Working as a Professional Kimono Teacher in Japan // Kimono Event BTS

[@Nessi-dances]

Thank you for taking us along! I like seeing kimono events and industry activities. Please, also, thank your husband for appearing on camera. I know that he doesn't like to, but I find it helpful to see how he dresses (or you dress him?) for events like this as well. 💜

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Yeah, I put the outfit totgeht and dressed him 😅 but I’m glad you’ve enjoyed this part of the video, too.

[@RoSario-vb8ge]

I really like this dark colour scheme at 14:52, which is very elegant and sublime...

[@mayalynn]

The honest reality of the introvert trying to find words for a good but tiring day is so relatable. Thank you for sharing this awesome event with us! 🎉❤

[@frances2771]

Thank you for taking us with you to this special kimono event.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thanks for watching! 💕

[@silkvelvet2616]

Thankyou so much for sharing your time at the event. I totally understand how you feel at the end of the day at an event, I do it 17 times a year, with about 4 four day shows. So retreating to my hotel of an evening is vital, or, if I'm sharing with fellow vendors, chilling out with them It also makes me love the solitude of my studio when I come back and start making for the next show. I absolutely love seeing your kimono journey and learning about the history of kimono as well. I find that you learn more about a culture through things like food and clothing than standard history books. It becomes more, umm, coloured in, and familiar. I hope one day to visit Japan to explore the traditional crafts, pottery, weaving, dyeing, all of it.

[@charlotteduarte8901]

Amazing things. So beautiful. Mahalo Billy.

[@Radish__64]

the kimono that you are getting tailored is soooooo pretty, and the colors suit you perfectly!! it makes you glow

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you!! I hope it’s gonna be finished in 2 weeks. Can’t wait to finally wear it!

[@louandbarb]

What a fun video Billy! Thank you. I particularly loved your "Barbie" inspired outfit. But everything you wear is gorgeous.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@diggitydawg1707]

Happy Birthday! Thanks for sharing!

[@lisal8870]

The “kokeshi lover” adorable. My Japanese friend made fun of me for buying a vintage kokeshi doll, said it’s something only foreigners buy😕. I loved obidome pieces. Thank you showing this event.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Hahaha! Well, at least we have Yuko-san on our kokeshi lover side 😂❤️

[@beepboop9628]

I’m in Florida and have a Kokeshi collection. I think they’re beautiful and all the varieties you can find are such great expressions of creativity from the creators.❤️ No two are the same😊

[@louised2818]

Nice to see behind the scenes of kimono events. Nice work!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for watching 😊

[@guillewilder1073]

I'm learning japanese and sewing kimonos, so I actually love every video that you upload, specially when I can hear you speaking the language. Thank you so much :3

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you 🙈💕

[@kennethstensrud669]

If I were at a event like this, I think I would have gone amock and buying many many bolts of fabric 😅. Very nice video indeed. Greetings from Kenneth in Norway.

[@cottoncandykawaii2673]

I love how they incorporate new textures, styles and international elements into tradtional attire

[@nny2055]

最近偶然、チャンネルを知ることができました。 数本動画を見た程度ですが、本当に情熱によってその実践を心がけているなと感心しています。 日本に限らず、世界というもには知れば知るほど、人はそれを奥深く感じるように出来ていて、 人が無知蒙昧を決めこめば、世界もまた色が消え行くものです。 是非楽しんで着物の世界を探求していただいて、その一端を我々にご教示していただけると助かります。 そして何より、クリエーターとしての成功を祈っております。

[@Adogslife54]

Especially liked the black and white (cream?) kimono at the show. So pretty!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

I agree! It’s such a beauty of a kimono. 🖤

[@eggboy6926]

hell yeah, more vlogs sounds good to me

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Good!! I’ve one more lined up for next month 😊

[@dianeanderson8038]

Glorious fabric! Thank you for the tour of this special event! Accessories also very cute.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you ☺️

[@TheCoolWife]

This looks like a fun event to try to attend one day!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Hopefully you can come one day 💕

[@RainshadowArtist]

I hope you get a chance to visit ateliers in the future. I would be very interested to see Yonezawa textile production!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Yonezawa is definitely on the list. I’m just heading back from a atelier visit and took some footage. So you can look forward for another vlog ❤️

[@GiselleMetcalf-Grosso]

I sew kimono for dolls, and I have fabric that looks very similar to the biru no maru fabric. I was thinking of using the fabric for obi, but I may re-think that and make a kimono with it. The kimono that you showed a picture of was SO beautiful. I also loved the obiage that you bought for your birthday. I use many tiny items for the doll obiage, or I make them from fimo clay. I taught myself kumihimo to make my own obijime from embroidery floss when I can't find cord that I like. Thank you for taking us along on your attendance of the kimono event.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Oh! How fun!! 💕 I’m sure you’re making super pretty items for dolls!

