Posts Tagged ‘wafuku’
夏の始まり the beginning of summer
Posted on: June 5, 2010
japanese students in their summer uniforms. in japan, it’s a tradition to change all long-sleeved winter uniforms to short-sleeved summer ones. this tradition is called “更衣 koromogae,” which literally means “changing of one’s seasonal clothes,” and usually happens on the 1st of july every year. this doesn’t apply only to school students, but to train station attendants, postal office workers and other professions as well.
my first yukata of the year 🙂 uniqlo has begun selling them, and i immediately fell in love with this one. they get cheaper as summer goes by, but i decided to get this one because it was so pretty and there are chances that they might be sold out when the sales come along.
two more weeks till captain‘s arrival 🙂
ぽっくりと花びら pokkuri and flower petals
Posted on: May 24, 2010
i finally came back from my weekend trip to kyoto >w< it was quite tiring but well worth the time!
i've been to kyoto a few times in the past but my main purpose in going down this time was to do my maiko photoshoot. i’ve been wanting to do it for a really long time now, but there wasn’t enough time and now that i don’t have classes on friday, i finally have the chance to go on short weekend trips!
i’ve had my sights set on studio shiki ever since i stumbled upon the site, and i am really glad i went with it in the end! the staff were very professional and helpful, and it wasn’t as tiring or troublesome experience as some people who have been through say it was – rather, it was quite relaxing and felt more like a spa treatment to me hahah!
i chose the mini outdoor photography plan 🙂 it costs 16,000円 but upon arrival, they took one look at my hair and asked me if i was willing to pay an extra 2,100円 to use part of my own hair, which would look more natural. i agreed because i’ve seen photos of people with wigs that looked way too obvious in their photos 😀
it was a really sunny day so i was worried about how the photos would turn out, but they were really nice!
i chose a more traditional and mature kimono because i originally wanted a red one, and the closest they had to red was pink, which had a modern motif… so in the end i went with this one! darker colours were really pretty too, especially the blue, green or purple… i had a REALLY hard time making up my mind!
it was really hard not to smile really wide, because we’re not supposed to show any teeth!
maiko, otherwise known as apprentice geisha (or geiko as they are called in kyoto), are well-known for their distinctively flashy darari obi, which literally means “dangling obi. apprentice maiko, on the other hand, wear their obi in the same way but at half the length.
the white make-up is very distinctive as well, especially around the nape of the neck. it is painted in such a way to create the illusion of a mask, by leaving a thin line of bare skin around the face.
it was really good that i went on a weekday as well, because it means less crowds and people that would get in the way hahah!
the mysterious thing was… it was really hot and sunny but i wasn’t sweating AT ALL :O WHY??
can you see where my real hair was used, and where the wig is?
the wind was blowing at the right time! the special raised sandals that maiko wear are called okobo officially, but in kyoto they are also called pokkuri from the sound that they make on the stone pavements when walking. a lot of people have been warned that it is really hard to walk while wearing them, but it was fairly easy for me 🙂
a close-up. i wish i could smile in a happier way but there was no way i can do that without showing any teeth… oh well.
one of my favourite shots 🙂
when i look at close-up photos like these, i feel really glad that i opted for the half-wig… it looks so natural!!!
the mini plan includes 30 photos taken outdoors. the full outdoor plan comes with 60 photos, but it was more expensive so in the end i chose this one! there are cheaper studio photography plans as well, but i figured outdoor shots will be better since it would look more natural 🙂
being a kimono lover, it was a really fun experience, and i must admit that i am now addicted! i am really tempted to do it again!!! i highly suggest this for anyone with a bit of money and time to spare in kyoto… it’s truly a wonderful experience!
上野動物園 ueno zoo
Posted on: February 27, 2010
the weather was really good on thursday so i finally went to ueno zoo! 🙂
and since it was warmer than usual, i went out in kimono!
hiro in front of ueno zoo!
entrance fee of 600円 for adults. the picture on each ticket is random… i wanted one with a red panda…
like this!
so adorable!!!
hiro likes zoos! the date changes everyday, as you can see
i love the idea they had here – this water tank is connected to the otter’s enclosure and visitors can have the chance to look at them upclose. it’s too bad though, that they were sleeping when i was there hahah!
lots of kids at the zoo
eyelashes that vivi would die for!
footprints that leads the visitors to different animal enclosures! this one leads to the tiger’s den
i like the blurry effect of this shot!
a clear shot after almost a dozen tries hahah
lots of families too! i wonder if the parents don’t have to work… it was a normal weekday after all…
polar bear 🙂 i like how they sit down all hunched over, and when you look at them they look like a triangle XD
prayers and messages for the giant panda that passed away due to heart failure
japanese monkeys!
