Journal lingqi's Journal: April 05, 2004 2
April 5th, 2004 (6:51pm)
The past friday marked when the order of 120,000 yen was spent on two nights of hotel stay. It's not even like a suite!
But enough dwelling on such a heartbreaking subject. This sunday marked the Kimono-show that the Kumagaya Kimono school hosted. It was about 3 times longer, but maybe 5 times better than I have anticipated, and I have to say I am really glad to have had a chance to participate.
The ordeal was lengthy and I will have to write in detail another day, but the most striking portion of the show must have been the really really traditional kimono worn by the royal family in the days long gone, the 12-layer one that weights a massive 20kg.
The poor girl acting as model was brought on stage in a white undershirk / robe thing. Sitting (kneeling, actuall) around her was six people about to partake in the elaborate process that is to get her wrapped. Layers of The Kimono (tm) lay around her, folded but still the sheer number of them nonetheless covered the entire stage.
Dressing then begun. The pants-things were put on first. If nothing more than the fact that after several layers, the wearer would be hard pressed to step into anything. The pants were exceedingly long, and they were not rolled up - but rather the person simply stepped on it, the remainder of the pant leg pulled taunt and laid behind her.
Layers were then piled onto the straining girl, who was under the stress of both the weight and the stares of hundreds of people under the stage. She stood motionless, trying to hide the terrible pain that must be plaguing her legs and arms - something I can only imagine since my time on stage involved a four-layer kimono and I stood for half as long as she did, and I had shoes.
The earlier layers were more simple, and was visibly thinner and had no patterns. Each layer was of a different colour - the announcers explained the differences of them and their significance, but I was too in awe by the fact that there is STILL one more layer to be actually listening*.
*It's a lie, I didn't understand what she was saying about 80% of the time.
As each layer was worn, the front is folded outwards so each layer could be seen visibly though only a little. Despite being fairly thin layers, they did however add significantly to the girl's bulk as the numbers increased. She could less and less droop her arms down around her side, as the waist slowly overtook the chest, and it became progressively pronounced as well. The belt tied at each layer certainly leads a helping hand to this phenomenon.
The final few layers were coloured and was thick. I am sure putting them on was not looked forward to. The sleeves, actually, has become thick and heavy enough that she was no longer able to lift them properly alone, and was helped into the final few layers. By this point, her shape has begun to take place, and is strikingly remiscent of Tsuna-ningyo that are bought at a high price on certain holidays. In fact, it's a very interesting experince - while in general one sees a live figure and some dolls modelled after her sometimes later, in this case seeing the live figure finally brought to me enlightment on what the original thing was supposed to look like.
The last two or three layers was kind of like an overcoat, they weren't as long as the previous few, and are cut at the corners in the front to better show the multi-layer palatte carefully arranged below. After those were finally tucked right and belts tied, a thingy (I really don't know the name) was inserted mid-waist and a fan was handed to the finally dressed princess to hold. The entire procession was a painstaking process of 45 minutes; her girth tripled as a result.
I suppose people would point out that this is another form of control from a man to a woman - the woman in this case is not even able to move, not to mention the certain fate of dehydration caused by excessive sweating inside (it was hot even in four layers). Even as the entire show came to a close, she was not able to move, but stood like a statue - or possibly somebody casted in cement. People took this opportunity to take pictures beside her - which she complied silently. However, I am sure she cursed the fact that she was made to stay longer in the nadir of her day.
read this story that came out in the wsj on monday (Score:2)
In Japan, Travelers
Sleep in Their Cars
Rebel Tourists Rate Best Lots
To Lodge Complaints;
Making Tea in a Minivan
By MARTIN FACKLER
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
April 5, 2004; Page A1
HAKUBA, Japan -- Toshimi Kozuma frequently skis at top alpine resorts, such as this one in Japan's rugged central mountains. But after a long day on the slopes, the 54-year-old and his friends shun the village's gingerbread chalets and cozy wooden lodges. Instead, they crawl into sleeping bags in th
Re:read this story that came out in the wsj on mon (Score:1)
For the highway, thoug and I figured that using the highway is a way of saving time, which must be the most valuable commodity you can possibly have. Besides, if enough people travel together, it's generally ch