Royal family 12 Layer Wedding Kimono

We thought we got a photo with some imported

Samurais.  We found out later these are Penangites

in borrowed costumes, flown all the way from Japan.

Ladies who could not find a kimono,

nor a bathrobe for the evening. So here 

are, in our interpretation, for a cherry

blossom evening

Consul General Mr Itoi and Madame came

over to say "Konnichiwa Ogenkidesuka"

The show begins with a geisha

A fan dance of sorts.

I wonder if this is a maiko fan dance.

Maiko are apprentice geishas.

Children dressed in gorgeous kimonos

Tsunokakushi is a traditional headwear worn in Shinto wedding ceremonies in Japan.  This cloth, folded into a 'hat' covers the bridal high Japanese traditional topknot. It's often made of white silk.

This is traditionally worn to veil the bride's horns of jealousy, ego and selfishness. It also symbolizes the bride's resolve to become a gentle and obedient wife.

Here she is, obediently a step behind the groom

Nyonya change kekh em with Japanese

Bride and Groom. Hee!

Gimmy first first appeared as a Japanese bride in a white shirouchikake with a huge cotton hat that is worn at the shrine. Just look at her glance!

These Kimono experts are removing her 12 layer kimono

each revealing exquisite artistry on the silk kimono.

Details from a classic on the  maestro's taiko musubi.

Silver white cranes in flight

Fascinating details on the luxurious silk kimono

T

This bride is now wrapped in the 5 layer 

wedding kimono. 

I think they are stealing glances at each other.

Intermission

The Royal kimono in the style of Their Majesties 

The Emperor (Akihito) and Empress (Michiko) 

at his enthronement, and by Princess Masako

at her wedding.

This is a 12 layer royal wedding kimono.

She wears her her very long, tied up. 

An important accessory is the fan,  an important 

communication device. A lady do not speak 

face-to-face to a male.  She holds up her sleeve

or use her opened fan to shield her from his gaze.  

Communication with a suitor is a hide-and-seek

theater, with her concealed behind a sedate screen.

The suitor an only catch a glimpse of her junihitoe 

sleeves from under the screen.  How captivating!

This Heian era practice is described in the 

'Tale of Genji'

The modified  Junihitoe of the Edo era multi-layered 

antique silk garments of the court wedding, each layer

in a contrasting colour.

These are the five surviving kimono maestros, 

the only ones able to dress up the 12 layer kimono.

A Japanese wind and string ensemble

Kimonos for young unmarried girls

With my geisha girls!

17 June 2017