the other side of the zoo 🙂 the west and east gardens are connected by a bridge, but you can also take the monorail. it costs 150円 but you can actually just walk to the other side hahah! it barely takes 5 minutes!
lots of preschool kids on field trips too! i don’t envy the teachers who have to keep 50+ kids under control in a place filled with animals..
the lake 🙂
BABY HIPPO *O* he looks just like hiro!!! >w< so cute!!!
photo of hiro with real hippos hahah 😀 too bad they’re sleeping!
i had a random guy take this for me ^o^
ueno toshogu shrine!
hanazono inari shrine! i’ve been visiting lots of inari shrines lately huh…
since the weather turned warmer, some sakura trees are actually in bloom!
plum blossoms
really pretty blowing in the wind
scattered petals on the ground
one of the trees in (almost) full bloom!!! really pretty!
the famous statue of saigo takamori =w=
kiyomizu kannon-do temple
the bright blue sky 🙂 the weather was really good! and now it’s gonna rain for the next few days…
i ballotted for a ticket to aibachan‘s stageplay today as well… crossing my fingers! >w<
大阪でのお正月 new year’s in osaka
Posted on: January 7, 2010
i was in osaka, at my host family’s house from the 28th of december till the 3rd of january! spending one whole week in a japanese household was a real eye-opener, especially since it was new year’s as well. it’s hard to blog about each day that i was there so i’m just going to summarize my one week in osaka in one entry! >w< ♥
my room for the whole week i was there ^^
dining room
the genkan, or entrance of the house
this shot represents the ideal japanese winter
the kitchen
the sunroom
front gates which are never locked
i really need a full-length mirror in my house next time
sakura ^^ she’s really obedient!
okaasan and otousan chatting on new year’s eve :3 otousan enjoys a glass of beer =w= okaasan, on the other hand, was busy preparing the new year decorations…
hiro with his own personal new year mochi
i bought this cute outfit from odaiba on christmas eve! i really like it~ it gives off a “my girl” vibe >w<
we watched kouhaku together in the dining room on new year’s eve ♥ it was a really great one this year!!! lots of my favourite artists performed, and i got to listen to a lot of new songs as well ♥ as usual, arashi was amazing >w< i'm so proud of them! their red outfits before their performance was super cute as well!
off to the shrine on the night of new year’s eve! we went there right after kouhaku was over because we didn’t want to be caught in a long line, but it seems like our fears were for nothing…
because it was so cold and the wind was so strong that nobody (sane) would come to the shrine! there WAS a line, but okaasan said it has never been this short before…
i prayed for… you know what, and then went back home after accepting some new year sake from otousan, who was helping out at the shrine
happy new year!!! the next morning, we all sat down at about 10am to have “おせち料理 osechiryouri,” traditional (and expensive) japanese new year food! this would be seabream
one of the boxes prepared by okaasan
my table setting, with a lucky charm arrow from the shrine… a present from otousan!
we had 3 boxes from a traditional japanese restaurant too, because otousan wanted to try it lol
my chopsticks case, with my name written on it in calligraphy by okaasan
after eating, we went through the whole thick stack of “年賀状 nengajou” (japanese new year postcards) that was bundled up neatly by the postman and delivered in the morning, complete with a greeting card from oguri shun!
i was pleasantly surprised to see the boys in the papers on new year’s day! *o*
a whole two-page spread!
at night, i tried drawing new year cards because okaasan was writing hers to reply those that she received… i never knew tigers were so easy to draw!
on the 2nd day of new year, i received a present from okaasan ^^ an incense pouch to go with my kimono!
all bundled up in my furisode and ready to go to the shrine with otousan! i love this furisode so much *O* it’s been in the family for generations!
in front of the train to the city >w< the cutest train ever!
at すみよしたいしゃ sumiyoshi taisha in osaka
with okaasan. she was supposed to come along but then she had to stay back to look after obaachan
with otousan who was trying to look like the godfather
on the last day, we had guests (relatives, actually) so we had a tea ceremony. here i am, helping to grind the green tea powder
then i changed into kimono for the tea ceremony!
wagashi, traditional japanese sweets to go with the thick, green tea
there was a cute tiger-shaped sweet too >w< so adorable! i bit his head off in the first 2 seconds i got my hands on it though…
with okaasan ^^ i was really happy when she commented, “it’s like i have another daughter!”
with both of them
nabe (hotpot… like malaysian steamboat <3) at night with everyone!
