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Lecture and social gathering sponsored by JAPAN-FPO

2008-12-16 (火)
TOPICS(English)

We invited Mr. Ota who is president of Issey Miyake as well as a member of JFW on Nov. 11th at Rin in Omotesando. The hall was full with 60 people. Mr. Okada states that ” Mr. Ota indirectly talks in front of mass media, so this time, I would like him to give away”. Based on Mr. Okada’s statement, designers, people related to textiles and fashion joined this meeting without any mass media.

Contents are as follows:

★Present situation of Paris Collection ・Propose and flows of brands including Japanese designers

★Present situation of Paris and N.Y. ・The reasons Issey Miyake started a big branch
・Changes of class of purchasers

★About Sao Paul Fashion Week
・Expectation level which Brazil hopes to Japan

★To young creators
・Take economical crisis as a chance

etc…

In the end, Mr. Ota talked his hopes and concluded this meeting about “making clothes”

｢Be able to wear it｣

and

｢Function as “clothing”｣

Later, JAPAN-FPO Social Gathering started. Exchanging information has actively occurred.

We are still facing difficult situations, but we continue to progress actively in order to find a way out of difficulties.

The Tale of Genji 1000 years after - Costume design

2008-12-16 (火)
TOPICS(English)

There is an organization call “San Kyo Kai” which combine “NOH”* and “KABUKI”** without disctracting their original forms.

Those who know the world of KABUKI may have heard “Mr, Kamei 3 brothers”.

These three brothers are well known as main people of classic musicians.

It is sometimes said that this “classic music” - Hayashi - controls the world of Kabuki.

The youngest brother, named Tanaka Denjiro, is acquainted with Ms, Nirei who is our representive.

In 2008, this year, there are various events are going on mainly at Kansai district based on “The Tale of Genji 1000 years”

1000 years ago, “The Tale of Genji” has been introduced to the world for the first time.

This is the world’s longest and earliest novel. This novel is not only the excellent literary work but also became the most important source in order to establish our own cultures - arts, literatures, enternatinment, and etc.

Reaching 1000 years after published The Tale of Genji, I deeply thought to re-study this important ideology which was born in this place of outstanding natural beauty.

This must be a good opportunity to re-value this ideology in order to be pride of as Japanese, and to dispatch it domestically and internationally.

The work of “The Tale of Genji 1000 years” is to celebrate great achievement of women in the Heian era at the head of Murasaki Shikibu*** as well as bringing over this Japanese beauty and thoughts to future generations.

As the conclusion of this work, a public performance called ” Suma・Akaishi Genji Fantasy” which is sponsored by San Kyo Kai was held in Nov. 3 - 5.

Nire Ups were asked to be one of sponsors to join this event (JAPAN-FPO also joined as well)

Mr. Tanaka Denjiro requested us below ( this would be the report to inform)

The structure of this stage is that when 2 women of today, who are after 1,000 years later, and 2 men read The Tale of Genji, women, who surround Genji, dance.

The request was to present costumes for those 2 women of today and 2 men. After several meetings, Suzuki Takayuki and Patric Stephan were elected and those 2 designers became in charge of stage costumes.

The performance was held at Kobe Oriental Theatre, where 700 people can be seated.

In 3 days, there was 6 performances; therefore, total of 4,200 people would have seen this performances.

Brochure has given to all audience.

It is not allowed to take photos, but I indicated costumes for this event as well as brochure as PDF on this brog.

*NOH - a major form of classic Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century.

**KABUKI - the highly stylized classical Japanese dance-drama counterpart of the Indian dance-drama Kathakali, noted for its: attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion.

***Murasaki Shikibu is also known as Lady Mariachi as she is sometimes known in English, was a Japanese novelist, poet, and a maid of honor of the imperial court the Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1008, one of the earliest novels in human history.

Participated designers’ meeting at TBC

2008-09-22 (月)
TOPICS(English)

From Shigeki Okada

I have already stated previously that the very first collaboration of designers and hair & make artists will be happened at Tokyo Beauty Congress (TBC) at Tokyo Big Site in end of September.

Mr. Michail and Mr., Naka’s presentation has been done already, there was a meeting of Mr. Sakabe and Mr. Tamai & Mr. Yamagata, which I joined.

It seems fun to talk to young artists and designers.

Mr. Sakabe told me his opinion:

“It was very fun to discuss with hair&make artists. I learned a lot about to make women more charming, which are our common thoughts. Please place this kind of meetings more often”

I certain that it will be a part of our job for JAPAN-FPO to help to collaborate young designers and artists from various fields - not ” clothes are clothes, fashion means clothes”

THE VERY FIRST COLLABORATION OF HAIR AND MAKE UP ARTISTS & FASHION DESIGNERS

2008-09-11 (木)
TOPICS(English)

An epoch-making collaboration of up-and-coming designers and hair designers comes true

on Sept. 30 at TOKYO BEAUTY CONGRESS (TBC).

Hitherto, hair designers and make up artists took a main part of a collection; however, this must be the very first presentation in this industry.

Participating members who are also members of Japan-FPO are follows:

・Mikio Sakabe

・Akira Naka

・Kentaro Tamai & Yoshikazu Yamagata

・Michael Guinness

This collaboration of fashion industries which make women attractive and beauty industries must be worthy of note to vitalize both industries. JAPAN-FPO is supporting this new attempt entirely.

What is Tokyo Beauty Congress (TBC)?

The biggest event attending 1,500 people under the theme of “promote second generation” hair designers and make up artists sponsored by GAMO inc. Counting from the predecessor - GAMO WINDING CONTEST”, this will be the 28th contest. GAMO proposes total beauty created by a collaboration of beauty and fashion through this event.

DAY : Sept. 30, 2008

TIME : 10am～7pm

WHERE : Tokyo Big Site West4 Hall

Sponsor : GAMO inc.

Support : JFW in TOKYO / JNA Japan Nailist Association

SILK & KIBISO and FOUR SPIRITED DESIGNERS

2008-09-03 (水)
TOPICS(English)

SILK & KIBISO and FOUR SPIRITED DESIGNERS

The collaboration of a group of 4 designers and “TSURUOKA” where silk cloth-producing area.

As one of the revitalizing activities, “TSURUOKA SILK” in Yamagata prefecture was appointed, and working on “producing promotion・district revitalization” with government support.

This “TSURUOKA SILK FORUM” is lead by Mr. Okada, who is the representative director of JAPAN-FPO.

A textile designer, Ms. Reiko Sudo, is appointed to innovate to silk and KIBISO

*KIBISO - the first thread when silkworms produce cocoon, which called KIBISO.
This thread, which used be thrown away, is now a registered trademark, and working hard to develop it as a new textile.
(http://yamagata-np.jp/news/200807/01/kj_2008070100001.php)

In July, a group of the 4 designers visited in Tsuruoka to see the manufactures , and found the value of silk as a textile.

I am looking forward to seeing the Tsuruoka silk at the designers’ collection.

At first night, the 4 designers explained their latest collection with pictures. They talked about “creation” intently and audience were deeply impressed.

[Participated Designers]

●Ms. Takeuchi and Ms. Nakanishi from Theater products