Kimono Style | A Three-Day Celebration of Fashion, Craft, and Culture in Nihonbashi

The annual Tokyo Kimono Show took place at various locations in the Nihonbashi area from April 18 to 20. This event is always highly anticipated and is enjoyed by many kimono fans. This event, and Kimono Salone in the fall, are special chances for kimono makers and kimono users to get together. They can meet each other, enjoy looking at new products, see kimono exhibitions and fashion shows, and take part in various workshops.

The ¥1,500 JPY (about $10 USD) ticket provides access to all the various venues over the three-day event. A guidebook provides a map of the various locations, what is happening at each one, and schedules of shows and workshops. It also includes an index of the booths where makers who don't have outlets in Tokyo come to show their goods.

*Rumi Rock's booth at Tokyo Kimono Show. (©Sheila Cliffe)*

Kimono Is Expression

The event is an exciting combination of entertainment and education. It's also a great opportunity to spend too much if you do not keep a tight hold on your purse strings.

The theme for 2025 was "Kimono Is Expression." As the theme perfectly matches how I think about kimono, I gave a short talk on the subject at Sankatsu company, which is a traditional yukata brand in Nihonbashi. There, they showed new designs as well as work by Nishijin weavers from Kyoto, a tie-dye workshop from Kyoto, and obi weaving from Hakata in Kyushu.

At Sunrise Building, one of Tokyo Kimono Show's venues, there was a large display of kimono on mannequins. This is much anticipated and usually has a historical section as well as plenty of new and avant-garde ideas on display.

*Police and fireman kimono. (©Sheila Cliffe)*

Last year in 2024, the historical section was clothing from the Heian period, which is always popular. In 2025, it was characters from the Edo period, showing the different clothing according to occupation, which was very interesting. Gorgeous embroidered kosode and also a kimono made of paper were shown. Washi is a durable material, and kamiko paper clothing was not uncommon in the past.

Avant-Garde Designs

In the modern section, Justin Chou, who made Taiwan's clothing for the Olympics in 2020 and 2024, had made some amazing outfits combining elements of Taiwanese dress, kimono, and total fantasy into garments that could excite any runway or stage performance.

*Interesting voluminous obi (left) and boy's kimono by Hossy. (©Sheila Cliffe)*

Hossy, a men's designer went with the idea of wearing a theme and going beyond the ordinary. Especially notable was his outfit for a boy's coming-of-age ceremony, which seems to combine kimono and French courtly style, and his patchwork tartan men's kimono which was a very cool, stylish item.

*Kimono by Hossy (left) and Justin Chou. (©Sheila Cliffe)*

The general section had kimono from the early 20th Century to the present, styled in interesting ways. Oda Kimono School and Ohara Japanese Clothing School always present work by students, and it is good to know that young people are working to become professionals in the kimono industry.

I even met a girl from overseas who was studying how to become a kimono tailor at one of these schools. Popular Youtuber and Lolita fashionista Cathy Cat was reporting through the weekend, and she had a Lolita, kimono-inspired dress in the show. The pastel colors were very harmonious and, like kimono, the accessories were many and various and it was very carefully put together.

*Sheila Cliffe with Cathy Cat and her kimono-inspired dress. (©Sheila Cliffe)*

Tea Ceremony and Workshops

Alongside the exhibition was a space for tea ceremony, and kimono wearers needing a break and a boost could partake in tea ceremony with the comfort of chairs. This was popular as the whole event is in various locations and involves a lot of walking between them to see everything.

The four stage performances per day were at Blooming Nakanishi. There were traditional Japanese performing arts, such as kodan storytelling and puppet performance. Fashion shows were also held, featuring various makers such as Kahana and Fuji Shibori. Some parts of the event were more educational, including a talk and an award ceremony honoring people who work in the kimono industry.

*Kahana shop with light-up obi. (©Sheila Cliffe)*

For those who wanted to do something hands-on, rather than just watching, the workshop space at Tagen provided this. There were many accessory-making workshops using beads, mizuhiki paper threads, Japanese fabric, etc. Hair and obi accessories and various kinds of bags could be produced.

There was also a spot in the shop section where you could dye your own kimono collar in the nagashizome style of floating dyes on liquid and then transferring it to cloth. For even more fun, there was a special photo booth, and a rickshaw was available for people wanting rides between the venues.

*Dyeing workshop at Tokyo Kimono Show. (©Sheila Cliffe)*

A Kimono Lover's Dream

For many visitors, the main reason for coming to the Tokyo Kimono Show is to see almost 100 booths selling everything from kimono fabric and obi to new accessories, bags, umbrellas, and all kinds of kimono-related items. These booths are spread across four floors and always intensely crowded.

The event offers a chance to pick up a roll of cloth to make a new kimono, to find the zori that you have been waiting for, or to explore new offerings of summer yukata and obi to add to your wardrobe.

The variety of shops and products is amazing, from light-up obi accessories to traditional Japanese silks and even kimono underwear, there are so many things to choose from. Everyone can find their style in here somewhere. Kimono is expression!