April 22, Saturday – July 2, Sunday, 2017

Kimonos and accessories always come to symbolize their era. In particular, a “culture of attire” took root in the Edo period among the samurai and common townsfolk, becoming more refined throughout the period as a unique sense of aesthetics emerged that spanned a variety of spheres, even beyond accessories to include hairstyles, cosmetics, and shikohin luxury items.

Due to the demand among city-dwellers in Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka for unique, individualistic items with novel designs, there were many highly refined kimonos, accessories, and similar items that were produced by artisans making full use advanced techniques. These striking new designs that still retain a Japanese feel, as well as the meticulously fine craftsmanship that utilizes a variety of materials and techniques, seem fresh even in the modern era.

This exhibit features around 200 items, including men’s and women’s kimonos, hakoseko (small bags tucked into kimonos), tabakoire tobacco pouches, and other accessories. The exhibit is built primarily around the “Choukoshou” collection of dyed textiles from the Edo, Meiji, and Taisho eras, which was assembled in the early Showa period by Kiyoshi Nakamura (1887-1946). Nakamura was the founder of the Nakamura Shouten bag and pouch store in Tokyo’s Asakusabashi, and before the Second World War he had served as a councilor and vice chairman, among other roles, with the Tokyo Guild of Bag and Tobacco Item Craftsmen and the Tokyo Bagmakers Industrial Guild. Through these items, we hope that visitors to this exhibit will get a sense for the aesthetic tastes and insistence on quality that people of the various eras had for their attire.

[General admission fees]

General（Adults and university students）
individual:100yen
Group（20 or more）:50yen

Children and pupils of primary, juniorhigh, and high schools
individual:50yen
Group（20 or more）:20yen

Visitors over 65 years old ※Please show proof of age when entering.
individual:50yen
Group（20 or more）:20yen

※ With age certificate, visitors over 65 years old are admitted for half price.
※ With disability certificate, free admission for disabled persons and one accompanying attendant.

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  Furisode
  (Formal long-sleeve kimono for women)

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  Jinbaori
  (Men's coat)