Every year, they organise a matsuri(festival) dedicated to Chrysanthemums, a.k.a, Kiku, in our neighborhood. In addition to watching and buying the beautiful multicolored flowers, we can also enjoy an array of music and dance performances, enjoy some Oden (simmered winter dish) or sip some beer, chu-hai (shōchū based drink, somewhat similar to cider), or special Chrysanthemum sake. The festival is mainly arranged in the courtyard of the Daienji-temple in Yanaka, but spreads out to the neighborhood as well.
We woke up really late today (as so often in weekends), but went out to enjoy the last hours of the matsuri – for today that is, as the matsuri continues tomorrow. We enjoyed a cup of the Kiku sake, whilst listening to some music performances at the temple garden. The sake is so nice, as it’s not only pleasure for the tastebuds, but also pleasure for the eyes; bright yellow Chrysanthemum petals in the clear sake, served from a cup carved from a piece of bamboo. Mmm.
Later we also had a stroll to our neighborhood to buy some of our favourite myoga sushi to eat as a snack. Opposite to this lovely, small sushi place (run by a group of grandmas and grandpas) is a new fascinating shop called Ethnorth Gallery, which is selling household items, accessories and clothing made by various Asian ethnic groups. I love everything they have in the shop, and if I just had the money, I would buy them all.. this time I got just two ornamental hooks which I already made into earrings, and some Nepalese hemp yarn, to which I have a particular purpose in my mind.. the results I’ll share later next week, perhaps 😉
On the way back home I noticed a rather new second hand kimono shop, where I made some incredible discoveries; a beautiful silk Haori coat in pristine condition, which will most likely have it’s public debut with me next week during the Tokyo Fashion Week, and two Kasuri kimono, which materials are now officially part of my upcoming thesis capsule collection. The colors are perfect, and the sensation of having goosepumps rising all over my skin when I saw them, just told me I need to get them. Kasuri is extremely expensive as it is painstakingly slow to make, therefore I was suprised how cheap I got these, even though they are second hand.. On the other hand I’m of course happy to get them without streching the pennies too much, but on the other hand I feel sorry for the people who originally made these and kind of quilty for not paying ‘enough’ for such treasures!
As if these treasures were not enough, I found a lovely thing waiting for me inside our post box. Our friends had sent me a Yayoi Kusama tenugui (Japanese cotton hand towel/handkerchief), as a thank you for sending them particular stamps earlier. I’m in love with this tenugui, the colors, the pattern.. goes especially well with mustard yellow skinny jeans I painted in Jackson Pollock style some time ago. 🙂
To crown our evening, Taiko-drum group Gocoo was giving a street performance just around the corner from our flat! We have seen them performing a few times earlier, and they are always super energetic and so skillful. I just love the Taiko drums – their sound really goes to the core. 
Bura Bura Chipi - ぶらぶらチッぴ 