hight was only 136cm-53.5in when I was 13 years old. At elementary school always I had been in the front when we lined up. My father sometimes took me out, and played catch-ball with me. He always sat and became a catcher, and I threw as a pitcher. At that time I didn't belong to a team, but I enjoyed only thrawing to my father. Once our small town became to have an baseball team for a tournament.I didn't know why, but then it was rumored that Ichiro(it's me!) was a very good baseball player and pitcher altough he didn't belong to any team. At that time I have never had experience to participate in game, and didn't know my level. But I thought I might be a super player as rumor said, if they said so. I did not know where this rumore came from.And the day came, when a coach gathered and checked the players of our town. For the first time in my life I wore a baseball uniform, and went to the field. My memory of that test day remain only at intervals. I was in a left field. Coach hit the ball very high, I run to the ball, but my visual judgement was completely wrong, and a ball went far over my head. Twice or three times in series, I missed the balls. I had to be far away from a coach, but I am sure I heard that he said 'Latrine rumor!'It was really a sweet and sour memory. Our town didn't have enough players, so I was added to the regular members, and second/lineup 6th. Luckily I made a banjo hit and drove in. But after that time I never dreamed to become a pro sports man at all. So when I hear the news of Japanese basaball players who are playing important roles, it sometimes reminds me of the day with sweet feeling.
Very sorry for the long story, which is not related to kimono. Today we are listing very rare Hinagatabon. Luckily we got more than several ones from our friends. Hinagatabon is becoming very rare, and especially one of them has rich and fantastic contents. Yuka insisted to keep the volume for us, but at last we decided to offer all to our customers, because it is our work.'Hinagata' means 'form', and 'bon' means 'book'. So 'Hinagatabon' means the kimono design form or sample book. They were wood block printed published in Edo period(1603-1868), and sometimes includes hand painted design book. They are the valuable research data to know the mode's change and technique progress of kimono. Now 120 kinds of hinagatabon are known to be existed. First books was published in 1666 and titled 'Ohiinakata', and latest one was published in 1820 titled 'Banzaihinakata'. They were publised in Edo(Tokyo), Kyoto and Osaka.When they were published in Edo period(1603-1868), they were printed only with black. Also in Meiji priod(1868-1912) hinagatabon were reprinted with original wood blockst. And hinagatabon from Meiji priod(1868-1912) were used colors. Today we are offering hinagatabon from Meiji and have wonderful vivid colors. Patterns are very fine and artistic, and designs for the ryozuma(mirror image design) are many. They also includes some very witty and sophisticated design, which we have never seen in the real vintage kimono. Our staffs took many photos of them yesterday. We are very happy if you could browse and savor the photos of them.
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0314
Today we also have listed gorgeous kurotomesode karinui fabrics ( include very unique pattern ) and some bolts. We are very happy if you could check them.
Thank you for reading to the end. We wish you have a warm spring soon!
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

No85

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 85 .We are looking forward to spring, but it is very cold in these several days, and in Tokyo it snowed heavily out of season. The day after tomorrow I will become 46 years old. Recently a young businessman, who owns several IT companies is trying to purchase a big mass communication company ( which owns TV station, news paper and some magazines). It is contested takeover, and attention is focused on the concourse of it. He is moving more than 50 billion yen for the takeover. He is only 32 years old! Most Japanese businessmen must feel how small we are compared to him. When I was 32 years old, I was a sales leader of small group in department store, and struggled to manage members. Of course I also want to be a great businessmen, but I feel I am not tough enough to do a hostile takeover. There must be my unique way to serve society, and there is not other ways except doing my work best everyday. But I dream it must be fun if we have ICHIROYA JAPAN TRAVEL, ICHIROYA AIRLINES, ICHIROYA HOTEL GROUP and so on like Virgin group!
Recently I got an old book about cotton textiles. It is published in Showa 6 (1932), and has many fabric samples are added. I have not read it all yet, but I come to know some interesting things about kasuri. In Taisho period(1912-1925) and early Showa period(Showa:1926-1989) raw cotton was imported mainly from India and USA. That book says how the prices are determined compaired to the market price of New York. Raw cotton was imported from USA, and spun in factories and sent to kasuri product center. I knew the Kurume kasuri was made of spun yarn, but I didn't know the material came mainly from India and USA. When we send our a vintage kasuri to the customers in USA, how interesting story she has! She was born in cotton field in USA around the Great Depression, and crossed the Pacific Ocean. She was spun in a factory, and sent to Kurume in Kyusyu region. She might be hand woven by a prisoner ( the book says approx 40% of Kurume kasuri was woven in prison at that time), and became a men's kimono. She had to be sent to the big city like Tokyo or Osaka, and displayed at a store. An university students bought her, and wore her frequently. A few years later, he had to go to the war against her home country, and he died. His mother sold personal effects, and she(kasuri) became to be owned by another man. Fashion changed, and he became not to wear her often, and she came to sleep long time in the drawer of a house. After 40 or 50 years later she was awaked, and offered at a kimono auction. We won her, and took pictures of her, and offered at our web site. She was bought by a customer i!n USA, and we sent her back by air mail. After 70 years trip, she came home, and next she will become a material for new owner's handicraft. I feel it is amazing--it is really a wonder. I wonder how you feel about it.I came to know some other interesting points from that book.* Almost all Kurume kasuri were dyed with natural ai at that time. But Iyo kasuri( in Shikoku region) were dyed with natural and synthetic dyestuff at that time.* Kasuri of Sai'in district ( Kurayoshi Gasuri, Yumihama Gasuri and Hirose Gasuri ) were also mainly woven with spun yarn. But for the highest quality request, they used hand spun cotton, which was produced in that district. But it seems very rare. We sometimes came across Yumihama Kasuri which seems to be hand spun, they must be from Meiji priod(1868-1912) or earlier. Cotton had been produced from Edo period domestically, but in early Showa period or Taisho period, almost all cotton were replaced by imported spun yarn.* At that time already printing technique was developed, and the book says printed kasuri fabrics became to have high quality and were very popular to customers. From a distance they look as if the pattern was woven. ( We sent a printed fabric as kasuri to a customer by mistake - we are very sorry for our carelessness. We bought a loupe with high power today!) Thank you for reading to the end. We will write more if we get more interesting information. Today we are going to list some kimono, antique flag and some bolts. We will list them about five hours later from now. We are very happy if you could check them.
**We are sending Ichiroya News Letter - the information of new arrivals and bargains. If you would like to join our mailing list, please visit here:http://www.ichiroya.com/~webichiroya/mail/join.htm
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

