{"id":1250,"date":"2011-03-26T22:40:53","date_gmt":"2011-03-27T02:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moonblossom.net\/blog\/?p=1250"},"modified":"2018-12-24T14:16:14","modified_gmt":"2018-12-24T19:16:14","slug":"bowling-and-shenanigans-in-kimono","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moonblossom.net\/blog\/2011\/03\/bowling-and-shenanigans-in-kimono\/","title":{"rendered":"Bowling and shenanigans in Kimono"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever since seeing this photo of a maiko bowling in full regalia<\/a>, I have been dying to go bowling in kimono myself. It looks adorable, and I wanted to prove that there’s no reason you need to be stuffy and “fixed”, especially in casual kimono. After the devastating Tohoku Quake, the Montreal Japanese Cultural Center has been arranging a lot of fundraisers and they announced there’d be a bowling event with proceeds going to the Red Cross. I figured it would be the perfect opportunity.<\/p>\n

Amelie and I arranged to meet there, but unfortunately due to ridiculous road work she was a bit late, so I went in and played around a bit. The reactions to my kimono were all really positive and encouraging, lots of “sutekii!” and “sugoiii!”. It made me feel a lot less self-conscious about being there by myself. A lot of women asked where I’d learned to dress myself, and seemed very shocked when I explained it was all self-taught. A few of them sort of seemed wistful that they didn’t know themselves, but I encouraged them to check out some books and websites. I really hope they consider it!<\/p>\n

A few lovely women were running an origami table and they taught me how to make a crane and a heart. They were so sweet! I have a LOT of photos to share here, so I’m inserting smaller ones than usual. Please click on them to see the larger versions \ud83d\ude42
\nAmelie arrived while I was with them and we finished up and went to the part you’re all waiting for… the bowling! And no, these pics are not a setup. We really truly did play a full ten-round set to completion, entirely in kimono. I wore my black and red wool outfit that Amelie gave me along with a red hanhaba and my car obidome. I knew I’d be wearing bowling shoes, so I wore ridiculous red and black striped socks. Amelie wore a really pretty komon and orange hakata, and also had fun with rainbow striped socks. We didn’t plan it, I swear!<\/p>\n

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