2026 Kimono Challenge [4/23] To the Cinema in Kimono - 'Toritsukare Otoko' (The Man Who Was Possessed)

For the past month, I've been completely overwhelmed by remote caregiving for my mother, struggling to manage my adolescent son, and busy with various extracurricular activities for my daughter, leaving me with absolutely no energy to post on note... I did my best, me. (Since no one praises me for family care work, I praise myself.)
My energy has finally returned.
Here is a record of an outing in kimono that I managed to pull off out of sheer stubbornness during those tumultuous days.

Date: 2026/1/25 Location: Cineca Omori (Watching the movie 'Toritsukare Otoko')

The reason I chose this kimono for the day

From the day I decided to go see the movie 'Toritsukare Otoko,' I somehow felt like I wanted to wear this kimono.

This piece features a silver-gray background with a geometric pattern reminiscent of Western architecture. Even though it's traditional Japanese attire, the pattern somehow evokes a European street corner, and I felt it perfectly matched the fairy-tale-like worldview of 'Toritsukare Otoko'.

That's just a post-hoc justification, though. In reality, it's a kimono I received that has quite a few stains, so I thought it would be perfect for a casual Japanese-Western mix, and just right for wearing to a dark movie theater.

The obi is a hanhaba (half-width) obi with patterns on both sides. It looks a bit like autumn grasses, but if you look closely, there are flowers that look like cherry blossoms, so I decided not to worry about it and just use it. I used the crimson side and paired it with the silver-gray kimono, thinking it wouldn't be too drab.

I don't have many obi clips. I chose one with an amber-colored stone that I inherited from my mother to add a touch of warmth.
For my feet, I tried a kimono and boots combination for the first time.
The 'Haikara-san ga Toru' (Smart Miss) style I've always admired. I want to try wearing a hakama someday. (I have worn a kendo uniform before, but that's not what I mean lol)
To balance it out, I added a beret, aiming for a full Japanese-Western mix.

Coordination

• Kimono: Silver-gray background, geometric pattern with Western architectural motifs (I think it's tsumugi, but I'm not sure...)

• Obi: Crimson background with a floral pattern hanhaba obi

• Obiage: None (because it's a hanhaba obi)

• Obijime: Fine white and brown pattern

• Obi clip: Amber-colored stone

• Footwear: Black short boots (with rhinestones on the toes)

• Other: Purple sheer cut-and-sew top, beige beret, gray leggings (for warmth)

Movie 'Toritsukare Otoko'

Today's goal was to watch the movie "The Obsessed Man" screening at Cineca Omori.
Since it was the first time my favorite actor, Hayato Kakizawa, took on a voice acting role, I wanted to see it, but to be honest, the art style wasn't my preference. With my busy days of caregiving and raising children, I kept hesitating about whether to go.

What pushed me to go was the fact that it was a screening with a talk event featuring director Wataru Takahashi and screenwriter Naoyuki Miura. If that was the case, I had to go.

The protagonist of the story is Giuseppe, a young man who becomes completely absorbed whenever he gets hooked on something. After being "obsessed" with things like triple jumping, detective work, and singing, he now falls in love at first sight with Pechika, a girl who sells balloons in the park. It is a strange and heartwarming love story where he struggles alongside his mouse partner, Cielo, to gently solve the sadness hidden in her heart.

To be honest, when I heard the title "The Obsessed Man," I had a slightly creepy impression, wondering if it was a story about a boy unilaterally obsessing over a girl... (Sorry!). But the feeling I had after watching it was completely different. Loving someone means accumulating what you can do for them. That straightforward message hit home, and I felt genuinely warm when I left the theater.

My feelings about the art style also changed after watching it. I thought it wasn't my preference, but I realized it was good precisely because of this art style. I can't put it into words well, but it has a sense of space, or perhaps it expands the imagination. I felt it was the perfect art style for the temperature of the story.

The voice cast was also wonderful. Hayato Kakizawa, who played Cielo, was so natural that you wouldn't think it was his first time voice acting, and his singing performance was, as expected, superb.
What left the biggest impression on me was Toshiyuki Morikawa as Tatan. His overwhelming expressive power, especially his use of "pauses," was amazing... His voice, overflowing with kindness and love, really soaked in.
Moka Kamishiraishi brilliantly expressed Pechika's state of mind, and I thought it was subtle and skillful how her voice changed to become clear and lively toward the end.

At the talk event, Director Takahashi and screenwriter Miura generously shared their thoughts on the work and their passion for their jobs, making it a truly enjoyable time. In a show-of-hands survey of the audience, there were several people who said they had come to see it multiple times.
After watching it, I was convinced that it is indeed a "touching movie."

After the event, the sight of the audience lining up to share their impressions with the director and Mr. Miura was very impressive. The two of them received each person sincerely, and the entire theater was wrapped in a warm atmosphere.

Impressions of wearing it

About dressing

Since it's a Japanese-Western mix, it's a relief that it can be casual! I don't have to pull the collar back, and I don't worry about wrinkles in various places. Sensually, it feels the same as wearing a denim dress with a belt.
I'm so busy "taking care of others" that I went out with the sole desire to wear a kimono, even just a little, to lift my spirits.

Comfort

Because I'm wearing a cut-and-sew top underneath, it's comfortable without the wind from the sides that I often feel when wearing a full kimono. Thanks to the boots, my feet were easy to walk in, and I spent the whole day without stress. I didn't worry about the kimono coming undone either. It was a day where I realized once again the lightness unique to a Japanese-Western mix.

Kimono styles around me

Perhaps because it was a movie theater and due to the nature of the work "The Obsessed Man," I didn't see anyone else in a kimono that day. Going to the movies in a kimono might be rare, but I'm actually a little happy about that.

Environment and climate

Thanks to the Japanese-Western mix with a cut-and-sew top underneath, I was comfortable all day without worrying about the temperature difference. If anyone is hesitating about going out in a kimono in midwinter, I would recommend it!

MVP item

The MVP this time is without a doubt boots! These are boots that I, with wide and high-instep feet, can unusually spend time in comfortably, and they are something I love and wear all the time.

I enjoy wearing kimono as a hobby. My collection consists of a few pieces given to me by my parents, items I've managed to pick up cheaply as a complete amateur through trial and error at second-hand shops, and pieces gifted to me by my tea ceremony mentors. I'm not very knowledgeable about formality or the finer details, so I would appreciate it if you could view my outfits with a kind eye.

Look forward to the next kimono log!