No84

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 84.Today I saw ume blossoms are blooming from the window of train, at first in this year. Ume blossom front finally has reached here! Only a few days ago it snowed , but really spring is just around the corner.Today I would like to write about 'Bussannten', which is the very popular event of department store. 'Bussan' means 'products', and 'ten' means 'fair'. So when a department store gathers and sells products from Italy, it is ordinary said 'Italia Bussan-ten' ( Italian Products Fair). Nowadays many Bussanten of various districts of Japan are very popular. Of course people like the Bussanten of foreign countries, but department stores don't afford to have them in these days.Please see a Japan map again here.http://www.digi-promotion.com/tokyo-info/info-maps-japan.htmlJapan is a small country, and mainly made of four islands. It is divided to nine regions, and made of 47 prefectures. Our office is in the Osaka, middle of Honsyu island. If we drive to north direction, we will reach Tokyo in about 12 hours, and Aomori$B!!!J(Bnorthernmost$B!!(Bcity in Honsyu) in about 24 hours(without rest). Our land is very small especially in the modern times, but it has long length vertically. And in the age of walk and horse ride land could not be said small, and each regions had born various traditions - different dialects, foods, cooking, folk music, handicraft, art, dancing, festivals and so on. Hokkaido is the northernmost$B!!(Bregion, and in the cool-temperate zone, and the southeast island Okinawa is in the subtropical zone. So the lives of these two districts are quite different. So if department store have Bussanten, people come to enjoy various products of rural districts. And in rural districts there are not enough job, so eventually pe!ople come to big cities like Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. They also come to such events, because they enjoy tastes of their hometown.As I wrote in previous mails, I was a manager of sales promotion division of Daimaru department store in Osaka. I experienced several kinds of Bussanten. Hokkaido Bussanten, Kyusyu Bussanten, Shikoku Bussanten, Shimane Bussanten, Takayama Bussanten and so on. We invited many restaurants, food stores and handicraft makers, who were popular at those districts. Ordinarily Bussantens were sponsored by each 'Bussan Kyokai'( associations of producers), and they organized sellers by themselves. But if department stores only accept sponsor's idea, all Bussanten in various department stores become same events. So we had been tried to make our Bussanten special by approaching with new ideas. My best contribution to Bussanten was at Hokkaido Bussanten. I planed special event named 'Hokkaido Special Auction!" ( We offered unique big items like as auctions - full rice from one paddy field, huge kelp, giant pumpkin and so on). Publicity campaign went well, and TV clues came and broadcas!ted at TV news. From that day, customers dramatically increased, and sales volume became nearly double.I also had been a buyer of Japanese table ware department, so I knew better about crafts goods than foods.I met many craftsmen and visited their workshops and studio.. Most of them succeeded their fathers in the family business, which came down from olden times. They were stubborn and manly men. One day when we are holding Shimane Bussanten, a case occurred. A young man took the knife which was displayed at a store and injured a lady with its knife. The case happened far away from our store, and we have nothing connected to that case. At that time we invited a traditional knife maker(and seller) from at Shimane prefecture, and he was selling his knives with displaying on the tables. My boss ordered me to let him put his knives into the glass closed display cases. Ordinarily department store side has full authority to the sellers. I hesitated, but went to say what my boss ordered. He answered with piercing look. 'I am a professional. I NEVER let anyone strange touch my knives.' And he grabbed away my arms swiftly, as if he was a master of martial art. 'Don't worry about it.' It' s a true story. I returned to my boss, and said as he said. Basically many craftsmen in rural district were in economic grievances because of the offensive of manufacturing products. They were trying to produce the modern items with their traditional techniques, but their trials seemed to be not easy. A honesty urushi maker told me at his old house and workshop how he was planing his new items. But I felt his idea was too conservative for modern people in cities, and tried to convey my impressions. But difference between the ordinary lives of rural district and cities was difficult to convey him.
I enjoyed my works, and I thought my work contributed quite a lot to our store. But later we became to have cut expenses. Bussanten costed many expenses, for examples journey expenses of sellers and cost for making temporary restaurants. And it could not said to sale efficiently if we compared to fashion items. But Bussanten attracted many customers to our stores, and once they came into our store, they also bought other items in other floors. Management personnel ordered to stop holding some Bussanten and other sales events and cut expenses. Some bosses and staffs said my works were necessary evil, and had to stop to pay needles expense immediately. At a time management personnel ordered reduce the inefficient department like home furnishing and housewares. Both of my careers became useless at my company when I was 40. And I quit my job. Sorry it is another story. But recently I find some articles which says how Bussanten attract people and contribute to the department sto!re. Anyway, sales of department stores is declining for more than several years, and they can not find ways to increase their sales. There are many problems in the department type of operation.
Thank you for reading to the end. Today we have listed some beautiful fukusa, kimono and bolts. We are very happy if you could check them. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0228Tomorrow I attend a big auction in Kyoto. We will win lots of valuable kimono for you! Thank you again.
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

No83

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News LetterNo.83.Yesterday I went to Kyoto to attend an auction, and I saw pink ume blossom buds in the garden of a shrine. Chill seems to pass a peak, and we feel spring is at the corner. I was a river fishing crazy several years ago, and I used to long the March 1, when the prohibition of trout fishing was lifted. I used to go fishing as soon as possible with taking off from work. In early March the mountains are still covered with snow, and trouts are still blackish and thin for the over yearing. But Japan is small, and there are too many fishing crazy here. So we have to go fishing early if we want good catch. Most of trouts are fished early in spring, and survivors become extremely careful for the anglers, and difficult to be fished.
In this morning we ( Ichiro & Yuka) went to see an old house. We are looking for a house to be rented. Our ideal house is as below.- A few extra Japanese rooms for our customers. We must be very happy if we can rent extra rooms during their travel to Japan.- It is not so far from our office, and cars can be parked more than 2. Our daughters must go to schools around an hour. - Not new one. Old Japanese style house is better. I imagine it must be fun if the house has irori fireplace!-It is in the forest or rice paddy, and I can listeni to jazz with full sound volume.Today we were introduced to an old house very near our office. We were very astonished to hear that such old house existed near our office, and went with a staff of real-estate company. It was very good old house may be from mid Showa period. Incredibly thick wooden beams, Japanese style garden, huge entrance, wooden corridor and staircase, very high ceiling, large Japanese tatami room, which seemed we could offer two rooms for our customers. It is made of traditional Japanese house style, and antique goods and kimono fit well. I am very interested in that house, but Yuka said what I also felt.She said if this house was in the rural district, and we were allowed to make full makeover, we might be able to live in this house. But as it was, we couldn't live. Just front of the gate, busy road runs, and one side also faces railroad. Outside is noisy, and we must not be able to relax with windows open. Our search for a dream house went back to the start.
Today I would like to introduce you sarasa book made by Horiuchi san again. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=70259 Sarasa is the cotton fabrics, which has exotic dyed pattern. There are two kind of textiles which seem not to be familiar to our customers abroad. One is antique chirimen silk, and another is sarasa. As our customers already know, chirimen is crepe silk, and they have very soft touch. Most valuable chirimen is called 'Edo chiri', which is especially thin and has soft touch. Some of them has very fine elegant dyed(or embroidery) pattern, and is very good material for kimono dolls. If you attended kimono dealer's auction, you must had been astonished to see how the auction heated when supreme chirimen were offered. Sometimes winning price of rare chirimen kimono rises more than 2000 USD. Dealers sell them to kimono doll makers or craftsmen who make chirimen accessories. Antique good edo chirimen is completely different from recent crepe silk, and the price can be understood.Sarasa means 'chintz', cotton fabrics with exotic dyed patterns. As same as in Europe, in olden times cotton textile was not ordinary, and especially red dyestuff on the cotton, and had full washing fastness. India invented chintz-dyeing technique more than 2000 years ago, and in medieval days Indian sarasa-chintz was imported to Europe and Japan. It was around 16 - 17 centuries, and people loved them. It was the ages of samurai ( Edo period or earlier), daimyo and rich merchants competed to collect them. They were so valuable, imported sarasa textile ( called 'watarai') were used for small bags for tea ceremony goods('shifuku') and tobacco case. At tea ceremony, besides the mind of hosting every tools are selected to entertain guests. People must had astonished and entertained vivid colors and exotic pattern of sarasa, which had atmosphere of unknown countries. After mid of Edo period, sarasa became to be made also in Japan. Nagasaki, Sakai and also in Kyoto, sarasa was mad!e. At that time patterns were stenciled, and often used for futon cover or furoshiki of wealthy people. At the kimono auction, sometimes antique sarasa fabrics are offered. Especially imported sarasa are traded at very expensive prices. At small auction in Kyoto which I attend a few days ago, several men's cotton sarasa kimono were offered, ( they are made in Taisho period(1912-1925) or early Showa period) and they were priced from ten thousand yen to fifty thousand yen. If you would like to know more about sarasa, Horiuchi san's sarasa book is exceptionally good materials. Horiuchi san is a famous kasuri collector, and she also has exceptionally good taste for antique fabrics. We can enjoy the various charms of sarasa with this book. During her career, she have been collecting sarasa too. Now we have only one book, but if there are multiple request, she says she can make more with her collections. If possible, we would like to let you know the charm of vintage sarasa with Horiuchi san's help.
Thank you for reading to the end. Today we will list threads ball, fukusa, sakiori obi, maru obi, other obi and bolt. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0221
Thank your for reading to the end. We wish you a nice Sunday!
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

