September 22, 2021:

We are happy to announce that we now offer discounted shipping rates for our international customers using GlobalPost ( GoGlobalPost.com).

NEWS FOR OUR USA CUSTOMERS:We just learned that the US Postal Service (USPS) announced an increase in shipping costs during what they call "Holiday Peak Season". This will affect our USA customers selecting First Class (Packages),Priority Mail, Express Mail, and Parcel Post Select. It will NOT affect any international shipments. This begins October 3 and ends December 26, 2021. We have relatively new Fed Ex Ground and United Parcel Service Ground rates available and in most zip codes (especially West Coast USA) savings can be as much as 40% cheaper than USPS. At present the new UPS rate does not reflect...

WAITLIST UPDATE:We have resumed filling and shipping  bulk kimono package pre-orders and waitlist orders received during our recent absence. We still have a few of our bulk kimono packages on wait-list status only. To see list of packages now on waitlist-only, and to learn more about the waitlist, please visit our waitlist info page HERE. To submit a waitlist request please use the following email address ONLY:   (Not a link)

This past spring(2021) we posted a blog about the trend among young college-aged Japanese women to wear women's hakama over a formal kimono at graduation time and other special occasions. (Above image: hakama-bijin.com) During the closing ceremonies of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics we were surprised - and pleased - to see this fashion trend among young women in Japan being showcased as part of the final ceremonies . Below we share pictures of  Olympics kimonos-with-hakama from various public media sources (also, note the footwear types): Below: Other Types of Kimono on Display During 2020 Olympics Closing Ceremonies Lastly, as...

Above: 2021 Obon Lantern Floating Ceremony / Virtual Marketplace FYI from Japanphilly.org about this summer's Obon festival plans:  The 9th annual Philadelphia Obon Festival continues a new Shofuso tradition, born out of the hardships of the previous year, to light lanterns and float them on Shofuso’s pond dedicated to those no longer with us. The Registered participants can launch floating lanterns on Shofuso’s pond. Obon is a series of events in Japan that enshrine the spirits of ancestors in the summer that are based on Buddhism and Ancestral worship. Typically, in Japan, between August 13-15 (depending on the region), people...