Strolling

Soujuan Kimono Visits Portland

Naoki Nomura san from Soujuan Kimono Visited Portland at the End of September.  Every year he designs art kimono based on various themes.  This year the kimono were based on Basho's Journey.  Here are a few of the beautiful kimono he showed in Portland.

Nomura san also had kimono, obi, zori and other accessories for dressing in kimono for sale.

And I got a personal kimono dressing lesson from the always beautiful and very accomplished Kageyama san.

A special thank you to Keiko Wright who traveled with them and provided translation.

Thank you Nomura san and Kageyama san

Issoan Tea School News and Events

We have a lot of events coming up this fall, in addition to the busy summer.  I promise that I will get back onto a schedule of regular blogging, as the blog posts requested and ones I want to write are piling up.

For the immediate future, please see the calendar below, and if you are interested in attending any of the events or workshops, please contact me.

September 18th, Wedesday 6:30 pm -- Moonviewing at the Portland Japanese Garden.  Regular Wednesday class will be held at the Japanese Garden.
September 29-30, Sunday- Monday, 10 am- 5 pm -- Soujuan Kimono visit, The Wine & Spirit Archive, 828 SE Ash St #204, Portland OR, 97214.  We are lucky to have Mr. Nomura return to Portland with his collection of art kimono and, kimono accessories and kimono dressing lessons.  Please join us.
Octpber 5-6. Saturday -Sunday, Northwest Tea Festival, Seattle, WA.
October 13-14, Sunday -Monday, Christy-sensei intensive seminar. Konarai on Sunday, Kagetsu in the evenings.  Shikaden study on Monday morning, Okuden afternoon, advanced Kagetsu Monday evening.  Contact Margie for more information.
November 2-3, Saturday, Sunday 10 am.  Tea gathering for the opening of the winter hearth.
November 10, Sunday 10am -12 pm, Kumihimo workshop. Learn the basics of Japanese braiding techniques.
Coming soon - Kintsugi workshop, repairing ceramics with gold

Kimono Designer to visit Portland

We are lucky to be able to host Naoki Nomura, kimono designer from Kyoto, Japan in Portland.  Nomura-san, owner of Soujuan Kimono, has exhibited art kimono internationally and will offer kimono, obi, and accessories for sale.  Joining him is Akiko Kageyama, certified kimono instructor, to give us instruction and tips on kimono dressing as well has help choose kimono, obi and accessories.  She will present a special lecture “Ohashiyori – how to finish clean”

Please join us: Sunday, September 29, and Monday, September 30, from 9am - 6 pm
Location: 828 SE Ash St., #204, Portland, OR 97214.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2008-06-15/news/36929993_1_edo-era-traditional-japanese-dress-japan-s-edo

https://buyathread.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/naoki-nomuras-kimono-exhibition-in-nyc-next-week/

http://www.nyartbeat.com/event/2011/A419

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2006.73.2

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/pdf/kimonoopening08.pdf

Activities at Issoan

It has been a long time since I have blogged, but we have been busy at Issoan Tea School. 

Last month we had a haigata workshop, the forming of the ash for burning charcoal.  The whole class was able to use the ash spoons to smooth the ash and do part of the form.  Then we layed the charcoal, heated the water,  had our sweets and made tea. 

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Tom Ward who made the charcoal that we burned.  He has come the closest I have seen to making domestic charcoal for tea ceremony.