No82

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan. This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No82It is becoming less cool these days. I don't see ume blossom this year yet, but flowering front of ume blossom is coming up from south district. Japan is a long island vertically, so it always takes three months that the front travels up through Japan. Here in Osaka, wearing ume blossom motif kimono must be most fashionable. We are longing the coming of spring, and ume blossom is the forerunner of spring. So if we come across the full bloom of ume blossom in kimono, it will inspires our anticipation. ( But how beautiful the ume blossom in kimono is, it never won against real bloom of ume. It is said that in the full bloom of seasonal flowers, those flowers motifs shouldn't be used for kimono.)
As I wrote in previous mails, our elder daughter is having entrance exams of university in these days. She is still thinking about her career options. Her father also couldn't make up his mind at the same age, and it was far later 45 years old when he found his own way. Considering the genetic quality, it will be no wonder. From 19 years experience as a employee, I advice to my daughters that they should learn some abilities, which will make them possible to be independent person. For example, if people can use two foreign languages besides Japanese, they must be able to earn by themselves. And if they want to be more than translators or teachers, they will be able to do according to their efforts and abilities. But daughters don't feel the unglamorous efforts to learn foreign language interesting. I know I was a hopeless idiot when I was 20's, so I know it is difficult to let them learn what I know.
Some customers may wonder how old kimonos are collected to our market. We mostly buy our kimono through kimono auctions for dealers, and sometimes we buy directly from ordinary people or bridal costumes rental companies, and sometimes buy from 'ubudashi-ya'. 'Ubu' means 'first', and 'dashi' means 'get', so the whole meaning is 'seller who get kimono from ordinary people(not from kimono dealer)'. Only a few years ago, most ubudashi-ya sold their kimono at temple market. So we used to wait in front of their shops very early in the morning to find bonanza. Ubudashi-ya san didn't know well about the market prices, so we could find many items which marked lower prices compared to market prices. But recently most of them sell their items at kimono auctions, because at auctions they don't need to wonder about their pricing. Dealers evaluate Ubudashi-ya san's kimono better than other kimono dealers's ones. Because most of other sellers kimono(which are offered at dealer's auction) !must have been displayed to customers, and did not sold. I have several friends of some ubudashi-ya san. One friend get kimono like this way. He is a tall gentleman in his 40's, with very gentle smile. He is selling used and very cheap western clothes for old ladies at supermarkets of rural district. He sells them at very low prices, and becomes friends with old ladies. And he asks them to give or sell their already-not-worn kimono. His way is very sophisticated. There are many ubudashi-ya san, who advertise with medias say' We buy your kimono at high prices'. But most people who respond such messages demand very too high prices for their kimono. His way is completely different. He collects kimono with giving benefits and joys to old ladies.Very near our office we have one more friend who gets kimono from ordinary persons. He owns a recycling company, and mostly works for local government. For examples recycling of plastics and so on. He takes all disused article, and sometimes he is asked to take everything of an old house. He carries out all items from tansu(drawer), dolls, electronic products and others. He sometimes pay some money for them, but sometimes he demands money for recycling.And once a month he holds a junk market at his warehouse. He sells everything he got through his ordinarily works. It is always very crowded, and in these days he must hire five private security guards for car guidance. Most of his kimono are junk, but sometimes they include very valuable kimono like chirimen. Before he came to know me, he sold every kimono only at 200yen ( 2 USD )! Many customers used to come from very far to get such bonanza. But now I advice him the market prices, and I select valuable ones and sell them at auctions. He is in his 50', and has topknot in his head, and looks a character. Different from his appearance I came to know he was a way adventurer. He makes a trade sign of himself(like a manga character) for advertising, and recently he made a sign of his full size body! Secretly he adds some items to his market from antique goods dealers, to raise the sales volume. Last year he held a large party at a first class hotel in Osaka city, to serve his !customers. He invited many his customers for free.There are many interesting stories about ubudashi. We will write more in future.
Today we have listed unique pattern kasuri, objime obiage set, haori and many bolts. We are very happy if you could check them. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0214
Have a nice winter Sunday! Spring is right around the corner!
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

No81

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA'S News Letter No.81.Do you enjoy peak of winter season? Here in Japan, a few days ago big chill had come, and we had snow also in Osaka. We rarely have snow, and we don't prepare for snow, so in the morning we had major traffic jam everywhere. I came to our office very early in the morning by motorcycle in the heavy snowfall. I drove slowly with full care, but at very near our office I fell on the snowpacked road. I was running very slowly, and it was like slow motion, and I was safe. But at the beginning of our office time, half of our staffs could not reach here because of traffic jam. I went to Niigata district two days ago, and I saw very thick snow on the roofs of houses. I heard that about 10 people died by the accident during snow removal. I asked a taxi driver why the people had to died, Even if they fell from high roofs to grand. I wondered there had to be thick pile of snow there, and it had to soften the impact. The driver told me they died by asphyxiation. 'If you fall into the a m!eter pile of snow, you can not escape by alone, and snow shut your mouth and noise, and kill you.' Niigata is in the Hokuriku district, and famous for its heavy snow. And Niigata is also famous for its asa textile, called Ojiya.Their lives in olden times had to be more severe than I can imagine from now. And I can not help admire their endurance and stamina, which made possible to create supreme textiles in that severe life.
By the way, recently I came across a book at a antiquarian bookshop. Its title is 'Gensyoku-sensyoku-daijiten', which means ' Original color- dyeing and weaving - dictionary'. It is 1200 pages with many color photos, and cover all topics and words about Japanese textiles. It was issued in 1977, and went out of print, and it is said to be best exhaustive book about Japanese textiles. About two years ago, I heard about this book from a kimono seller, and I looked for it, but I couldn't. I was very pleased to find it, and thought about him, who passed away a year ago.
When we started our business, we didn't have enough knowledge about kimono textiles, and we didn't have enough merchandise resources. At that time we often went to Toji and Kitano temple to buy merchandise. At Toji temple I came to know Kanzawa san, whom I am going to write about. He was an old man bent with age, looked mid 70's. I don't know how old he was, but some of his fingers were also bent, and seemed to feel languid to do everything. He had curl hair, and had a charming face like aged Kewpie! It is not exaggeration. Although he wore a far-sighted glasses, if Kewpie got old, he had to be like Kanzawa san. I liked his smile from bottom of my heart. He had more than 50 years experience in kimono business, and knew almost everything about vintage and antique kimono. We bought many kimono from him, and asked him about their history and textiles. Not only we bought from him, he always opened my baggages, which we bought from other sellers, and gave us explanation about the!m. And we were often scolded that we paid too much money compaired to market price. He was very kind to us, but at a time he was easily offended if customers done bad manners. For example, no care about merchandise, no care for wet umbrella in rainy day, demand for too much discount and so on. He sold at temple markets, but also had a store in Himeji. His shop was in the very old and desolate commercial avenue. Sometimes I went his store, and dug among the huge piles of kimono. Kimono were piled also out of his shop, and I wondered if someone stole them during night, but he said no one won't take them. And in addition during night or his absent time neighbors left kimono or antique goods in front of his store. While I was at his store, people came and asked him how much he could pay about left items. When I went to buy uchikake, he took me to other stock places. It was an old wagon car, a dog was tied and slept under it. The car seemed not to be able to run anymore, and was filled with lots of uchikake! Next time I took to another ordinary house near his store, which was also filled with kimono.He was well-respected by all sellers, and his shop in temple market was always crowded. Later I became to attend a same auction with him, and I rarely won against him. He was an extremely strong bidder, and had enough good customers. Sometimes he suddenly sent packages of kimono to some sellers, with pricing calculations. Always he said you might take only you wanted, and sent back the rest of them. Prices were not low to make profit easily. But we owed him a lot, and took as much as we could. It was not only for us. I heard a very experienced seller said that she tried to buy as much as she could because she wanted to get recognition as a power seller from him. One day I asked him whether we should pay tax although we had just started our business. He said I shouldn't pay tax, if I made some profit. 'Paying tax is too early for you!' He hated our government, and never trusted them. He told me how government led people to reckless war (WWII) under the name of Emperor. I was astonished by his heat when he talked about government. Later I came to know he was a chairman of chamber of commerce of Himeji, which Japanese Communist Party had influence on. I don't know if he had individual experiences of WWII, but there is no doubt that he was convinced anti-authority man.He passed away the next day of Toji temple market. He sold at there as usual.At that night he said he got tired, and went to bed. Next morning he became cold. One day I asked him many topics about kimono, and was taking a note as usual. It had to be too long time although I didn't notice. Finally Kanzawa san took my note and said. ' You must buy this book, and read it!' He wrote the name of book with trembling fingers.
Dear Kanzawa san! At last I got that book! We will study more and more about kimono and Japanese antique goods. And I will become a good seller like you to my last day as you did.
Today we have listed many furisode, kurotomesode karinui, ranru and silkbolt. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0207Have a nice winter Sunday!
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

