I went to see it! Special Exhibition "KIMONO" & the "Fuyuki Kosode Repair Project" I want to support at the Tokyo National Museum

It was a dazzling, dream-like space, and I truly enjoyed it.
There might never be another chance to see such a super-luxurious lineup of kimonos gathered together for an exhibition at a national museum. That is how precious I felt this exhibition was.


Venue: Tokyo National Museum, Heiseikan (Ueno, Tokyo)
Dates: June 30 (Tue) – August 23 (Sun), 2020
Admission: General 1,700 yen, University students 1,200 yen, High school students 900 yen

◎ Why I decided to go see it

Simply put, I love kimonos, so I wanted to see as many wonderful old kimonos as possible—the kind that can no longer be made today! And to see the real things up close!!! That was all.

Honestly, my schedule was really packed in July and August, so I was quite hesitant about booking tickets, thinking, 'I want to go, but... hmm...'
However, when I looked at the exhibit list, I realized I absolutely had to go see it!!! So, I booked my ticket about four days before I went and managed to squeeze it in.

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◎ What kind of exhibition is it?

It was originally scheduled for April to June, but there was a temporary closure... I was truly happy when it was announced that it would be held with changed dates!

In a word, it is an exhibition where you can fully enjoy 800 years of Japanese culturerelated to kimonosall at once. The number of works on display is also amazing; a total of 294 across the first and second halves!!! The quality and quantity are extraordinary...

Moreover, this is the first time in 47 years that an exhibition on dyeing and weaving has been held at this TNM!
You can tell how precious an opportunity this is. It makes sense, as they must have been putting tremendous effort into planning and preparation for several years in line with the global sports event that was scheduled for the summer of 2020. You could say this level of completeness was only possible because TNM possesses the world's largest kimono collection.
The exhibition structure was truly a masterpiece.

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The exhibition rooms were basically arranged in chronological order and categorized in a rough, easy-to-understand way.

・Originally innerwear (!) Kamakura/Muromachi periods
・Became outerwear decorated luxuriously with dyeing and embroidery Sengoku period
・A wide variety from gorgeous, extravagant pieces to everyday wear enjoyed by commoners Edo period
・Many modern designs were born along with new technologies such as kata-yuzen and meisen Meiji/Taisho periods
・Kimonos are no longer everyday wear Post-war, and modern day

Just because it is a kimono exhibition does not mean they are simply lining up kimonos and obi sashes with explanations.

● Explanation panels that carefully detail basic knowledge of kimonos, such as their original structure and terminology like "kosode," "hitoe," "katabira," "yuzen-zome," and "meisen"
● Displays and explanations of accessories essential to the attire, such as obi-dome and hairpins
● Ukiyo-e prints that convey how people dressed at the time
● Original drawings for advertising posters created by famous artists
● Japanese and Western paintings with impressive kimono-clad figures

A wide range of related exhibits were skillfully incorporated, making it truly worth seeing for everyone from beginners to pros who wear kimonos all the time. TNM's famous masterpiece, Hishikawa Moronobu's "Beauty Looking Back" was also casually on display.

※ I borrowed the image from TNM's official website.

Also,
● Explanations of "iki" (chic/stylish) that was popular in the Edo period
● Firefighter's happi coats with plain indigo-dyed exteriors and bold paintings on the linings
● The culture of playing with patterns on the lining (hakkake) or undergarments that peek out
and so on, which convey how people enjoyed their daily attire. I found myself muttering, 'How nice, that looks fun,' while looking at the exhibits.

By the way, in the Sengoku and Edo period areas, men's kimonos, haori jackets, and accessories like inro cases were also introduced, but about 90% of the exhibition was related to women.

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◎ What is the charm of kimonos according to naomin_0506?

Honestly, the convenience of being able to put them on quickly, take them off, wash them, and care for them easily cannot beat Western clothing.
But the feeling of feeling happy just by looking at them, feeling uplifted just by wearing them, and feeling even happier when people around you are pleased when you go out wearing one! might just boil down to the phrase, wearing a kimono is fun!

I have always loved old things like antiques, and I have also enjoyed wearing yukata and kimono since I was a child.
Therefore, it was a natural progression for me to arrive at "antique kimono" from the Taisho and Showa eras, and for my graduation ceremony at a fashion vocational school, I managed to dress myself in an old kimono I found in Nishi-Ogikubo to attend. It is a fond memory, and I still treasure that kimono today.

I started learning the tea ceremony a few years ago, and kimono have become a part of my daily life once again.
I mainly wear solid-colored kimono, but because they are plain, I find it fun and appealing that I can change the atmosphere in any way I like with the obi.

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For those who want to start enjoying kimono now,I highly recommend it!!!It is truly an easy era to get started in now.
As for myself, regarding the obi and kimono I own,I have actually never bought one brand new.Since I love old things, they are all vintage items that my grandmother and seniors who love kimono cherished and wore.
However, there are many opportunities to be gifted high-quality items that will leave you breathless at surprising prices. The number of used kimono shops has really increased, too. You can also learn dressing techniques on YouTube or through online courses now.

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◎ The "Fuyuki Kosode" Project by the brilliant creator of the era, Ogata Korin

One of the kimono that received particular attention in this exhibition is the "Kosode with Autumn Grass Pattern on White Twill" (Kosode Shiro-ayaji Akikusa Moyo), which is said to have been painted directly with autumn grasses by Ogata Korin himself. It is designated as an Important Cultural Property.

By the way, for those who are thinking, "Ogata Korin? Who is that?", have you ever seen this "Wind God and Thunder God Screens" somewhere? He is the person from the Edo period who painted this. This screen is at the Tokyo National Museum.