it was a grand spread >w< i had the chance to taste ootoro as well!! WHICH WAS AWESOME *O*
their grandson, oozora-kun. he keeps looking at me and smiling >w<;; it was like deja vu because the same thing happened with my cousin from sabah too…
with haru, okaasan’s second daughter. she’s not married yet so she lives nearby ^^ she’s an esthetician! i got a free treatment session from her ♥
before i took the night bus back to tokyo, they took me to the ritz-carlton in osaka for drinks and to listen to some jazz music
it was a really fun and relaxing week! i felt really at home, and they were all so nice to me! i don’t think i could have spent my new year’s here in japan in any other way but this ♥
i went to keikarou again on saturday with bec, since it was her last day in japan. the shop opens at 11:00 am – we arrived at 10:00am and there was already a line hahah! we were lucky to arrive early, so we went in with the first batch of customers >w<
i wore my green komon again 🙂 i wanted to wear my new yellow one but since it’s aiba-chan‘s place…
bec! i miss you and our morning talks XD
there was a new display item up – an adorable display from the my girl drama!
*O* i can eat these everyday!
we both ordered one of the set meals, it came with soup, rice, 3 dishes and dessert.
蒸し鳥の胡麻味噌かけ steamed chicken with miso-sesame sauce
えび玉 prawn with eggs
鳥肉とカシューナッツ炒め chicken with cashew nuts. I SO LOVE THIS OKAY. THE MEAT IS ALL TENDER AND ZOMG ;w;
杏仁トーフ almond-jelly tofu
we forgot dessert was included in the set and ordered strawberry sherbet as well lol XD we were stuffed when we were finished… i felt so bad because i didn’t finish the eggs 😦
self-cam picture in the mirror of the washroom at bec‘s hotel. yes, that’s glass behind us, and yes you can see practically the whole of shinjuku from the washroom. the most awesome washroom i’ve ever been in to.
our final photo together for this time… there will be another time, promise!!! ❤
i hope you enjoyed your trip in japan! it was a really memorable time for me as well, and i will never forget our amazing experience forever!!! looking forward to seeing you again!!! lifelong friends, because?
life is
life is
life is wonderful
六義園 rikugien gardens
Posted on: November 21, 2009
today the weather was really good so i went out to catch a breath of fresh air! guess where this photo was taken?!
my destination for the day 🙂 the train departure melody for this station is sakura! the traditional japanese folk song, not the one by moriyama naotarou or kobukuro
六義園 rikugien is one of the quieter spots in tokyo for autumn leaves viewing 🙂
waseda –> [tozai line] –> iidabashi –> [nanboku line] –> komagome
from the station’s south exit, cross the street and turn left, and you’ll soon come across this sign leading you towards the garden. the entrance fee is 300円 for adults
autumn leaves 🙂
maple leaves, known as 紅葉 momiji in japanese
awesome weather today, really
the garden was really pretty ❤
one of the professional photographers ojiisan offered to help me take a photo hahah 😀 he asked me if i was going to an お茶会 ochakai (tea ceremony), and i laughed and said no, then he said, “ah so you just felt like dressing up today huh? it looks good on you!” it made my day >w<
hiro‘s first time at maple leaves viewing!
lots of old ojiisan with their awesome slr cameras capturing the beauty of the autumn leaves
lots of families were there today too!
late shichigosan celebration
i love her kimono and hakama!!!
🙂 quality family time
she was staring at me the entire time hahah
i’m glad i managed to capture this sweet expression >w<
while her brother gets down and dirty, playing with the soil
posing for her parents’ camera
not maple leaves, but pretty all the same
🙂 a foreigner took this for me… he was so shocked to hear me talk to him in english XD
view from the top
and on the way down…
i used to say my favourite season is autumn before experiencing it, but now that i’m here, i really do love autumn!
after walking around for quite some time, it’s time to rest in one of the teahouses!
i ordered something and waited for it to arrive…
while breathing in the cold autumn air and gazing up at all the beautiful maple leaves
matcha green tea with seasonal wagashi (traditional japanese confectionery)
i love the bitterness of matcha!
autumn sweets, with a maple leaf carved into the mochi and filled with red bean on the inside
the perfect balance
maple leaves *O*
i love the colors of autumn…
neh would love the amount of green here 😀
at the entrance, while i was leaving (when i arrived there were lots of people sitting here so i couldn’t take a photo)
ecologically friendly paper weights
i’ve seen spider lilies, but this is my first time seeing spider crysenthemums!