No81

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA'S News Letter No.81.Do you enjoy peak of winter season? Here in Japan, a few days ago big chill had come, and we had snow also in Osaka. We rarely have snow, and we don't prepare for snow, so in the morning we had major traffic jam everywhere. I came to our office very early in the morning by motorcycle in the heavy snowfall. I drove slowly with full care, but at very near our office I fell on the snowpacked road. I was running very slowly, and it was like slow motion, and I was safe. But at the beginning of our office time, half of our staffs could not reach here because of traffic jam. I went to Niigata district two days ago, and I saw very thick snow on the roofs of houses. I heard that about 10 people died by the accident during snow removal. I asked a taxi driver why the people had to died, Even if they fell from high roofs to grand. I wondered there had to be thick pile of snow there, and it had to soften the impact. The driver told me they died by asphyxiation. 'If you fall into the a m!eter pile of snow, you can not escape by alone, and snow shut your mouth and noise, and kill you.' Niigata is in the Hokuriku district, and famous for its heavy snow. And Niigata is also famous for its asa textile, called Ojiya.Their lives in olden times had to be more severe than I can imagine from now. And I can not help admire their endurance and stamina, which made possible to create supreme textiles in that severe life.
By the way, recently I came across a book at a antiquarian bookshop. Its title is 'Gensyoku-sensyoku-daijiten', which means ' Original color- dyeing and weaving - dictionary'. It is 1200 pages with many color photos, and cover all topics and words about Japanese textiles. It was issued in 1977, and went out of print, and it is said to be best exhaustive book about Japanese textiles. About two years ago, I heard about this book from a kimono seller, and I looked for it, but I couldn't. I was very pleased to find it, and thought about him, who passed away a year ago.
When we started our business, we didn't have enough knowledge about kimono textiles, and we didn't have enough merchandise resources. At that time we often went to Toji and Kitano temple to buy merchandise. At Toji temple I came to know Kanzawa san, whom I am going to write about. He was an old man bent with age, looked mid 70's. I don't know how old he was, but some of his fingers were also bent, and seemed to feel languid to do everything. He had curl hair, and had a charming face like aged Kewpie! It is not exaggeration. Although he wore a far-sighted glasses, if Kewpie got old, he had to be like Kanzawa san. I liked his smile from bottom of my heart. He had more than 50 years experience in kimono business, and knew almost everything about vintage and antique kimono. We bought many kimono from him, and asked him about their history and textiles. Not only we bought from him, he always opened my baggages, which we bought from other sellers, and gave us explanation about the!m. And we were often scolded that we paid too much money compaired to market price. He was very kind to us, but at a time he was easily offended if customers done bad manners. For example, no care about merchandise, no care for wet umbrella in rainy day, demand for too much discount and so on. He sold at temple markets, but also had a store in Himeji. His shop was in the very old and desolate commercial avenue. Sometimes I went his store, and dug among the huge piles of kimono. Kimono were piled also out of his shop, and I wondered if someone stole them during night, but he said no one won't take them. And in addition during night or his absent time neighbors left kimono or antique goods in front of his store. While I was at his store, people came and asked him how much he could pay about left items. When I went to buy uchikake, he took me to other stock places. It was an old wagon car, a dog was tied and slept under it. The car seemed not to be able to run anymore, and was filled with lots of uchikake! Next time I took to another ordinary house near his store, which was also filled with kimono.He was well-respected by all sellers, and his shop in temple market was always crowded. Later I became to attend a same auction with him, and I rarely won against him. He was an extremely strong bidder, and had enough good customers. Sometimes he suddenly sent packages of kimono to some sellers, with pricing calculations. Always he said you might take only you wanted, and sent back the rest of them. Prices were not low to make profit easily. But we owed him a lot, and took as much as we could. It was not only for us. I heard a very experienced seller said that she tried to buy as much as she could because she wanted to get recognition as a power seller from him. One day I asked him whether we should pay tax although we had just started our business. He said I shouldn't pay tax, if I made some profit. 'Paying tax is too early for you!' He hated our government, and never trusted them. He told me how government led people to reckless war (WWII) under the name of Emperor. I was astonished by his heat when he talked about government. Later I came to know he was a chairman of chamber of commerce of Himeji, which Japanese Communist Party had influence on. I don't know if he had individual experiences of WWII, but there is no doubt that he was convinced anti-authority man.He passed away the next day of Toji temple market. He sold at there as usual.At that night he said he got tired, and went to bed. Next morning he became cold. One day I asked him many topics about kimono, and was taking a note as usual. It had to be too long time although I didn't notice. Finally Kanzawa san took my note and said. ' You must buy this book, and read it!' He wrote the name of book with trembling fingers.
Dear Kanzawa san! At last I got that book! We will study more and more about kimono and Japanese antique goods. And I will become a good seller like you to my last day as you did.
Today we have listed many furisode, kurotomesode karinui, ranru and silkbolt. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0207Have a nice winter Sunday!
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

