• Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts
ABOUT
Advertise in GAT
Contact us
Monday, March 20, 2023
Georgia Asian Times
International Insurance of Georgia
  • Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts
No Result
View All Result
Georgia Asian Times
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts
Home Headline

Coronavirus crisis threatens to unravel Japanese artist’s kimono ambitions

Georgia Asian Times by Georgia Asian Times
August 21, 2020
in Headline, Lifestyle
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Tokyo, Aug 21, 2020 – Japanese artist Hiroko Takahashi fought through sexism and suspicion from traditional kimono artisans to establish a globally known brand that sold hundreds of her original garments every month – until the coronavirus devastation hit.

Takahashi has tried to regroup by selling handmade masks sewn from kimono fabric.

“My designs are kind of strong, so there are people who resist the idea of wearing them in something full body,” the 42-year-old said. “But they’d love to wear it as a mask.”

But the masks are a long fall from her original business. Noted for her bold, unisex prints for both kimono and yukata, a lighter kimono, and her refusal to accept conventional limits on wearing them, Takahashi this year was part of an exhibit at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. She also has a contract to provide yukata for a new, luxury hotel as Japan gears up to host the Olympics.

AD: High Museum of Atlanta

Success took time. When she began, traditional dyers hated her designs and refused to work with her. When she called to check on progress, they’d hang up.

“Being a woman and young can make it hard to work in Japan,” she said.

She persisted until she was selling 100 to 200 made-to-order yukata a month – remarkable success in an industry so steadily declining that sales now hover around 16 percent of what they were in 1981, according to government data.

The coronavirus changed everything. Department stores shut for weeks, the Olympics were postponed until 2021 and the hotel opening was put off. Summer festivals and fireworks displays, usually prime yukata-wearing occasions, were cancelled nationwide.

“We have absolutely nothing,” she said. “I’ve done nothing new this year. No new designs, no new colors.”

Though Takahashi is teaching and eking out income making kimono fabric masks, her income has taken a major hit. Her yukatas started at 60,000 yen ($566) and kimono at 3 million yen, but the masks go for just 1,400 yen each.

The coronavirus could devastate the kimono industry, where aging artisans, each specializing in one stage of the process, are finding it impossible to envision future work.

“There are a lot of people who expected to hang in there, but with the virus, and not enough work coming in, they’re deciding to call it quits,” said Kazumi Furuoya, 44, a third-generation kimono tailor who works with his wife and parents in the Den-en-chofu area of Tokyo.

A generation ago, the Furuoya workshop was so busy it scrambled to keep up with orders.

A recent survey by Aeru, a company promoting traditional crafts, found that unless demand improves, about 40 percent of artisans may be forced to quit by the end of the year.

“If a fabric-maker goes under there’s nothing to dye, and if the dyers quit we can’t make kimonos,” Takahashi said. “If one goes down, we all do.”

Even if demand picks up, the impact may be lasting. A lack of orders means new tailors can’t practice enough.

“Kimonos are part of Japanese culture and as long as even one artisan remains, I want to work with them to keep things going – because once something vanishes, bringing it back is really hard,” Takahashi said.

“I don’t know how much strength I have, but if I can contribute even a little to this, it’ll be good.” – Reuters

Previous Post

U.S., China differ over plans for Phase 1 trade deal talks

Next Post

Stymied at home, Korea’s mom and pop investors charge into China tech stocks

Georgia Asian Times

Georgia Asian Times

Related Posts

Beloved and debated, French bulldog becomes top US dog breed
Lifestyle

Beloved and debated, French bulldog becomes top US dog breed

March 15, 2023
For Asian Americans, Yeoh, Quan’s Oscar wins are theirs too
Lifestyle

For Asian Americans, Yeoh, Quan’s Oscar wins are theirs too

March 14, 2023
‘Everything’ wins best picture, is everywhere at Oscars
Lifestyle

‘Everything’ wins best picture, is everywhere at Oscars

March 13, 2023
Chanel’s camellias, empty chairs close Paris Fashion Week
Lifestyle

Chanel’s camellias, empty chairs close Paris Fashion Week

March 8, 2023
Dior channels rebellious women at Paris Fashion Week
Lifestyle

Dior channels rebellious women at Paris Fashion Week

March 1, 2023
Murakami’s 1st novel in 6 years to hit stores in April
Lifestyle

Murakami’s 1st novel in 6 years to hit stores in April

March 1, 2023
Next Post

Stymied at home, Korea's mom and pop investors charge into China tech stocks

Signup Free E-Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Apr 7
8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Symposium on Asia-USA Partnership Opportunities (SAUPO) 2023

May 6
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

GAT AAPI Summit 2023

View Calendar
Logo

 

CONTACT US

Follow Us

MOST INFLUENTIAL

GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans Gala celebrates Asian voice

GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans Gala celebrates Asian voice

July 18, 2022

Video highlights of GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia

July 17, 2022

2022 GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia-Awards Gala

July 17, 2022

LINKS OF INTEREST

ATL Asian Film Festival

     

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise in GAT
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 Georgia Asian Times - Empowered by 8SOL. Managed by Arckopolis.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts

© 2023 Georgia Asian Times - Empowered by 8SOL. Managed by Arckopolis.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

    Register for FREE to read the rest of this article, or log in to your account.

      Or Login Here :

      Login

      Are you sure want to unlock this post?
      Unlock left : 0
      Are you sure want to cancel subscription?