Also, the storage box that is shiny and glossy with lacquer, maki-e, and mother-of-pearl inlay was also created by Korin.
This is also at the Tokyo National Museum. And it is a National Treasure.

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Now then, here is the story surrounding this kimono.
Korin, who was active in Kyoto, came to Edo and stayed for a while with the Fuyuki family, a lumber merchant in Fukagawa, and painted directly onto the fabric for the lady of the house. It is commonly known as the "Fuyuki Kosode" (Fuyuki Kosode).

IKKO-san, the public relations ambassador for this exhibition, mentioned in the audio guide that "kimono are wearable paintings". The "Fuyuki Kosode" was truly a top-class painting. It features a calculated, beautiful design unique to Korin, who was born into the Kariganeya kimono merchant family in Kyoto...
It seems that having kimono painted by artists was popular at the time, but I think it was very rare to have one painted by the highly popular creator Korin. Furthermore, in the modern day, it is the only kosode left in its complete form painted by Korin's own hand, so it is an incredibly rare kimono...

I had just been studying Korin and this "Fuyuki Kosode" in my university art history textbook a few days ago, so it goes without saying that I was excited in the exhibition room.

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However, since it is an item from the Edo period... it is quite damaged, so after this exhibition ends, a "Fuyuki Kosode" project to repair it over about two years is planned. Please click here for details.

Not limited to kimono, museum works deteriorate day by day. To pass them on to the future, it is important to continue maintaining them properly. But it takes time and money...

For this project, they are actually collecting donations with a target amount of 15 million yen! During the exhibition period, there is a donation box on the first floor of the Heiseikan along with a replica of the kimono.

There was also a donation box and cute origami! set up on the first floor of the main building. Please do stop by!!!

Also, you can make a donation through the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage donation portal site!

The "Fuyuki Kosode" I saw up close in the exhibition room was truly wonderful, even now, with its use of negative space and limited color palette. I am looking forward to its unveiling after the restoration.

By the way, "Korin designs" were compiled into design sample books called "Hinagata-bon" and became a huge trend in the era after Korin passed away.

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◎ Reunited with that kimono I fell in love with at the Kyoto National Museum!!!

There was another kimono that personally got me very excited.
The "Uchikake with Bird Patterns on Green Shioze Silk" (Moegi Shioze-ji Momodori Monyo Yuzen-zome Uchikake) housed at the Kyoto National Museum is actually on display!!!
I almost cried, thinking I would never be able to see the real thing.

※ I borrowed the image from the Kyoto National Museum collection database.

It is a very gorgeous and auspicious uchikake, with a "hundred birds" design—a collection of exquisite and colorful birds that bird lovers will adore—drawn using yuzen dyeing on a fabric called "shioze".

It is a yuzen-dyed uchikake commissioned as a wedding garment for the daughter of a wealthy Osaka merchant. Centered on a phoenix with its wings spread wide, ninety-nine birds including peacocks, pigeons, chickens, and quails are depicted, and a "hundred birds" composition is completed with the sunrise and red-crowned cranes on the back of the lining. It is said to be based on a sketch by Kono Bairei (1844–1895), who studied the Maruyama-Shijo school at a young age and was active as a central figure in the Kyoto art world in the early Meiji period.

The reason I know this kimono is because I fell in love with it at the Kyoto National Museum museum shop, specifically the memo pad featuring this kimono.

When I visited the Kyoto National Museum, the "Masterpiece Gallery" was closed, so I couldn't enter, but I never expected this kimono to be on a business trip to Tokyo. It was a happy surprise.

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◎ What about the audio guide & merchandise?

I recommend renting the audio guide!
You can use your own cord-type earphones, so please bring them with you.

Inside the venue, each exhibit had quite thorough explanatory text. However, there were so many exhibits, and even though it was by advance reservation, it was fairly crowded... The audio guide might make viewing smoother, as it explains not just individual exhibits but also the entire area.
Also, you can enjoy a little bit of IKKO's talk, which is full of love for kimonos.

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The merchandise corner was also bustling!
The standard postcards and sweets, tenugui towels featuring various kimono designs, and the "Fuyuki Kosode" furoshiki, scarves, and book covers were also wonderful (proceeds are said to go toward restoration costs).
There were plenty of items, including collaborations with Rilakkuma and Blythe.

Of course, the exhibition catalog is also highly recommended.It is also available for purchase at the online shop. With such an incredible amount of information, I think 3,000 yen is a bargain. If you like kimonos, you must get it!!! It's a book every household should have, and you will surely enjoy it forever.

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◎ Summary

Finally,the exhibition ends this weekend!!!Because of this, unfortunately,online ticket sales have already reached their planned capacityand are no longer available.

It seems a small number of same-day tickets are being sold each day.Twitteris being updated with the current situation. If you are aiming for a same-day ticket, I highly recommend that you take thorough precautions against the heat and head out first thing in the morning.

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Also, on the official Tohaku YouTube channel, you can watch a 30-minute commentary video that takes you through the early-period exhibition venue, which has already been changed. Definitely check it out!!!

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It is subtle but clearly noticeable.
It is properly understood by those who see it and those who know.
Skillfully incorporating seasons, lucky charms, and lovely motifs.

The aesthetic sense of paying close attention and care to details, even if not spoken aloud, may be something that all Japanese people have inherited in an unbroken line. Otherwise, I don't think so many people would still be drawn to kimono today.

Kimono are an amazing invention. It was truly a feast for the eyes to see them in person.
My heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in the planning and preparation!!!
I will continue to cherish and wear the kimono I have for a long time to come.