No81

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA'S News Letter No.81.Do you enjoy peak of winter season? Here in Japan, a few days ago big chill had come, and we had snow also in Osaka. We rarely have snow, and we don't prepare for snow, so in the morning we had major traffic jam everywhere. I came to our office very early in the morning by motorcycle in the heavy snowfall. I drove slowly with full care, but at very near our office I fell on the snowpacked road. I was running very slowly, and it was like slow motion, and I was safe. But at the beginning of our office time, half of our staffs could not reach here because of traffic jam. I went to Niigata district two days ago, and I saw very thick snow on the roofs of houses. I heard that about 10 people died by the accident during snow removal. I asked a taxi driver why the people had to died, Even if they fell from high roofs to grand. I wondered there had to be thick pile of snow there, and it had to soften the impact. The driver told me they died by asphyxiation. 'If you fall into the a m!eter pile of snow, you can not escape by alone, and snow shut your mouth and noise, and kill you.' Niigata is in the Hokuriku district, and famous for its heavy snow. And Niigata is also famous for its asa textile, called Ojiya.Their lives in olden times had to be more severe than I can imagine from now. And I can not help admire their endurance and stamina, which made possible to create supreme textiles in that severe life.
By the way, recently I came across a book at a antiquarian bookshop. Its title is 'Gensyoku-sensyoku-daijiten', which means ' Original color- dyeing and weaving - dictionary'. It is 1200 pages with many color photos, and cover all topics and words about Japanese textiles. It was issued in 1977, and went out of print, and it is said to be best exhaustive book about Japanese textiles. About two years ago, I heard about this book from a kimono seller, and I looked for it, but I couldn't. I was very pleased to find it, and thought about him, who passed away a year ago.
When we started our business, we didn't have enough knowledge about kimono textiles, and we didn't have enough merchandise resources. At that time we often went to Toji and Kitano temple to buy merchandise. At Toji temple I came to know Kanzawa san, whom I am going to write about. He was an old man bent with age, looked mid 70's. I don't know how old he was, but some of his fingers were also bent, and seemed to feel languid to do everything. He had curl hair, and had a charming face like aged Kewpie! It is not exaggeration. Although he wore a far-sighted glasses, if Kewpie got old, he had to be like Kanzawa san. I liked his smile from bottom of my heart. He had more than 50 years experience in kimono business, and knew almost everything about vintage and antique kimono. We bought many kimono from him, and asked him about their history and textiles. Not only we bought from him, he always opened my baggages, which we bought from other sellers, and gave us explanation about the!m. And we were often scolded that we paid too much money compaired to market price. He was very kind to us, but at a time he was easily offended if customers done bad manners. For example, no care about merchandise, no care for wet umbrella in rainy day, demand for too much discount and so on. He sold at temple markets, but also had a store in Himeji. His shop was in the very old and desolate commercial avenue. Sometimes I went his store, and dug among the huge piles of kimono. Kimono were piled also out of his shop, and I wondered if someone stole them during night, but he said no one won't take them. And in addition during night or his absent time neighbors left kimono or antique goods in front of his store. While I was at his store, people came and asked him how much he could pay about left items. When I went to buy uchikake, he took me to other stock places. It was an old wagon car, a dog was tied and slept under it. The car seemed not to be able to run anymore, and was filled with lots of uchikake! Next time I took to another ordinary house near his store, which was also filled with kimono.He was well-respected by all sellers, and his shop in temple market was always crowded. Later I became to attend a same auction with him, and I rarely won against him. He was an extremely strong bidder, and had enough good customers. Sometimes he suddenly sent packages of kimono to some sellers, with pricing calculations. Always he said you might take only you wanted, and sent back the rest of them. Prices were not low to make profit easily. But we owed him a lot, and took as much as we could. It was not only for us. I heard a very experienced seller said that she tried to buy as much as she could because she wanted to get recognition as a power seller from him. One day I asked him whether we should pay tax although we had just started our business. He said I shouldn't pay tax, if I made some profit. 'Paying tax is too early for you!' He hated our government, and never trusted them. He told me how government led people to reckless war (WWII) under the name of Emperor. I was astonished by his heat when he talked about government. Later I came to know he was a chairman of chamber of commerce of Himeji, which Japanese Communist Party had influence on. I don't know if he had individual experiences of WWII, but there is no doubt that he was convinced anti-authority man.He passed away the next day of Toji temple market. He sold at there as usual.At that night he said he got tired, and went to bed. Next morning he became cold. One day I asked him many topics about kimono, and was taking a note as usual. It had to be too long time although I didn't notice. Finally Kanzawa san took my note and said. ' You must buy this book, and read it!' He wrote the name of book with trembling fingers.
Dear Kanzawa san! At last I got that book! We will study more and more about kimono and Japanese antique goods. And I will become a good seller like you to my last day as you did.
Today we have listed many furisode, kurotomesode karinui, ranru and silkbolt. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0207Have a nice winter Sunday!
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

No80

Dear Customers & Friends Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.80. In the end of the month we always have auctions every second days. I must leave our office early in the morning on auction day, so I can not list our items in the morning. Before the auction day I stay late at our office and list items in the mid night, and go to bed. I sleep for several hours, and go out for auction very early in the morning. After coming home from auction, usually late at night after long drive with exhaustion. I go to bed immediately after dinner. Next morning I get us early and start listing at 5 a.m.. At 9 a.m. staffs come to our office, and we start our work time. At 5 p.m. staffs end work, and come home, and I stay in the office, and work until mid night to list new items. And next morning I get up early and go out to auction again ----So listing time become random according to auction schedule. These days staffs are trying to write description of the items, so we expect we will become to reduce excess job time. And we are very happy if we can share! more time to get other antique goods like urushi, iron or porcelain items. Today Ms. Mitsuko came to our office. I was a home tutor of her when she was 15 years old, when I was an university student. She didn't memorize history and some other subject, and failed entrance exam in spite of my excellent lessons! Later she worked for a bank after graduation, and became a tax attorney. I didn't notice her ability about figures while teaching, she found it during her experience in the bank. She passed difficult certification exam of tax attonrney with ease! Now she teaches me about tax and account, and sometimes get angry at me about my writing way of cash receipt book and reciept. And sometimes I cannot understand what she is trying to explain about account! She was only a small girl, and was not a good student. Now I am a bad student of her-I feel very stupid in front of her, the position is completely reversed.
February 3 is 'setsubun'. When I was a child, my father and mother threw soya beans with saying 'Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi!". Which means ' Get out of here ogre, please come in happiness!' At setsubun, at the day of the change of seasons negative vibes (ogre) are considered to be born. So people beat them off by soya beans. We opened the windows and doors, and threw beans with shouting. And we could eat beans, which we threw. But father said we were allowed to eat the same number as your age. So father could eat near 40 beans, but I was only allowed to eat 10 and little. What a fun it was to threw beans at each other! I have a younger sister Setsuko, and used to throw beans each other. She was born on Feburary 3, the day of 'setsu'bun, and she was named 'setsu'ko. ( My parents seemed to have used easy association to name their babies!). These days we didn't throw beans, and it may be because our family doesn't have little children any more.Recently Yuka served 'hutomaki(ehomaki)' at setsubun day. She said eating hutomaki was the tradition, but my family didn't have such tradition and I am wondering what it was. http://www.sej.co.jp/news/h17kami/010701.htmlIt is said that if we eat them directly as it is without cut or tear partly, in paticular direction 'eho', happiness will come. A few days ago, I read an article about hutomaki, and everthing added up. It was really a tradition in small district in Kansai. Recently sushi and dried laver seaweed market( or convenience store ) promote their products by spreading this tradition to all over Japan. It was the similar situation to the chocolate at Valentaine's Day in Japan. Sushi is everyone's favorite and eating sushi in such wild way(without cutting) is a lot of fun, so I think this `quite new' tradition will remain and become a real tradition of whole Japan.
Thank you very much for reading to the end. Today we have listed some cotton, obi, rare firemen's jacket, fabulous susohiki for geisha and bolt. Most rare item is an antique samurai jinbaori. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0131
Have a nice Sunday!
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

