One of the highlights of the Japan EXPO for us was sponsoring the Kimono Show, at which we had close to 100 applicants, who submitted entries as couples, and competed by a simple drawing by entry number, which I conducted on the stage before an audience of over 150 people.
The lucky couple then came up on the stage, where first the man and then the woman were dressed in formal kimono, which they got to keep! The kimono were a gift from one of the Shikoku Muchujin Sponsors from Kagawa Prefecture, and the dressing (kitsuke) was carried out by an expert Kimono teacher (second from left).
It is difficult enough to wear a kimono, with over 20 accessories, and its inner and outer robes and sashes, much less to dress oneself. It took over 40 minutes to fully dress the couple, after which I gave them a lesson in Nanba Walking so that they would look as good in motion as they did standing still.
The biggest challenge for me was how to explain in French, not only the parts and process of wearing a kimono, but also how to walk Nanba style. I was asked to be the master of ceremonies for the entire hour, and probably had about 2 minutes worth of French in me to say all I had to say. No translator was provided. The Nanba solution to this problem? Find a translator, on the spot, a few minutes before the show started. I did. The lady standing to the left of the Kimono teacher above was actually one of the applicants. She spoke English quite well, and graciously agreed to be my translator despite my impromptu request. She charmed the audience and delivered my messages with spontaneous accuracy.
On peut marche comme un chat, très leger, très leger.
Living in Japan you take so much for granted. For the couple on stage and for most everyone in the audience, this was a nearly other-world experience, and a highlight of haute-couture amidst the world of popular culture all around it.
The audience chairs were filled to capacity with many standing looking on. They were attentive to learn as well as to enjoy. The stage was filled almost continually throughout the EXPO, featuring Japanese dance, taiko drumming, martial arts, language lessons, ranging from festive to academic, and always had an audience.
The lucky couple won a Kimono in the drawing which was one chance out of a hundred applicants. They may have even a slimmer chance of figuring out how to put the Kimono on again without the teacher's help, but as the French word souvenir suggests, it was probably one of the best memories possible to take home from the Japan EXPO.
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