Kitsuke (which means, "putting on the kimono") - My personal experiences from Japan - Róbert Király's Website

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	Kitsuke (which means, "putting on the kimono")
At the same time as the Taiko course, a Kitsuke course was started too with foreigners expected to be the main participants. As there are many people, even among the Japanese, who cannot put on the traditional wear by themselves, it is especially a big word if a foreigner can put on one by him or herself. We had two teachers, Kinoshita sensei, the severe one, but who knows all the ins and outs about the kimono, and Yamomoto sensei, who always helped the master with everything – and of course the students too :). I respect these teachers not just because of their professionalism, but also because of their unselfishness too. After the course ended, we prepared for a kimono competition. The teacher – not regretting her own time – invited me many times to her house to practise, and after we finished with practising, she would often asked me to stay for dinner too. Thanks to her, at the annual kimono tournament ("foreigners" category), I advanced from the regional competition onto the national (actually international) finals, which took place on the big stage of Tokyo NHK (Japanese TV and Radio Company). (Click on the photos for bigger images! See related videos below!)

1. - "It all began like this" – because this picture was taken on the first lesson, when Kinoshita sensei has yet to put the clothes on most of us. This was my first close personal experience with the summer kimono, which is known as, "yukata" in Japanese. In the picture are Kinoshita sensei and three of my kind group members in beautiful dresses.	2. - "Ryōte ni hana" – this Japanese phrase is used when there are beautiful ladies on both the left and right sides of a man. This picture was also taken at one of the first few lessons. The kimono which I’m wearing on this picture became an integral part of my life for months from then on.
3. - In the company of four famous kimono senseis. My masters: Kinoshita sensei (lower left) and Yamamoto san (above left). Outside of the strict rehearsals, the master invited us for a common lunch or dinner sometimes.	4. - In the company of Kinoshita sensei, Peter san and two Japanese ladies in the senseis’ rehearsal hall. Peter san, a dear friend of mine, was in Japan for almost a year, and we had many unforgettable experiences together. The two ladies are the senseis’ students and they came to the rehearsal at the same time that day. (See related video nr. 20)
5. - Kinoshita sensei, the "severe master", and Yamamoto san, "the kind assistant". I owe it to them for my success at the kimono competition.	6. - The kimono competition finals took place in Tokyo. As the shinkanzen (high-speed rail) is very expensive, my teachers sponsored my train tickets.
7. - Noshibukuro. They handed over the donation in this signed envelope. Thank you! :)	8. - The kimono competition is organized annually. The participants from 5-6 counties compete in the regional round and from there – depending on the category – only the first or the first 2-3 winners can get into the national finals. The competition is organized in the following categories: Japanese ladies in three categories according to the three basic kimono types (furisode kimono, tomesode kimono, and kajuaruna kimono); Japanese men; Japanese high-school groups; Japanese young children; and last but not least, the foreigners (men and women mixed).
9. - on the stage during the competition	10. - on the stage during the competition. The competition is based on timing, that means it takes into consideration how fast you can dress. However, this is not the deciding factor. What is important is the outcome -- that every binding is accurate, every bow and line is in place and there aren’t any unnecessary wrinkles, etc.
11. - The participants from the international category	12. - A group of Japanese ladies in beautiful kimono
13. - Group photo of all the participants in the competition. (See related video nr. 21)	14. - This is a group photo on the cover of the DVD, which was taken by the Japanese television company on the stage of NHK
15. - More photos from the competition’s DVD	16. - The certificate for the regional round
17. - The certificate for participating in the finals in Tokyo	18. - I wrote this article for the school newspaper after the regional round and before the finals
19. - This Japanese language video was filmed at the rehearsal hall of Kinoshita sensei. It shows the method to put on the kimono and the accompanying obi correctly. The video was filmed by Peter san.	20. - This Hungarian video captured our common practise with Peter san as we tried to bind the obi. Taking into consideration the language, it is by no means professional. But although the result is not perfect, some elements are instructive without a doubt.
21. - This video was made at the finals in 2008 in Tokyo. You can see the international group putting on the kimono in this video.

1. - "It all began like this" – because this picture was taken on the first lesson, when Kinoshita sensei has yet to put the clothes on most of us. This was my first close personal experience with the summer kimono, which is known as, "yukata" in Japanese. In the picture are Kinoshita sensei and three of my kind group members in beautiful dresses.

2. - "Ryōte ni hana" – this Japanese phrase is used when there are beautiful ladies on both the left and right sides of a man. This picture was also taken at one of the first few lessons. The kimono which I’m wearing on this picture became an integral part of my life for months from then on.

3. - In the company of four famous kimono senseis. My masters: Kinoshita sensei (lower left) and Yamamoto san (above left). Outside of the strict rehearsals, the master invited us for a common lunch or dinner sometimes.

4. - In the company of Kinoshita sensei, Peter san and two Japanese ladies in the senseis’ rehearsal hall. Peter san, a dear friend of mine, was in Japan for almost a year, and we had many unforgettable experiences together. The two ladies are the senseis’ students and they came to the rehearsal at the same time that day. (See related video nr. 20)

5. - Kinoshita sensei, the "severe master", and Yamamoto san, "the kind assistant". I owe it to them for my success at the kimono competition.

6. - The kimono competition finals took place in Tokyo. As the shinkanzen (high-speed rail) is very expensive, my teachers sponsored my train tickets.

7. - Noshibukuro. They handed over the donation in this signed envelope. Thank you! :)

8. - The kimono competition is organized annually. The participants from 5-6 counties compete in the regional round and from there – depending on the category – only the first or the first 2-3 winners can get into the national finals. The competition is organized in the following categories: Japanese ladies in three categories according to the three basic kimono types (furisode kimono, tomesode kimono, and kajuaruna kimono); Japanese men; Japanese high-school groups; Japanese young children; and last but not least, the foreigners (men and women mixed).

9. - on the stage during the competition

10. - on the stage during the competition. The competition is based on timing, that means it takes into consideration how fast you can dress. However, this is not the deciding factor. What is important is the outcome -- that every binding is accurate, every bow and line is in place and there aren’t any unnecessary wrinkles, etc.

11. - The participants from the international category

12. - A group of Japanese ladies in beautiful kimono

13. - Group photo of all the participants in the competition.
(See related video nr. 21)

14. - This is a group photo on the cover of the DVD, which was taken by the Japanese television company on the stage of NHK

15. - More photos from the competition’s DVD

16. - The certificate for the regional round

17. - The certificate for participating in the finals in Tokyo

18. - I wrote this article for the school newspaper after the regional round and before the finals

19. - This Japanese language video was filmed at the rehearsal hall of Kinoshita sensei. It shows the method to put on the kimono and the accompanying obi correctly. The video was filmed by Peter san.

20. - This Hungarian video captured our common practise with Peter san as we tried to bind the obi. Taking into consideration the language, it is by no means professional. But although the result is not perfect, some elements are instructive without a doubt.

21. - This video was made at the finals in 2008 in Tokyo. You can see the international group putting on the kimono in this video.

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