Dressed in a bright yellow kimono, toting a kasa (umbrella), and playing a drum with symbols perched on top, the young woman in the photo below was not doing so to further our education in all things Japanese.  In fact she was part of an advertising campaign for a nearby store in the trendy neighborhood […]

A Geisha is a woman trained in the traditional arts of Japan which include dance, song and the playing of musical instruments who must first serve as a Maiko or apprentice Geisha.  Maiko training involves a four to five year commitment and a passion for traditional Japanese arts and culture. So is the Geisha lifestyle […]

A young women in a lovely spring kimono decorated with cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen. Just last Saturday, I made my first visit to Shinjuku Gyoen and found the spring flowers of Japan starting to bloom.  The grass hadn’t even turned green but  photographers surrounded the few cherry blossom trees that had overcome the cool […]

Stunning Kimonos on young women celebrating Seiji no Hi, coming of age day, this past January 12th at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo, Japan – another beautiful additional to our gallery from my friend, Jason Collin.   Thanks, Jason! In his own words: “I had already been shooting at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Yoyogi for about […]

The ultimate layered look never goes out of style in Japan.  The Kimono is the most well know piece of wafaku (traditional Japanese clothing) outside of Japan and a beautiful women dressed in an elaborate kimono is an iconic image of Japan. Young and old, men and women wear Kimonos on a number of different […]