... is that there are no pockets! No matter how hard you try, it is simply not possible to stuff a camera into your obi (or at least do so in a way that does not make you look like Lumpy McLump).
Why not carry a bag, you say? Well, it is not iki. I truly believe there are few things more liberating and elegant than not carrying a bag. It shows that you do not require anything, your presence alone will ensure that everything shall be taken care of...
Of course, this is rarely possible, unless you are a Mitsubishi heiress! But, thanks to the obi, one can get away with something similar. A thin pochette, cellphone and fan all fit, and leave you looking wonderfully iki and unencumbered.
Due to a koto-related social appointment running long, I was unable to get changed before my movie date... you can well-imagine the results of showing up at Shibuya in full kimono! Nonetheless, the movie Momo he no Tegami (Letter to Momo) was beautifully done. The story takes place on a small island in the Seto Inland Sea, an incredibly beautiful area near Shikoku of which I have fond memories. Very Ghibli-esque (unsurprisingly), and the yokai characters are totally adorable!
But what does ANY of this have to do with cameras?
As a giant photography snob, I am not a huge fan of pictures taken by smartphones (although I will admit Instagram can be very useful when on the road). They just do not do justice to my latest find, Hacienda del Cielo in Daikanyama. Hidden on the 10th floor of one of the average polished-looking buildings, the stunning decor and view completely blew us away. There is a huge terrace with a mixture of tables and couches, overlooking a view which stretches from Ebisu to Shinjuku. The inside is equally stunning, with a dramatic chandelier and bright mosaic. Despite all this, the food is surprisingly well-priced, with a series of little dishes for 300 yen (I recommend the frijoles)
With everyone around me getting hitched (eek!), I kept on thinking what an incredible location this would be for a party or reception... anyone getting married in Tokyo, take note!
No bag?! No, no, no! You need your LV bag. Then you need a second bag for a full make-up kit, false fails and false eyelashes. Then you need a third bag for bottled water, bottled tea, tissues, a facecloth and a mirror the size of a hardcover book. :D
ReplyDeleteVery nice restaurant, but I'm more interested in your kimono. ^^ Unusual obi, am I right? (I'm not a kimono expert at all.) Can you dress yourself, obi and all, or do you go to a professional dresser?
Well spotted! The obi is a hanhaba, so it is about half the width of the average obi. It is a bit short, but was given to me by my host family, so has sentimental value.
DeleteI can indeed dress myself. It really is not so difficult...if it were I couldn't do it ^^; if I forget a step, YouTube comes to the rescue!
That is a lovely kimono. I went to kimono school years ago, but don't have the opportunity, and, of course, I always need an oversized bag full of crap!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I found it in Nishiogikubo, and it was love at first sight
DeleteOh gosh! I can imagine lots of people coming up to you and asking you if they can take your picture. (When you arrived in Shibuya, I mean.)
ReplyDeleteWhenever I read old Japanese novels, the men always seem to put things in their kimono sleeves. I admit, I did this once when I wore a yukata (not outside).
Surprisingly no photo requests... just a lot of ppl stopping in their tracks ;p
DeleteThe sleeves are a possibility, but only light things work for me, if not the line of the kimono looks weird
stunning! beautiful kimono and again delicious looking food!! i was lucky to do hatsumode when i was living in japan and got to get glammed up in a kimono by my host family. what fun! ive always wanted to put one on again...maybe for a wedding anniversary photo or something in the future~~ ;)
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