01. I Love Japan. But There Are Things I Struggle to Accept.
I love Japanese culture.
The beauty of traditional craftsmanship, the colors and patterns inspired by nature, the changing seasons, and the care that goes into even the smallest details. As someone born and raised in Japan, these things have always been close to my heart.
Yet, there is another side of Japan that I have struggled with.
In Japanese society, there can be a strong expectation to fit in, avoid standing out, and follow what everyone else is doing. Sometimes, it feels as though being different is something to be corrected rather than something to be celebrated.
I love the beauty of Japanese culture, but I have also felt constrained by the expectations that surround it.
For a long time, these conflicting feelings existed side by side within me.
02. Growing Up Feeling Different
As a child, I was curious and imaginative. I often saw things from my own perspective and enjoyed thinking about possibilities that others might not have considered.
My family circumstances were also different from those of many of my classmates. Because of these differences, I experienced bullying at school.
At the time, I didn't know how to understand or explain what made me different. I only knew that being myself could sometimes make life difficult.
Of course, harmony has value. Being considerate of others and finding ways to live together are important parts of any society.
But what happens when the desire for harmony becomes an expectation that everyone must be the same?
Can we create a society where people with different backgrounds, personalities, and ways of thinking are accepted without having to hide who they are?
These are questions I have carried with me for many years.
03. I Didn't Like Kimono, Either.
There is something else I remember from my childhood: I didn't like wearing kimono.
When I wore one for Shichi-Go-San, a traditional Japanese celebration for children, I remember how difficult it was to move freely. The clothing felt restrictive, and I couldn't move my body as naturally as I wanted to.
At the time, I simply thought that kimono was uncomfortable.
Looking back now, I sometimes wonder whether that feeling of physical restriction was connected to something deeper: the feeling of not being free to be myself.
I don't believe that kimono itself limits individuality. Kimono carries a rich history, extraordinary craftsmanship, and a beauty that deserves to be appreciated.
But I have come to see an interesting connection between my childhood experience and the way I felt growing up: the discomfort of being constrained by something that didn't feel natural to me.
Today, I work with vintage kimono fabrics and transform them into contemporary fashion accessories.
Perhaps there is a meaningful connection between the kimono I once found restrictive and the freedom I now want to express through fashion.
04. Discovering Fashion as a Form of Expression
My perspective began to change when I discovered that fashion design could be much more than creating beautiful things.
Fashion can express a person's values, worldview, and questions about society. Through color, shape, texture, and materials, a designer can communicate ideas that might be difficult to express in words.
Unlike a painting displayed on a wall, fashion becomes part of a person's life. It moves with the body, occupies space, and interacts with the world around the wearer.
That possibility fascinated me.
I began to realize that I, too, could express my own ideas and the things I had always felt uncomfortable with through fashion design.
The more I thought about it, the clearer my aspirations became:
More freedom for kimono.
More freedom to express individuality.
I want people to enjoy kimono fashion without being restricted by traditional forms, established rules, or expectations about how kimono should be worn.
For me, fashion is not only about what we wear. It is also about the freedom to choose how we express ourselves.
05. The Ideas Behind KIMONO⁺on
This is where KIMONO⁺on comes in.
Through KIMONO⁺on, I transform vintage kimono fabrics into contemporary fashion accessories and items that can be incorporated into everyday outfits.
I want people to discover new ways to enjoy kimono textiles—not only through traditional kimono dressing, but also through their own personal style.
You don't need special knowledge of kimono or a particular way of dressing to enjoy these pieces. You can pair them with the clothes you already love, experiment with different combinations, and make them your own.
A single accessory can add a new dimension to a simple outfit. A piece of fabric with its own history can become part of a completely new story.
Looking back, I feel that KIMONO⁺on may have come to embody ideas I had carried within me for a long time, perhaps even before I was fully conscious of them.
The desire to respect Japanese culture without being confined by its established forms. The desire to express individuality without having to conform. And the belief that something we once found restrictive can become a source of freedom when we approach it differently.
These ideas are part of what I want to express through my designs.
I hope you will look at these pieces not simply as accessories made from kimono fabric, but as expressions of my perspective on Japanese culture and the possibilities I see in fashion.
06. A World That Has Yet to Be Defined
I don't have a name for the world I want to create just yet.
I am still exploring it through design, experimenting with materials and forms, and discovering new ways to connect Japanese cultural heritage with contemporary life.
What I know is that I want to respect tradition without being bound by old forms. I want to value individuality, welcome different perspectives, and find new possibilities in things that may once have felt restrictive.
For me, upcycling kimono textiles is not only about giving old materials a new life. It is also an opportunity to reconsider how we see tradition, beauty, and self-expression.
I hope that through KIMONO⁺on, you will discover your own way to enjoy these pieces—and perhaps feel a little more freedom to express who you are.
This journey is still unfolding.
And I would love for you to see where it takes me.
Discover KIMONO⁺on
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
KIMONO⁺on is my ongoing exploration of how Japanese kimono textiles can find new life in contemporary fashion.
Through my designs, I hope to share a different way of experiencing Japanese culture—one that honors tradition while embracing individuality and freedom of expression.
If you'd like to discover more about my work, you can find me here:
Explore the Collection Discover contemporary fashion accessories made from vintage kimono textiles.
Visit the KIMONO⁺on Online Store
Follow the Journey See new designs, styling ideas, and moments from my creative journey.
Instagram
Watch & Discover Explore KIMONO⁺on through video and discover more about my work and inspiration. YouTube
Thank you for being part of this journey.
KIMONO⁺on — Wear Your Story.
