Kimono stylist Atsuko Oshima is a seasoned kimono stylist who is known as a pioneer.

She has experience arranging kimonos for famous actresses in dramas and movies, and she also runs a kimono rental shop in Ebisu that uses those kimonos.

She has been storing high-quality kimonos that she has used over her nearly 50-year career as assets, but in recent years, the use of such valuable and high-class kimonos has become extremely rare. She came to visit us from Tokyo to Kyoto to ask for ideas and support on how to use kimonos that are too precious to throw away and that can never be made again.

Although kimonos are an important part of Japanese culture, they are rarely worn on a daily basis and demand has dropped dramatically. Kimono shops in Kyoto are also struggling financially, and are trying to create new brands by re-arranging kimonos like Western clothing, but this no longer makes them kimonos.

There are many cheap kimono rental shops in Kyoto. And a lot of many foreign tourists walking around in sneakers wearing kimonos, so it has become completely outdated.

Today, Ms. Oshima and our team discussed many ideas, such as ways to rent high-quality kimonos with increased added value.