No79

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.79.Here in Osaka, we have cold days as before. When I come office very early morning by bike, I wear a leather jacket on a down jacket, and I still wear fleece sweater in side. Difficult to imagine, but customers in south hemisphere must enjoy hot summer days!As I wrote in my previous news, we bought a big wagon car a few month ago. We came to be able to carry lots of package, and we don't need to hesitate to buy big bundles at auctions. But now I notice that our office space is becoming not to have enough space for packages. These days we must put some packages at the aile out of our office. Yesterday I burn out, and started to get them straight. Until late evening Yuka and I check the stocks, and we separated approx a third of stocks. We decided to sell them at bundles, and reduce the stocks and make more room for new kimono. We made some bundle box and set for our customers. Maybe those box will be good for customers who use them as material for handicraft, or sell their customers as material.If you are interested in bundles, please check them, and please help to reduce our huge stocks! ( We will list them tomorrow.)
Several days ago, I got three old book about fukusa. As you may already know, fukusa is Japanese gift cover, and has fabulous embroidery ( or woven or dyed) patterns on it. We are very interested in fukusa, because it is small, but its handwork are incredibly elaborate and designs are so artistic. Now I am reading these books, and studying about fukusa more, but as far as I come to know, I would like to write some basic topics here. Fukusa is like this one.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=59340
Fukusa is used to cover present when people give present formally. In older times there were many conventionalities, and fukusa had been ordinarily used. But nowadays we rarely use fukusa. We use only for very imporant events like marriage.I have never used fukusa or had for using. But old days conventionalities were very important, and when people present something, they put their hearts into gifts as formal methods. When people present something, they put their gift on tray, and cover with fukusa. When present cooking, they used multitiered box ( 'jyu-bako'), and cover them with fukusa ( so fukusa is also called 'jyu-kake'). There were some ways to put fukusa, and ways changed from age to age - put fukusa on gift with stretch its pattern side.- fold fukusa ( two sides of fukusa are turned under) and put it on the gift.- fold each sides to the center and put it on jyu-bako. It is to avoid being stained with food. In the manner, the patterned part is inside ( and can not be seen ), so a ceremony to see the hidden pattern became necessary ).- fold in quarters with the pattern side inside, and make the the lower right corner pattern(of the wrong side) top. And put it on jyu-bako. Fukusa has often have pattern there as below picture.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/item_images/009/58989/58989-018.JPGUsually fukusa and tray(or jyubako) are returned to the presenters, after presentees enjoy fukusa pattern.
Patterns of fukusa always have meanings. For examples, 'kaioke' is the popular motif in fukusa.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=70908'Kaioke' is a hexagonal container to store clam shells, which are used ancient shell matching game - 'kaiawase'. In the each shells various patterns are painted, and player must look for the pair of shells. Each shells has different shapes(especially joint part), and only original pair match. It calls up suggestions of good couple, and its is emblems of conjugal felicity. So this fukusa was used by bride as emblems of oath of virtue.
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/item_images/009/56433/56433-001.JPGThis fukusa has lobster motifs which is dyed. Large lobster with left head means male god, and small lobster with right head means femal god, and as a whole it means conjugal felicity. Lobster has bending back like old person, so it is added the hope of longevity. Lobster is also a symbol of Ise Shrine. ( 'Ise' is the part of the name of Japanese lobster). So this piece was used at New Year's congratulatory ceremony to wish conjugal felicity, longevity and peace and security of a nation.
Every antique fukusa had special meanings in the pattern, and presenter chose the fukusa according to the occasion. Patterns are from various Gods theme ( like lucky seven gods), Noh plays ( for example popular Takasago motif is from Noh play 'Takasago' http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=70909 Old couple are the Gods of Takasago and Sumiyoshi ), Chinese legends ( dragon's gate and so on), motifs of four seasons of Japan and others. Sometimes patterns are made only the part of the ordinary pattern- for examples a bamboo broom without old man are embroidered, and people got the full meaning of Takasago from it. It could be done in olden times, because folk myth were shared in common. ( Nowadays we are loosing folk myth, so we must study the meanings by book!)So the each fukusa has different meaning, and only can be used in particular ceremony, people had to prepare many different type of fukusa. Kamon(crest) fukusa was made, because it was used in any ceremony. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=69631
There are more many stories about fukusa. I will write more in future. We are very happy if you could check and enjoy our fukusa collections. To see fukusa, please check our search box with words 'fukusa', or from category Interior Display.
Thank you very much to read to the end. Today we have listed some high-end uchikake, shiromuku, haori, ranru and fabrics. Fortunately we have got lots of high-quality uchikake at a time, mabe now we have largest stocks of high-end uchikake. We are very happy if you could check them. Thank you again for your patronage. We wish you a nice winter Sunday!http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0124
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 JAPAN

No78

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan. This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.78.Today our daughter Shoko had an entrance exam of University. Today was the last day of the common primary examination, and I hope she is doing well. I think any results will be good for her life, if she had done best as she could do.
Today I am going to write about 'take'(bamboo). Maybe as you already know, bamboo is one of the very poplar motif of kimono design. If you search 'bamboo' at our site, you can find more than several items always. Form older times bamboo has been familiar to Japanese lives, and thought to be sacred and auspicious. Bamboo rapidly grow, and only within three months length reach 10 meters(40in) high, and in three years it become thick adult bamboo. It is strong to typhoon and strong wind compared to ordinary tree, and rapidly grow than trees. In Japanese design, bamboo is often seen with pine tree and ume blossom. These three set is called 'Shou-chiku-bai'(pine tree, bamboo and ume blossom), and one of the most popular motif in Japanese crafts. Sometimes bamboo are dyed with sparrow ( suzume ), which is called 'take-suzume'. Suzume is most ordinary birds in Japan ( I used to try to catch them with simple instruments, but never caught them!) Tiger('tora') is also often dyed with bamboo, and which called 'take-tora'. Here in Japan, tiger had not lived in nature, and this motif is from China. I like 'yuki-mochi-zasa' motif, which is bamboo with snow. 'Sasa(or 'zasa') means the small or short kinds of bamboo. 'Yuki' means snow, and 'mochi' means 'have', so you may have seen yuki-mochi-zasa motif in Japanese handcrafts.
Bamboo is very familiar to our ordinary life, and more familiar in olden times. When I was a child, I often played with bamboo or in sasa bush. For example, we played 'take-uma'(stilt), which was made of bamboo. http://www-ku.magma.ne.jp/~ark/frame-1.htmlI liked to make and let 'take-tonbo'( bamboo dragonfly) fly, which flew very highly. http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/kosodate/kodomodj/kodomo-files/b-files/b-13/b-13.htmlI learned from mother how to make small boats from sasa leaves, which is called 'sasa bune' ( bamboo leaf boat). There was small clean streams near the neighbourhood when I was a child.http://www.tsubamesanjo-jc.or.jp/kodomo/sasafunenagashi.htmI also made kite and plane with bamboo and papers. 'Take-higo'(bamboo thin rod) can be bended easily with heat, and it is very light, so it is very good material for flying toy. As you imagine, unfortunately today's children don't play like this way ( prefer TV game and others).I did not know but Yuka was very good at take uma(walking on stilts) for her class teacher in her elementary schools made all his students practice take uma until everyone of his class could do.http://www.tnc.ne.jp/oasobi/oasobi02/42takeuma/11.html
Japanese have been used bamboo to make many items. ( Link page is the famous bamboo items shop 'Taketora' in Shokoku district.) hedge, http://www.taketora.co.jp/kaki/sodekaki.htmbench, http://www.taketora.co.jp/koshikake/koshikake.htmbag, http://www.taketora.co.jp/bag/bag.htmFlower basket, http://www.taketora.co.jp/hanakago/hanakago.htm One of the most gorgeous items made of bamboo is 'rantai-shikki', which is woven with thin bamboo rod and covered with urushi. Here is the sample of rantai-shikki. http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~suzumedo/item/59.html
Now I noticed that there are too many stories about bamboo and our lives. And I would like to introduce one more topic, which you must already know if you are a quilt lovers. Bamboo is green, and it will be brown after it is cut. But if dyer boil up bamboo, what color dyestuff do you imagine to get from it? Answer is 'graceful white'. Yoshiko Jinzenji is a famous Quilter in the world, who is Japanese, and have her workshop in Bali. She dyes their fabrics with 'take-zome'(bamboo-dyed) technique, which she originally invented, and makes graceful quilt. When I was a event manager of department store, we had small exhibition of her quilts, and had a chance to talk to her. She is a small old women with silver long hair, and full of incredible energy, as if she was a hsien! I was deeply moved to hear how she came across take-zome. Do you think it is very mysterious and moving that we can get deep white color dyer from vivid green bamboo?Here is her official pages. You must be able to enjoy here.
http://www.google.co.jp/search?q=cache:tWPcfl85POUJ:www.yoshikoquilt.com/+Jinzenji+yoshiko&hl=jahttp://www.yoshikoquilt.com/jp/quest.html
http://japanreview.net/interview_jinzenji.htm
Thank you very much for reading to the end! Today we will list some cotton, kasuri, ranru, kappa, kimono and bolts. We will list them five orfour hours later as usual time. We are very happy to check them later.
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

