Massachusetts Institute of Technology © 2011 Visualizing Cultures
Site 05: Kimono Shop
My mother wore kimono!
I wonder if women like wearing kimono? It looks so complicated! When I was a kid, many wore the “working kimono” Mrs. Yagi has on in the video. Not many wear them today.
(Must look up the Tale of Genji quote I was thinking of earlier.)
site 05 photo 1.1
Introducing Shigeru Miyagawa!
I am wearing a formal kimono for omiya mairi.
(omiya=shrine mairi=going for a blessing)
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The robe has our family crest. Ours was called “dakimyoga”.
(Daki means to embrace, myoga is a kind of plant–the crest shows two myoga plants embracing.)
site 05 photo 1.3
left to right: Shigeru (age 6); Suehiro grandmother;
Haruyo (age 3); my mother.
We sent this portrait to father, who was away in the States.
This picture was taken in front of our soba shop. The window behind me was where we packaged the soba (noodles). To the left was the counter area where people bought soba. To the right was the factory where we made the noodles.
We used a soldering iron to seal the plastic bags with the fried noodles inside. I liked it so much I became interested in making radios–so I could
use the soldering gun.
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1958, I am wearing “hakama” (skirt). Pattern of top is designed after feudal-period peasant clothing.
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Summer “yukata”–cotton kimono.
My Geta were made by grandfather at the shoe store. Haruyo’s Zori were made by the kimono woman from same cloth as the kimono.
Mrs. Yagi lent me some of her family photos! She was much younger than my grandmother.
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Mrs. Nobu Yagi, (left) proprietor of the kimono shop, as a young woman
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Going to temple on Buddha’s birthday, April 18
Mrs. Nobu Yagi (3rd woman from left), Grandmother (far right), Shigeru (me, far right)
site 05 photo 3.3
Grandmother is 2nd from left
