SerikoMadonna.kimonocoffe

Matsuri

2011-08-24T11:47:00.001+09:00

Summer Sha-kimono

2011-08-23T14:21:00.003+09:00

Kimono de Oshogatsu

2011-01-11T14:00:00.001+09:00

Hanami-Kimono Asobi

2010-04-06T18:12:00.002+09:00

I went to walk under cherry blossoms with my husband and dog.

one Spring holiday

2010-03-23T16:58:00.002+09:00

I went to Showa Emperor's memorial park with my loving dog.

more than 10years used

2010-03-13T09:48:00.002+09:00

I introduce it on ebay site as Origami work hand craft box.Items on my desk are in a washi(tarditional Japanese paper:weak water)decorated small organizing box.

Onsen geta sandals for yukata Japanese ryokan style w.s

2010-03-13T08:07:00.003+09:00

I sold this geta with socks on ebay.
Geta are known as putting on barefoots with yukata usually,but I introduce as onsen situation(onsen:hot spring,more popular winter) My guest told me it is small for her foots.I wrote just longest size and heel hight on the site.
This geta is like zori(sandals for kimono:toe is narrow,flat sole)in its shape.We Japanese wemen wear zori or geta just fit or shorter than their foot length to show smaller foot feeling tight however.It is also very difficult to find thongs fit our foots. Usually thongs of zori are very tight when we put it first.I think many Japanese wemen have experiense to put kimono perfect style on coming of age ceremony (Many girls-adult wear Furisode kimono going beauty salon to help wear,make up and hairdressing)with pain on foot and feel tight on ther body. It seems cause of being thought that kimono is very very special costume not to easy put(not able to put ourselves:have to go learn to kimono school!) and uncomforgable to wear.I also thought I would never wear! at the evening of coming of age ceremony.

self baked Takoyaki!Japanese fast food octpus ball

2010-02-19T17:12:00.003+09:00

My mother has been in low spirits. She looses about 10kg weight by hyperthyroidism in last 3months.I encouraged her with self baking Takoyaki loved her,me too.

It's my first challenge to bake Takoyaki.It is from Osaka,so Osaka people often bake themselves,I heard before.In Tokyo it is fast foods we take out as snack at 15:00pm.

This is electrical plate for Takoyaki,very easy to bake.My mother,father and I roll them together and ware satisfied with the performance and taste.

Tomesode set!

2010-01-31T13:47:00.003+09:00

Tomesode set!

2010-01-31T12:45:00.004+09:00

This is black tomesode kimono.It is my first time putting tomesode on since got it.Just to practice to put kimono myself on.I wonder when I would go out with this kimono?May be,my niece's wedding(now she is high school student yet, however)or my sister in law's second wedding(she has no plan yet)...!Tomesode is very special wear for general modern Japanese wemen.Because just a few time to put it on in their life,generally.At the scene I wrote above(the wedding of relative),wemen put black tomesode on have been decreasing now.Actually I also have been thinking I don't need to get black tomesode,and think rental tomesode is enough for me.But now I love kimono's beautiful pattern,color,silk, and height, they meke me happy.

Nebuta object.

2010-01-31T12:39:00.002+09:00

Kimono for man

2010-01-29T14:38:00.002+09:00

Haorihimo(tied decorative string to fasten right and left side of haori)and

tabi(socks for geta or zouri:sandal for kimono)

2009-06-10T11:40:00.002+09:00

Mt.Fuji&Shibazakura(the pink flowers).

Child's(boy's ) day

2009-05-11T16:28:00.003+09:00

This is my nephew's.

CongraturationEmperor's marriage 50'th anniversary

2009-04-21T14:05:00.001+09:00

I went to see pictures exhibition of "The Emperor and The Empress on their trips" in Nihonbashi-Mitsukoshi department store. The horse-drawn carriage used on thir marriage celebration parade was also displayed. The 10th April was their 50th marriage anniversary and many people visited the imperial palace to sign the guest register.I was one of them.

Kimono girls & my hanami-style

2009-04-18T16:42:00.002+09:00

I went to Tokyo midtown area to enjoy kimono gathering & cherry blossom viewing with my husband. I carry a pink leather bag and put on a pink shawl. My wearing kimono fun is to use articles which don't go with my clothes and have been in the depths of built-in closet.

Hanami & Kimono girls

2009-04-16T23:17:00.003+09:00

I found a newspaper advertisement for Hanami-gathering with kimono weareing in Tokyo mid town area. The organizer offers kimono lending & helping put on it . It costs 5000enn. If you go wearing kimono this area, given a discount on foods and drink on the day.

This season I noticed some promotion campaign with saying like"Let's enjoy wearing more kimono in your life! " I think it is last scheme to survive of kimono industry. These days we can buy many attractive kimonos inexpensive on internet auction.Makers can no more sell them with expensive kimono sofar.So number of people buing kimono must be increased.

My interest is to see many kimono & obi cordination more than cherry blossoms. Some wemen learnd hair making for maching kimono sityle in the air. I have also difficulty with making hair style because of clumsy with my hands. I found their same worry,I was cheerful little bit.