No77

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.77. Most companies stated from Jan 5th and it seems the cities are getting back to normal.We can see trains and busses are filled with people going to work and more cars are around. I attended an auction few days ago in Niigata, which was the first auction in this year. I got some valuable kimono, and especially we are pleased to get some unique vintage child kimono and cotton rags. We will list cotton rags today, which are from Fukushima prefecture in Tohoku.(For your information, here is a map (Fukushma is #7, Niigata is #is #17 and Osaka is #29 next to Kyoto#25)http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanmaps/l/blprefecturemap.htm: My friend kimono dealer got them from a farmer's stock house, and she sold them at Niigata auction. They are made of cotton, and many parts are repaired with other fabrics. And they are added sashiko stitches all over it. Cotton fabrics are very old, and sashiko stitches seems to be added in mid Showa period(Showa:1926-1989). Some stitches are also worn, and we can know they are repaired long time ago. She lives and has two kimono shops in Fukushima, and she says almost every houses around her had such rags, and they used them as the rag for kotatsu. We think they have similar charm to ranru, but has another different charm. We are very happy if you could check them.
Today I would like to write about antique business. Some antique dealers and I am wondering most antique sellers, regard their work as a kind of GAMBLE. They say--At ordinary transactions I cannot gain large profit, but once or twice a year I gain nearly a million yen at one transaction. For that type of transaction, I continue to work as a antique dealer.--You must be able to sell higher, if you sell this item at the kimono auction.
For me, what they say is same as gamble. Of course it must be exciting experience to get a million profit in a blink of an eye. But if the pleasure of our work is only from that kind of transaction, we must buy and sell common items without any pleasures all the time. I can't imagine I must endure 364 days a year with frustrations. When I say to them that your working style is like buying lottery, they reply they must have special eyes to make such a huge gain. So it is completely different from gamble! I understand what they say, but I don't like that way.Most of them always seem to think 'Who will pay the highest for this item?". And they offer their item to the auction which the potential highest paying customer will attend. In addition before the auction they confirm there will attend some competitors to him(her). At that situation the potential customer must pay high as much as he can to win the competitors. So the selling price will become as highest as possible. But always I am wondering -- Why won't they do the best for their customers?Why will they insist to get large profit at a transaction?Why won't they do as the customers become to like them?Why will they like better 'large profit but low-frequent transaction than ' profit long and frequent moderate transaction?
If buyers feel they are paying too much, they will become to dislike the sellers, and will quit buying from them except the case they have very very rare items the buyers want. But anyway that cases are rare, and their ordinary business will not be fruitful. We always want to do our best service to our customers. If we can sell our items at lower prices, we want to sell to our customers lower than other sellers. It is because we sell our items mainly at our site with fixed price. Some of our popular items may be able to be sold at higher prices at ebay auction, but if we do so, some customers must pay more than we expect. There is a difficulty to collect charming items, if we always buy only at low prices. So we think we must sell and buy at moderate prices always to continue our service. And if we and our all staffs are efficient enough, and eager to make our service better, we believe we can continue to serve you.
Our best pleasure is offering best service. Of course we need profit, but we become happiest when some customers or kimono dealers praised our service and site.We are very sorry if this story is boring to you. But I wanted to write or say this theme someday.
Todays listing will be 6-7 hours later from now. We are very happy if you could check them. We will list some haori, antique kappa, cotton and silk bolts.Thank you for reading to the end! Have a nice winter Sunday!
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

No75-2

Dear Customers & Friends
Happy New Year from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.75.We are very sorry for our holidays of previous week. From today we open our office, and start listing again. We wish we can list more valuable and charming items during this year.
We wish to express our profound sorrow over the suffering and loss of life resulting from the earthquakes and tsunami in South Asia and Africa. I have been to small town of east coast of India, and Phuket. And we might have went afflicted countries for winter vacation, if our elder daughter Shoko doesn't have entrance exam in January. Just same as Indonesia, Japan is also on the plate boundary. We have frequent earthquakes, but we can not imagine such huge tsunami occured and killed such numerous people. News says lots of summer visitors from Western countries are also struck by tsunami. We worry natives of that area, and at a time we are worrying that friends or relatives of our customers may be involved in this disaster.We have donated $1000 to UNICEF Tsunami Relief Effort through Paypal. That money is from your patronage, and which you allowed us as profit to our service. So the money are from Ichiroya and Ichiroya's all customers. We are happy if our money can be little help for victims.
During our holidays, we ( Ichiro & Yuka ) went both parent's houses with younger daughter Mugi. Both parents are already middle of 70s, and they all have some disease. Now they can live independently in their houses, but someday they must become to need more help of us. They are becoming shorter, and becoming like child. We also attended alumni association and met old friends separately. Alumni association I attended is a small gathering of classmates of high school. It continues annually for these 25 years(!) after our graduation (1979). Teacher is 85 years old now, and little bit hard of hearing, but he never be absent from annual gathering. Approx 45 classmates guraduated, two women are dyed by cancer. Brightest student in our class became a doctor, a captain of handball become a product manager of Sony, most ironic student became a professor of famous National University, two students (include me) are running their own business, and so on. During exchanging the latest news about ourselves, I can not help to have complicated feelings.These are all we have done during this holidays. I got a cold at around Christmas, and I didn't have enough passion to go fishing in this cold weather. We only looked some DVD cinema in our room. I looked 'The Last Samurai'. It seemed to bring us many new customers to our men's kimono, mainly through ebay. Queerness of recognition of Japan in this film exceeds my permissible zone, even thought I know it is only the entertainment movie. 'Red Sun'( directed by Terence Young,1971) is way better, if we look for samurai spirit in Western movie. And of course if you have never seen Akira Kurosawa's film, please check ' Seven Samurai''Yojinbou' and other his works!But now I feel that we still have lots of works to be done, to introduce our culture to the world.
Today we have listed rare Kurume kasuri, large ranru, sakiori, unique tiger motif tsutsugaki, and antique shibori kimono and fabrics. We wish you could check them. http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=0104
And if you gave us e-mails, sent money through Paypal and gave new orders during our holidays, thank you very much for your patience to wait for our reply--we will be respondingas soon as possible.domo arigatou gozaimasu
How did you start 2005?We waited and greeted each other when it became January 01 which we usuall do each year and then went to bed.
Those who are born in this year, and who becomes multiples of 12 during this year, you are `toridoshi umare'(born in the year of rooster)and supposed to have special blessing.
We wish all of you a wonderful and joyful 2005, dozo minasama yoiotoshio.
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