hiro is amused by the colonel dressed up in a santa suit
i don’t know if you can see it, but the tiles on the bridge were arranged to look like a cherry blossom… it might be a bit hard to tell with the sunlight and shadows though. and i’ve just realized that i caught my own shadow too hahah
an intruiging signboard…
on the streets. i wonder if this place is famous for cherry blossoms…
and that concludes my day out in the sun at komagome today! i wandered down into the alleys and found a shopping district of sorts, and went home with a cabbage and a pack of shimeji mushrooms because it was cheaper than what i usually pay here in waseda 😀
shopping saturday
Posted on: October 18, 2009
yesterday afternoon i went out to shinjuku 3-chome to shop ❤ i love shopping in japan ;w; everything looks nice! i don't really go shopping back home because i rarely find stuff that i like, but here there are lots of stuff that are totally my style ~w~ it's expensive though… i have to budget my monthly stipend carefully from now on XD;; i wanted to go to isetan actually but i went to the wrong exit and wound up at marui instead XD which is equally addictive, i must say…
promotional truck for the new movie, 僕の初恋をキミに捧ぐ i give my first love to you starring inoue mao ❤ i really want to watch this movie, actually! the theme song is by hirai ken 😀
my heaven
6th floor of marui is where the kimono section is located at ❤
i spent a lot time here lol
i think i’m gonna save my money so i can buy at least one brand new kimono for myself ❤ it's about 10,000円 for a new komon ❤ i saw the most adorable coordinate ever here ;w;
a tenugui specialty shop, selling various stuff made from modern and traditional japanese fabrics
japanese department stores have lots of cute shops ❤
samantha thavasa. i like the mickey handbag but everything in this shop made my eyes bulge in shock lol
an old japanese man doing some rough sketching by the roadside
tokyo, a city filled with pedestrian crossings
saturday is when everyone comes out to spend money
OIOI, which is read as “marui” in japan. “maru” refers to the circle 🙂
the entrance to isetan. compared to marui and keio, isetan is one of the more traditional department stores of japan
the entrance looks pretty intimidating. but the service in japan is really good, so you don’t have to worry about going in!
more department stores! i like the cylindrical-shaped elevator, which is made of glass
after that, i stumbled across uniqlo and went in because they were having a sale ❤ long sleeved tees from disney and hallmark for 990円 each *o*
i reaaaaaaaaally like this shirt but they only had it in L size 😦
sometimes i wish malaysia was a more open-minded country
sikit-sikit lama-lama jadi bukit
Posted on: February 8, 2009
this is na old malay proverb that means “start small and it builds up to a mountain.” for me it means building up a collection from scratch and see it grow bigger with my own eyes.
i have a lot of boxes in my room but this is by far my most beloved one ❤
😀 everything in the box so far. colourful!
close-up of the kappa fan, my kimono book and hanhaba obis 🙂
obijime and fans.
various chirimen bags/purses and some hair ribbons.
a handmade fabric bag from okinawa that i received from my sensei, in which i keep all my obidome (obi brooches) ^^
my favourite kanzashi that i keep for my personal use 🙂
i’m going to convert my wardrobe/cupboard into a kimono tansu >w< i wanted to buy a whole new cupboard as a kimono tansu but my parents won’t let me D: first of all it costs quite a lot, secondly i have no room for another cupboard in my room (and i won’t allow it to be anywhere but in my room).
seiko matsuda
Posted on: January 19, 2009
- In: shopping
- 6 Comments
>w< i’ve finally gotten my hands on my first pair of geta! 下駄, as it is written in japanese, is the footwear worn together with yukata and occasionally, kimono. it was a despair for me, owning 3 sets of yukata and a kimono, and not having any appropriate geta to go with it D: for one, it’s hard to find nice geta here in malaysia and two, to buy it online is expensive (plus i don’t know the quality if i don’t touch it). one of my lecturers will be going back to japan (after 10 years of being in my faculty) so she was selling off a lot of her things for really low prices because she didn’t want to lug them back.
tsu told me that our sensei has a pair of brand new, never-worn-before geta for sale at just RM100 so i thought, hey what the hell, i’ll just buy that huh? i was expecting a normal pair of geta but imagine my shock when i opened the paper bag to reveal a white box with the words "seiko matsuda yukata" on it.
as far as wafuku (japanese clothing) brands go, this is one of the best-selling ones O_O; opening it to find a beautiful pair of designer geta for just RM100 when the market price for these are around RM300 makes me cry in joy ;w;
now to buy more wafuku when i go to japan 😀 wafuku collection here i come!
but before that i think i need a new cupboard for all my yukata and kimono stuff ‘o’
p/s : flickr is being a pain in the ass right now so i’ll upload the photos later when and if it ever behaves.
l'isle joyeuse 