Hanami-cherry blossoms viewing1

2009-04-15T10:12:00.003+09:00

I went to Shinjuku-gyoen park to enjoy the cherry blossoms with my husband at the end of March. Japanese people love viewing Cherry blossoms,drinking eating,and conversation under the tree of cherry blossoms.

Depachika (under stair departmentstore:variety select foodstuff,cooked dishes, confections are selled there. Box lunch with seasonal ingredient packed beautifully image of cherry blossoms is my especially recommended.

We enjoyed them!

JapaneseRest room

2009-03-20T19:58:00.002+09:00

Japanese regular restroom is like this now. Washing bottom with warm water(sometimes dry bottom),warming seat,and bidet it supplies by user's pushing each button. I think we japanese live most comfortably only in restroom in the world!

Hina-matsuri:wishing girl's happiness day

2009-03-10T23:01:00.003+09:00

March 3rd is Hina-matsuri day in Japan.This Hina-kazari (dolls decoration)set is my niece's.

This set is orthodox biggest 7 stairs type.I see it gorgeous.It expresses one scene of girl's happiness gifted wedding with rich trousseaus and many followers.

When first girl is born,her mother's mother(grand mother) present hina-kazari wishing her life happiness usually.So my mother bought this. Girl's parents decorate them before March 3rd every year,and after March 3rd put away as soon as possible. They say too long time decolating hina dolls means daughter's happy wedding come too late.

There are many type of hina-kazari.For example, mine is a high-spirited beautiful standing girl in a glass case.My eldest sister's(she is first girl for my parents) is 3 stairs set with 5dolls,and elder sister's is a small set with 10dolls.I love my doll but I find my 2sister's have husband doll but mine doesn't.I had thought I would be a girl like the beautiful doll about 30times hina-matsuri season. It is why my late marriage,I believe privatly.

My friend said her mother presented friend's hina dolls to some one (!!)for excuse no space to decorate them or bothersome with decorating every year! That is why my friend and her younger sister late 30's are both single... !! I believe secretly.

Iro-muji Kimono with flowery embroidery Han-eri(optional lapel)

2009-02-27T13:03:00.004+09:00

I wore kimono. This kimono type is iro-muji (only one color used:beige). I like this beige,but too subdued color as kimono,so I selected naga-juban(kimono underwear put on a kimono-slip)with pretty orange flowers embroidery lapel and red orange obi(sash belt)with pretty golden butterflies.

Standing front of a mirror, I'm in a good mood with putting a new orange mitiyuki-coat(coat for kimono).

Ashi-yu(foot bathe)&Kawazu-zakura(Kawazu-cherry blossom)

2009-02-27T13:01:00.004+09:00

I visited Izu in Shizuoka pref. with a friend. Kawazu is famous for Kawazu-zakura blooming February earlier than major sakura season April in Kanto Area.

Many people enjoyed walking under long pink tunnel along a river,and shopping souvenir or gifts. Most of them are elderly women groups or couples comming bus tour groups.

Izu is popular onsen(hot spring) resort near Kanto area. Tourists heal their foot putting in publik Ashi-yu(hot spring for only foot).

Japanesesweets-Oshiruko

2009-02-18T14:21:00.003+09:00

This is Monaka.It's shape is donburi(bowl with lid for rice).It can make oshiruko(sweet aduki beans soup with rice cake) with hot water instantly. Powder anko is inside and dough become like rice cake.I do not like monaka but love this.

japanese sweets-Monaka

2009-02-16T15:26:00.004+09:00

Chestnut Monaka has chestnut shape and chestnut is inside with anko(adzuki beans paste).

Monaka is made from glutinous rice flour.Many japanese sweets have lot of sugar and adzuki in thin dough.They are too sweeeet for me. Tell you the truth I prefer wheat dough like tart or cake.

Kamon:housesymbol

2009-02-16T15:20:00.006+09:00

Upper side picture is Takaha(hawk feather)kamon. It was on a wrapping paper of sweets gift box my husband given at new year meeting of volunteer group.

The symbol is same as present mine(women change her symbol after marriage-when her last name changes). The sweets shop owner's kamon is same as mine but not all same family name.

I'm now thinking to buy Tomesode(kimono:supreme formal wear for Mrs. Black and has 5 kamon one is superior. Japanese women wear it when her daughter,son,nephew,or niece marriages or are invited Emperor's party or an Nobel awards ceremony....!? )

Today rental costume is popular for women who think bothersome with taking care kimono themselves or want to wear other design each time inexpensively.I think it difficult to search kimono fits size design and kamon with me in rental shops.I do not have child yet,however.

Ichida-gaki(Anpo-gaki part2)

2009-02-09T22:24:00.003+09:00

This is Ichida-gaki from Nagano pref. a kind of hoshi-gaki(Japanese persimmon dried in the sun).

It is little bit harder and cheeper than Anpo-gaki part1. White on it is natural suger from fruit.

