Beauty of Japan – Japanese Kimono Show

August 4, 7pm

National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre

6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby, BC

Tickets: $12
10 concession and NNMHC members

604.777.7000

www.nikkeiplace.org

A group of kimono teachers and students lead by Mineko Ukai from Nishinomiya, Japan are travelling specially to the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre to present Beauty of Japan – Japanese Kimono Show on Wednesday, August 4, 2010, at 7pm. Experience the virtues of wearing a kimono and expect to see myriads of kimono worn for different occasions and seasons.

In the program’s first scene, women’s seasonal kimono for spring, summer, fall, and winter will be introduced. Scene two will show three kinds of obi: Han haba, Nagoya , and Fukuro Obi . In scene three, kimono worn for special occasions will be showcased: Shichigosan , Jusan-mairi , and Coming-of-Age Day. Thirty kimono teachers and models, including one man, a handful of children, and some local models, will come together on stage for the finale. When wearing kimono manners such as bowing, walking, sitting, and virtues of the heart – harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility – will also be illustrated throughout the show (with English and Japanese commentary). A reception with refreshments will follow, and audiences will have a chance to mingle with the kimono bearers. Please join us for a spectacular and rare opportunity to appreciate Japanese kimono with those who keep the tradition alive. 

Kimono and items created from kimono fabric will be on sale in the lobby, which is accessible to everyone with or without tickets.

Mineko Ukai is the founder of the renowned Motomi Kimono School in Nishinomiya, Japan. Twenty members from her three kimono classes will accompany her for this show. As a young girl Ukai loved watching her mother and others wear kimono and began learning how to dress her own children for Shichigosan . Ukai began teaching kimono classes in 1973. By 1976, she established Motomi Kimono School and held kimono classes at Danjo Public Hall and Takagi Public Hall. Her skill in weaving and braiding obijime led to invitations to San Francisco’s Little Tokyo, for the Cherry Blossom Kimono Shows and braiding workshops (in 1977 to 1979). In 1994, Ukai-sensei and members from the Koto Public Hall kimono class travelled to Canada to present a Japanese Kimono show at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. After nearly 40 years as a kimono teacher, Ukai still teaches three weekly kimono classes with 25 to 30 members in attendance. Ten kimono teachers meet weekly for advanced classes in Ukai-sensei’s home. Together they study the history of kimono, design, and the preservation of kitsuke “the art of wearing kimono” in every-day Japanese life.

For more information about kimono, Mineko Ukai, and members from her Motomi Kimono School please visit:

http://web.me.com/nigawa_c/KimonoWay/Kimono_Sensei.html

The National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre is a multi-use facility at the corner of Kingsway and Sperling in Burnaby, BC. Officially opened on September 22, 2000, the Centre houses the National Nikkei Heritage Centre and the Japanese Canadian National Museum.

The Centre’s mandate is to promote a better understanding and appreciation by all Canadians of Japanese Canadian culture and heritage; and an awareness by all Canadians of the contribution of Japanese Canadians to Canadian society, through public programs, exhibits, services, publications, public use of the facilities and special events.

In addition to offering its own programs, the NNM&HC has a number of rooms available for rent for many purposes including meetings, demonstrations, weddings, receptions, small conferences, and other special events.