It is the continuation of the last “What kind of dream is Yumeji‘s dream?”

I introduce the impressive contents from the book “Takehisa Yume bi-art book collection” that summarizes Yumeji’s poems and essays, related to the exhibition “Takehisa Yumeji: Master of Japanese Modern Illustration” held at Tokyo Station Gallery until 7/1.

Last time I was talking about poetry, today I pick up “Yukata should wear casually” from the essay.

Many women appear in Yumeji’s paintings, most of them are wearing kimonos and yukata. As expressed in organic lines, the suppleness of kimono and the curvaceous beauty of the women imagined from it are very impressive, Yumeji seems to have been committed about dressing.

As the summer gets closer, the colors of clothes people wear are bright and colorful, so I like the atmosphere where the city is gorgeous.

And speaking of summer clothes in Japan is a Yukata. After the rainy season is over, when the fireworks festival and the Bon Dance festival season comes, we can see many women who wear Yukata. I think that the figure walking narrowly steps with bare feet to clogs is beautiful.

I think that there are many men who feel happy seeing such women but I would like to talk with a big voice. Men’s kimono and yukata are also very nice. Emphasis on glossiness, sexiness, masculinity, dramatic increase in masculinity! And I think it is comfortable to wear. Yukata is cooler than clothes.

I have learned about wearing Kimono, I have learned about the knowledge about kimono as well. It is so much fun to learn for me, and today is about “Edo Komon (a fine pattern)”.

In the Edo period, the patterning of Kamishimo(ceremonial dress worn by feudal lord) is the origin. Feudal lords gradually began to compete with the luxury of that pattern, so that the Edo government regulated to make clothes simple. And Feudal lords began to minutely pattern to look solid from the distance. As a result, the Edo Komon became a dyed product making full use of highly advanced dyeing technology.

The patterns that can be used at each lord have fixed as below.

The three highest ranks
– The House of Tokugawa in Kishu: Shark
– Date clan in Sendai: Gyogi
– Matsumono clan in Shinshu: Kakudoshi

– Shimazu clan in Satsuma: Daisho Arare
– Maeda clan in Kaga: Mansuji/Kikubishi
– The House of Tokugawa: Omeshiju
– Nabeshima clan in Saga: Goma pattern

Meanwhile, the townspeople also began to imitate this Komon, and this seems to have enjoyed the fancy by making detailed items such as daily necessities in close proximity.

I have a conscious desire to wear Kimono once a year, always someone had put my Kimono on because it is hard to wear it by myself. However, I decided to go to school to wear it by myself.

– I would like to wear it beautifully by myself
– I would like to learn about the way of moving
– I would like to learn about itself (history, cultural background, patterns, colors, types etc)

You would be able to wear it if you would like to just “wear” it, but it is not only that. Wearing Kimono also has the side of emotional effects. I was very impressed by my teacher’s spirit of wearing Kimono.