Anpo-gaki(japanese dry persimmon)

2009-02-05T19:05:00.003+09:00

I'm loving anpo-gaki these days.

what I ate today(above photos) was big,very sweet, jucy and very soft, it seems high-class more than what I buy usual 6persimmons packed in a case at near super market.

Why I said "it seems",my husband was given from acquaintance woman.

Plump she knows variety tasty foods and gave my husband whenever he met her.

We enjoyed her big cake at Christmas time almost every year,with anxiety my husband 's growing like her.

I enjoyed of course this dry persimmon,but tell the truth,I prefer little bit more tough like as what I buy in super market.

Setsubun part2.Today is Risshun(Spring stands up,begins)..

2009-02-04T20:42:00.004+09:00

I met my elder sister.She has 2daughters and 1 son.She talked about setsubun event of a temple neighboring her house.
We see some celebrities scattering soy beans from famous temple's balcony or upper stage to people gathering down to see celebrities or worship at the temple on TV news.
Her neighboring temple does event like this too.However priests are considerate,they scattering not only beans but also confections,snacks and sweets too.
Her daughters and son(he is 10years old)went to get them.
There is intense competition among people gathering to get confections free!
Elderly wemens are strong unexpectedly(or naturally?)there.Skinny son was crashed into,and elder daughter's hand trying to pick up sweets was stepped.2daughters said "we would never go to the event!" But son wll get to win his favorite popular snack named "ottotto"next year.

Today is Setsubun(season channge).

2009-02-03T22:27:00.002+09:00

Today 3rd February is mamemaki(throwing roasted soy beans, and eating) day in Japan.

I remembered my gentle father scattered beans in every rooms and outsisde balcony shouting "oni waaa soto(devils out ) fuku waaaa uci(fortune in)!!"when my childhood.

I called my parents, mother saying that father(81years old) said "today is setsubun"when he got up this morning and he did as an annual event traditionaly in the evening.(Mother does not want to do it because she has to clean scattered soy beans here and there. ) I remembered my father's voice shouting vividly,and wanted to see him at once.

New Year Meeting of Minyo(JapaneseEnka)-dancing team

2009-02-01T20:25:00.003+09:00

Many_kimono_Wemen! Their obi style are all Taiko-musubi. It is popular style for Mrs.

I learned from seeing each of them wearing just to be themselves,I mean we do not need to be a bundle of nerves to dress kimono severely like to say in textbook.

But selecting colors,TPO,patterns need to be careful. Jpanese especially elder wemen who have a lot of knowledge about kimono react sensitively to a sense of the seasons.

Seasonal flowers are most popular pattern on kimono textile. They should be on time. For example now February in Japan,ume(Japanere apricot blossom)flower are very good. Or anticipating seasonal pattern is sophisticated way in kimono fashion too.

Rose brooches-made with Origami

2009-01-29T23:37:00.003+09:00

I made rose brooches with colorful origami. We Japanese made origami childhood mainly,now many elderly wemen like to make them looking back nostalgically.These brooches look like
art made from leather not from papers,and are practical use.

Izakaya:serve Japanese foods mainly and alchol drink

2009-01-27T22:57:00.008+09:00

I went to eat and drink with my friends. In a Japanese-English dictionary this Izakaya is bar or pub in English. Yes,it has a bar counter like above photo,but has other four tables and Zashiki(tatami-space) about 10people can sit. Yellow papers recomend menue. We choosed Zashiki and enjoy taste of sashimi,flied fish, salad,Kamo-nabe(wild duck vegetable,tofe,in a pot.eaten especialy in winter)We wait Nabe cooked on our table,drinking and chatting. It was sinnenkai(first meeting in this year) so I wannted to wear kimono and surprise my friends but I can not eat a lot with kimono. So I gave up.

I can see Mt.Fuji from my kichen.

2009-01-26T14:02:00.010+09:00

This is a biew from my kitchen .

I can see Mt.Fuji on fine day as today. I have no plan especialy today,I read books about how to blog start. I have some diffikulties to start google.Ads. and to send picture from my mobile phone to this page. I am later coming blogger...!

http://www.cafepress.com/daisukimonoobi

Daluma came my home.

2009-01-25T20:26:00.011+09:00

I read Yomiuri newspaper this morning
(02,February)it say "daluma market from the late Edo era started at Bishamonten-Myoho temple in Fuji city Shizuoka pref. Visitors after worship buy new (for this year)daluma hoping thrived business or family's well-being. On opening day visitors outnumber same day of last year. Daluma shop owner says it seems influence
of bad economy."

Do you know Daluma?

When you make some target to try to achieve in this year you fill in his one eye ,and when you achieve it you fill in another eye.

I have a wish in this year,so I filled in his right eye. My wish ? It is secret! If it comes true, I tell you.

I made Daluma T-shirt in next site Please blowse it!
http://cafepress.com/daisukimonoobi

Congraturation Mr.President Obama and SerikoMadonna!

2009-01-21T18:27:00.003+09:00

Today is special day for Amerika and me Seriko.
This is Seriko`s first writing here and Mr.Obama declares himself as President in W.D.C!