No75

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan. This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 75.Christmas is approaching, and how are you? In these days some staffs got off of work for cold, and we had very busy days. We had a year-end party several days ago, and very warmed up with a theme about ICHIROYA's new business. I(Ichiro) have a plan to make and sell the souvenirs of Tondabayashi city, where we live, and which doesn't have special resources for tourism except PL firework. Only firework day half a million people come to our city every year. At the party I came to know that a special kind of yam called 'ebi-imo' are produced in our city, and it can be said a signature agricultural product. I suggested a plan to make 'Ebi-imo-man' character and sell it's key holders and uchiwa(Japanese fan) during the firework season. Half a million people come, and if tenth buy them, sales will be ----. But no one agreed me. All staff claimed ' Ebi-imo-man does no sound cute at all!'. Next day Yoshikawa san(one of our staff) brought ebi-imo cooking to our office, which her father cooked. He owns a sushi restaurant, and heard that I have never eaten ebi-imo,so he cooked some for us to try. We were astonished to eat his dish - it was DELICIOUS! And I asked Yoshikawa san, ' Did your father say something good about my plan?'She answered that he said no comments about that new business. Unique idea is always difficult to be accepted.
In this letter I would like to write some topics about antique fabric, which I learned from Horiuchi san a week ago. Some customers must already know some of them, but I think some will be help
* Black Kasuri is discolored to that color.Natural indigo ai is not easy to dye very dark. So to dye fabrics or threads very dark blue, dyer must dip into ai again and again. To gain the dark color easily, some dyer add chemical ai, and in older times dyer often add 'sumi'(Japanese ink). Some dyers dyed black with sumi at first, and later dyed with ai. If dyed with this process, when it was brand new, it couldn't be distinguished with pure natural dyed color, but later natural ai color discolored, and only black color remain and revealed. People call black color kasuri as 'sumi-zome'( sumi-dyed), and I thought it was intended color before.
* Antique Cotton from Edo(1603-1867) is difficult to be told.I asked Horiuchi san about Edo period cotton. How can we tell them? Silk kimono have some clues, for examples embroidery technique, natural dyestuff colors, size and design. But I thought cotton fabrics didn't have such clues. I know that Kurume Kasuri was born around 1800, so most intricate kasuri cotton fabrics are from after-Meiji(1868-1912), and they can be from ending Edo period. But how about 'shima'(stripe) or solid ai dyed cotton? Horiuchi san says that Edo period cotton is very plain, and it is very difficult to know only look one piece. She showed me photos of Edo fabrics, which have apparent evidence of its age. They seems to be ordinary stripe pattern cotton, and she says they don't have special feature. Cotton from Edo period must be hand-spun, and some kimono dealers say hand-spun cotton is apparent different touch compaired to machine-spun cotton. But Horiuchi san says, 'At first I thought only thick-threads-soft-touch cotton is hand spun, but later I came to know people in Edo period could spun and woven thin cotton similar to later machine-spun cotton. ' If apparently chemical and too-vivid colors threads are included, it can be known its age. If not so, they are difficult to know their age.Horiuchi san recommends me, ' when you have a chance to get fabrics, which have evidence of its age, you had better keep them as reference data.
*Feature of Kasuri of San'in district In San'in district, there were two kasuri product centers - Yumihama Kasuri and Kurayoshi Kasuri. Yumihama's feature is hand-spun and hand-woven soft kasuri, and Kurayoshi Kasuri were more commercially produced. Yumihama kasuri sometimes contains brownish threads, which were not appropriate for products. Origins are same, but Kurayoshi was industrialized earlier than Yumihama. Horiuchi san showed me one contemporary Yumihama kasuri bolt, which is pattern sample fabric. It includes many kasuri patterns in one bolt. It is fabulous kasuri! She recommended me to visit its weaver before. But she came to know its weaver didn't weave kasuri for kimono now. They only weave kasuri for obi now, and if we ask them to weave that bolt now, it will cost near 2000 USD for a bolt.
Some customers might be wondering if Christmas is celebrated in Japan.It is celebrated and people enjoy decorations and exchanging gifts. Not many people go to church but there are churches in Japan too.
http://sasage.hp.infoseek.co.jp/
Today is 19th, and it is already difficult to send our items before Christmas. And we are sorry but we will close our store from Christmas 26th December to 3th January for winter vacation.Third year of ICHIROYA is ending with enough success. We don't have enough words to thank you for your patronage.
We wish all of you a happy holiday season.
*Today we will list new items several hours later. Please check new kimono, fukusa and fabric later.
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

No74

Dear Customers and Frineds
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 74.Today is very clam Sunday. I (Ichiro) unfolded the vintage futon at the park space, and unsewn the stitches. He(futon) is very very old one, and was stained a lots and has many tears. I got him at a small kimono auction holded in rural district. He was too stains, tears and holes, so all bidders turned away their faces. He was also very large ( because the full futon size! ), there seemed not to be bidder to him. I bid and won him at low price, and carried to my office. But also at my office, all staffs and Yuka turned away their faces. I brought him to my home, and threw into the bathtub. I poured water, and threw lots of abluent to it, and waited one night. Next morning, water became BLACK(!) and smelled badly. I rolled up sleevs of my shirts, and pulled the plug off. After the black water ejected, I poured the water again and pushed him again and again. I repeated this way several times, but water became BLACK again and again, and he was too thick to be squeezed the wate!r out. Finally I gave up, I tried to carry him to veranda to dry. How heavy it was, futon contained full water! I carried it across a living room, with many drops of brown waters on the floor. I hurried to wipe them before Yuka found them. He had been in veranda for a few month. He took a long time to dry, and rains sometimes wetted him again. Yuka complained ' You should get rid of it from veranda soon'. But I said, 'He must include valuable antique cotton insides, please wait a little more. I will unsewn the stitches, and beat out!'. I had been busy, and I couldn't implement my commitments soon. From a month ago, for the facelift of our condominium, we became to leave anything at veranda. I had to bring him into our living room, and he was there for this month. We ate dinner and watched TV besids him. The real life of antique kimono dealer, it is!A few days ago, I went to Horiuchi san's house. She showed me some of her collections. I learned a lots about antique and vintage fabrics again from her. On the way driving hom, suddenly I reminded him, and became to think him lovely. 'As I felt when I got him, he must include vaulable antique fabric inside!' So today I brougt him to our office again, and I did an anatomy operation on him at parking space. He was padded heavily, but his pad wasn't batting. All pads were old cotton fragments, which includes katazome, kasuri, shima cotton fabrics. They are like mille-feuille, and I got lots of various cotton fragments. Fabrics seems mainly from Meiji priod(1868-1912), but there may be valuable one from ending Edo period. I packed the fabrics into 3 bags, and threw into our van. I will ask Horiuchi san about his fabrics at an auction we both attend. What an exciting experience to open vintage futon! Now I only found one beautiful kasuri fabric, and several fantastic katazome fabrics from him, but there may be more. Landlord of our office looked me, but he didn't show any interest to him and me. If we find some valuable pieces, we will let you know the story again! Today we have listed kasuri collection from Horiuchi san. As some customers already know, Horiuchi san is very famous kasuri collector. I asked her to sell some of her large Kurume kasuri collection, which she showed on hear books. But she says she can't, because many people ask her to lend them to their exhibition. But she says she is arranging her collection and stocks, so she can sell small fragments of kasuri collection. Today we have listed some kasuri collection from Horiuchi san. She also showed us 'Vintage Sarasa Fabric Collection Book'. She made it with her huge collection of her, if it sells at her inteneded price, she says she can make more. It's sarasa book is exceptionally beautiful. Please check it.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=1213http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=70259
We also listed rare antique 'shima-cho', antique cotton sample book. We have 4 in stocks, and one is from Horiuchi san. They are very rare, and very interesting to know the antique cotton fabrics.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=1213
Sashiko banten, we have listed today, is