Roihuvuoren Kirsikkapuisto 19 May, 2019
Happy Hanami in Helsinki! For the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relationship between Finland and Japan in 2019, Helsinki Cherry Blossom Park, together with Agency of Cultural Affairs Japan, City of Helsinki and Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation celebrate by holding various events, include koto music and Buton dance performances, Aikido, Jodo, samurai sword and Taiko demonstration, the most intriguing to me, is the Japanese costume contest on Stage One. It would be always interesting to watch how manga cosplay or Kimono worn through the version of Finnish perspectives.
The yukata of Helsinki Cherry Blossom Hanami 2019, was purchased at Obiya (帯屋), Kumamoto shopping tori in September 2018. Founded in 1866 by Ichiro Miyazaki(宮崎伊八郎), Obiya celebrated its 150thanniversary in 2018. I have been totally intrigued with the floral patterns of yukata and the Hanami cutie accessories for ages, introduced by my dear Japanese friends while I was having my holidays in Kumamoto, I was assisted by two elegant, elderly, at least over 80, Japanese ladies to try-on at least bleak black, off-white and indigo blue in the selections of perfect tone and fitting.
The 100% cotton, made in Japan, indigo blue with white dahlia, decorated with pastel pink and light green lines, is one of my proudest investment at tour de Japan 2018. I hand-carry my very first yukata (in my life) from Kumamoto to Fukuoka International Airport, direct flight of 9 hours back to Helsinki, wishfully plan to have fashion fun photo shoots either in Taipei or Okinawa when I reunited with my Taiwanese family during Chinese New Year holidays in 2019, unfortunately neither mine or family’s busy schedule is available, therefore, I check-in my well-folded yukata in the long haul of approximately 7960km, stopover at Frankfurt International Airport, safely and sound back to my Helsinki flat, once more, in February 2019. Hence, at the moment at the decision to attend Helsinki Cherry Blossom Hanami in May, my very first yukata can never be absent.
How to mix and match Kumamoto yukata without the collective set of obi(帯おび), geta(下駄げた), or kinchaku(巾著きんちゃく)? From leftover of Marimekko Hortensi 100% cotton curtain, with its pure white as base, baby pink dots representing cherry flowers and black stripes standing for the cherry tree braches, wrapping double-round of Kumamoto yukata, highly symbolizes the 100thanniversary of diplomatic relationship between Finland and Japan, and also my special meet-up experiences both in Helsinki and in Kumamoto. As for Geta, Louis Vuitton patent calf skin leather slippers with Go-14 malletage metallic grids, the central piece carved with LV monogram, is the surprising idea to replace the Japanese traditional Geta pairs.
As for the accessories, I take Kyo-oli (京織) mini wallet as modern version of kinchaku, the dark Tiffany green ribbon I hunt at flea market in Jyväskylä during this Easter holidays, is both my Hanami headband and the knot-belt of Marimekko obi, all complete with Chao & Eero Sparkling Forest earrings to pop out the whole look. It surely takes me almost over an hour to wear yukata and accessories properly, since I watch some youtubers’ demonstration and practice the tricks at the same time, and try to measure the pleated and angles in lineal.
At Cherry Blossom Hanami, my Italian friends and I decide to have picnic on the grassland, with Japanese rice cookies, nut snacks and chocolate; we take turns to watch the performances, cruise around the merchandise stalls, take photos or videos, together relax, eat and enjoy under the May Day sunshine. After the costume contests, we chit chat with some competition goers, and this Finnish elderly gentleman with samurai outfits, a huge handmade bamboo hat, carrying 2 large Samurai swords, insisted that I am his long-lost Japanese granddaughter. Helsinki Cherry Blossom Hanami 2019 reunite the special relationship all together: fashion, culture, languages, friendship and fun, what a lovely May Day!
TOP TIP1: Mix and match with 100% cotton ribbons or leftovers with yukata, both creatively fun and environmental friendly
TOP TIP2: Wear a silk or cotton plain robe or leggings underneath of yukata
NOW USING PROMOTE CODE Mindy15 TO GET 15% DISCOUNT at CHAO & EERO
Special Thanks: Family Nagashima, Family Miyamoto, Stefa, Dario, Chao & Eero
特別な感謝:長嶋家，宮本家，袁家
No comments
Post a Comment