[Media Coverage] Kimono Festival in Gifu: Dressers Compete in Skill and Expression
(Photo Caption) Kimono dressers competing in technical skill and expressiveness while dressing models. (Location: Priny Hall, Sohara Chuo-cho, Kakamigahara City)
On the 16th and 17th, the “Kimono Festival” was held at Priny Hall in Sohara Chuo-cho, Kakamigahara City. Visitors were mesmerized by the dazzling display of participants in elegant kimonos during the “International Culture Kimono Show.”
Organized by the Kimono Beauty Japan Association (Tokyo) and other groups, the event was held in conjunction with the “Seiryu no Kuni Gifu” Cultural Festival 2024 (National Cultural Festival and National Arts and Cultural Festival for Persons with Disabilities), under the theme “Together, Connecting, to the Future.”
In the first part of the contest, 12 pairs of professional dressers and models competed in technical skill and expressiveness. After performing a live 3-minute dressing demonstration on stage, each pair introduced the unique features and stories behind their attire. Highlights included a dresser using a Furisode (long-sleeved kimono) worn by their mother at her coming-of-age ceremony, and another incorporating Mino Washi (traditional Japanese paper) into the kimono. Winners were selected following a rigorous judging process.
Following the contest, a special talk session was held between Ms. Yuko Murakami, Representative Director of the Association, and Mr. Takahiro Ikawa, President of ISJ Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Gifu City). They discussed the theme, “The Evolution of Kimono into the Future.”
The event concluded with a runway show featuring approximately 90 participants, including kimono enthusiasts and international students, enveloping the venue in a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere.
On the 17th, the “Kimono Festival in Kakamigahara,” organized by the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Costume Culture and others, was held.
(Reporting by Naoyasu Matsuda)
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