Kimono de Ginza

Kimono de Ginza (きものｄｅ銀座) is a group of kimono and Japanese clothing enthusiasts that meets in Ginza, Tokyo on the second Saturday of every month. The group photo archives go back to 2000.

The group is very loosely organized. There are no "members" as such, no membership fees and no rules. Participation is open to anyone who enjoys wearing traditional Japanese clothing. The group meets at 3 p.m. in front of the Wako Department Store in west Ginza. Each month there is a different "theme," usually centered on a walk through a different part of Tokyo, visits to shrines or temples, historical sites, et cetera. Sometimes the group is extremely large, and splits into several smaller groups. The group usually meets again at about 5 p.m. and those who wish to do so proceed to an izakaya, a Japanese-style pub.

The monthly event has continued to grow in popularity, and is regularly featured on the news. While many participants wear traditional clothing in the traditional way, some participants choose modern interpretations of traditional clothing, wear clothing in ways that are not traditional or seasonally appropriate, and mix and match in various non-traditional ways. There are also participants who choose to wear items not traditionally worn by their gender.

The group maintains a [http://www.kimono-office.com/ginza/ginza_set.html website] (in Japanese only) which features photographs from most of the events held so far.

ee also

* Kimono