Ep. 9 A Change of Kimono, for a Hundred

Ep. 9 “A Change of Kimono, for a Hundred” — English script

Page 1

Hand warmers, ten yen each.

Kimono are warm, they say!!

...Can you even put one on?

No clue how!!

Pardon me, is anyone here?

Page 2

I asked at Tourism, but they said there's no budget...

They told me a unit in the basement handles trends.

Trends? That's my unit.

A win for Tourism... it'll reach the main building...!

November 15th is Kimono Day, after all.

Note: Kimono Day (November 15) was started by the kimono industry to get people wearing kimono; it falls in the Shichi-Go-San season.

Page 3

My husband started it. I want this year to be the last.

A hundred signed up. But we're short on kimono and on dressers.

How many are in your chests?

About two hundred, held in trust.

Lent to us on the promise they'd be worn in the parade.

Kimono dressing... that's spinning the sash around, right?

Note: Kitsuke (kimono dressing) is a skill of its own: layers, cords and the obi sash go on in a set order, and many people hire a dresser for formal occasions.

Page 4

Nashigasaka Shopping Street. Kimono shop "Matsunoya."

Wh-what's that stink...

Camphor. It keeps the moths away.

Rather than look, why not try one on?

I'll do it! For Tourism's track record!

Page 5

First, underwear and tabi socks. Then the under-kimono.

Pull the collar back from the nape, one fist's width.

Right side first, left on top. That's "right-front."

Note: "Right-front" (migi-mae) means the right panel goes on first, under the left. Everyone, men and women, wears kimono this way.

Right-front...

So your right hand can slip inside.

Ooh, Akamine in a kimono...

NO PEEKING!!

Page 6

The kimono too: right-front. Right side first.

Waist cord at the hips. Knot a little off-center.

Let me do the obi too!!

Aaaah, stop!!

No spinning.

...It's tight. But it's beautiful.

Page 7

When you walk, small steps, toes slightly in.

Like this?

Big strides split the hem open.

On stairs, lift the hem a little. Hold it down when you sit.

When reaching for things, hold your sleeve cuff.

I tried on a haori too!

Oops.

Tetsu, your sleeve's in the tea.

Page 8

So, uh... how much does a kimono cost?

A silk visiting kimono, tailored, runs hundreds of thousands of yen.

Note: A homongi ("visiting kimono") is a semi-formal silk kimono worn to weddings, ceremonies and parties.

H-hundreds of thousands!?

But fewer people wear them. Sales are a tenth of what they were at the peak.

Kimono retail market: 1981 approx. 1.8 trillion yen -> 2025: 203 billion yen (Yano Research Institute)

Every home has unworn kimono asleep in a chest.

...My parents' place has some.

But tourist rentals cost 3,000-8,000 yen a day, with lines!

Page 9

Every sleeping kimono is MY inventory!!

5,000 yen a head!! Times 300... 1.5 million!!

How about 300 yen per dressing?

Wait, renting out things held in trust is...

That's 300 people for Tourism.

Three hundred... the main building...

Page 10

Wash after every rental... a pro cleaning is thousands per kimono!?

Send 200 to a pro and the profit's gone!! I'll learn to wash 'em myself!!

That night.

Washable kimono: in a laundry net, on the dry cycle!!

Delicates detergent, dry in the shade!!

Silk shrinks if you wash it at home. That's for a pro cleaner.

...Tetsu's actually getting it right...

Page 11

Underwear, tabi, under-kimono, kimono, waist cord, obi!!

...Don't forget right-front.

The dry cycle is the same as dry cleaning!!

So silk's fine on the dry cycle too!!

Right-front means the right goes in front!! So, right on top!!

Uh-huh... sure, sure...

Page 12

Welcome!! Kimono rental, 5,000 yen!!

Then, the November weekends.

They're held in trust, so take good care of them.

Leave it to me!

Kimono! Beautiful!

Page 13

Washable kimono go in a net, on the dry cycle.

Wonderful!

I want her to wear Grandma's silk kimono for her Shichi-Go-San.

Note: Shichi-Go-San ("7-5-3") is a November shrine visit to pray for children aged 3, 5 and 7, often dressed in kimono.

Grandma's kimono!

Leave it to me! I'll wash it good as new!

Is it safe to wash...?

Page 14

Three hundred bookings!? Amazing!

Three hundred... it'll reach the main building...!

Make it 8,000!! The laundry can't keep up!!

Are we keeping it at 300 yen per dressing?

Page 15

Wash 'em all!! Two hundred, in one go!!

Which cycle?

Dry!! Silk on dry is the same as dry cleaning!!

Tell me when it's done.

Page 16

Right on top!! Lap the right side on top!!

Tetsu, my right hand won't go inside my kimono.

Don't sweat it!! Next!!

Three minutes each, nice pace!

Page 17

And then, the fateful day.

...It's backwards, you know?

I got held up with a Shichi-Go-San customer...

...Everyone, that is how the dead are dressed.

Note: Left-front (left panel under, right on top) is reserved for dressing the dead for a funeral, so wearing it in life is a serious faux pas.

Huh?

Page 18

The sleeves... they've shrunk so much...

Grandma's kimono...

Silk must never go in a washing machine.

It goes to a pro cleaner.

Right-front: right first, left on top.

..........

TETSU!!

Page 19

Damaging the kimono entrusted to us is our unit's fault.

We are deeply sorry.

Mr. Genda.

Refund every customer in full.

And the 200 kimono: to each owner's home, one by one.

Yours too, Mr. Genda. Right-front.

Small steps.

Apologize in seiza.

Note: Seiza is the formal kneeling posture, sitting back on the heels. It is expected for a solemn apology and is hard on the legs.

In a kimono... up the hill... OHHH!!

Page 20

S-small steps... small steps...

A few days later.

Best bet: remake it as a kid's kimono.

Store it in tato paper. Air it out on sunny days.

Note: Tato paper (tatoushi) is the folded washi wrapper kimono are stored in. Mushiboshi is airing them on a dry, sunny day to keep insects and mold away.

Good thing we moved the shrine visit to month's end.

Grandma's kimono, for my girl's Shichi-Go-San...

Grandma's kimono is warm!

The end of November.

Page 21

Dressing classes start next month.

Kimono sure are warm...

And then, December.

Can't get up!! The obi's too tight to get up!!

Your own fault.

Helping you up is 300 yen a time.

Pricey!!