[@jourdainhiini6548]

Ive learnt so much from you. I recently went to my first Matsuri in Brisbane Australia. Thanks to you i had the confidence to wear 👘 and Haori. Even wore the Geta i made for myself. I was given a few compliments from the Geisha i met on my Kitsuke..all thanks to you and your advice. Ariigato

[@NationalOrangeJuiceDay]

THANK YOU

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@dhitch5572]

Great video, so much to see. I love seeing the contemporary styling of kimono , yours and the exhibitors. Look forward to more. Great job. Happy Birthday

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you 😊

[@valeriegirard4798]

Very interesting video Billy. I LOVE the kokeshi obi (because I love kokeshi❤). Thank you to share your journey. In Europe, when we say ”kimono” we don’t imagine that it can be so many styles, designs, fabrics ! Thanks Billy

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Kimono culture is very very diverse 💕 I’m glad I could share this with you!

[@lovellarei086]

Finally got to watch this! Makes me so excited to go to Japan and work on kimono. ありがとうございます！ I love your videos

[@trishaturner2078]

Thank you for sharing this. I have never seen a kimono show before and have found it very interesting. I am looking forward to more from you like this and on other aspects of Japanese culture and life.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Next month is going to be another fun vlog. I hope you’ll enjoy that one, too!

[@annesullivan1171]

I loved this video Billy. My friend has just visited Japan and loved it so much. I thoroughly enjoy all your videos and love what you do ❤

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you so much!! 💕

[@katharinameinzer6297]

Hi Billy, I am happy to see you! Hope you had a great birthday amd got to relax!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Relaxed a lot on my birthday ❤️

[@lindad.6850]

Thank you for taking us along!!!! ❤❤❤

[@elizabethsloan3192]

Oh my! Another awesome event I wish I could go to! Thank you for sharing it! Happy Birthday! I would love to have that kokeshi Obi, too.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you!!! ❤️

[@LoisElcock]

Love this video! Thank you for taking us along with you. 💙💛💙

[@kellyezebra]

Hi Billy nice to see you! Thanks for taking us to this interesting show! I’m also an introvert who has to often ‘play’ an extrovert for my work and I hope you didn’t get too overwhelmed by the show (if you did we can’t tell from your demeanor) and you had so much fun in addition to all your hard work. Can’t wait to see your new kimono!

[@almadeckard8360]

Yeah! tytyty Is your husband's kimono silk or cotton voile? I love the ai (blue) color.

[@EagleandTurtle]

Thank you for showing us this event!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thanks for watching!

[@jackiejames4551]

This was great. Thank you for taking us along. I really enjoyed seeing all the vendors and their products. Did you buy the frog? I thought it went great with what you were wearing that day.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

No, I didn’t bye the frog. Maybe next time 🙈

[@brookefencl4344]

Great video, and happy belated birthday! I am slowly starting to get back into kimono after many many years away from it, and this is very inspiring. Thank you!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

That makes me super happy 💕❤️ thank you!!

[@siby913]

Excellent video😍👏!!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Merci!! ❤️❤️

[@siby913]

@@BillyMatsunaga 👍😊!!

[@charlarp]

Everything was so beautiful! I really loved all that you chose!🇨🇦

[@antareslesage5611]

Yes please ! More vlogs😃 It's so interesting to follow yiu along! Your new yuka is beautiful ! A orange kimono with popping blue accents... where have I seen that 🤔🤔🤔😉 thank you so much for sharing 😘

[@BillyMatsunaga]

The yukata is going to be so awesome!! ❤️❤️

[@antareslesage5611]

Yes! I can't wait to see the outfits you'll put together 😃. The beer 🍺 theme is just perfect! Belgium also as a long beer tradition ☺️ I can totally relate.

[@jennifercooper1435]

🎉🎉 congratulations on that 😊I love your videos

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you 😊

[@elasadito541]

Awesome! new video!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thanks for watching! 💕

[@daisanders82]

So many lovely things all in one place! I adore the green cotton

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Hmm… it’s a modern width. Most tanmono nowadays have a width of 40-41cm. So it’s perfect for ppl with longer arms 🧡

[@Book-bz8ns]

I really like this show a lot. It's fun. I'd like to know more about some of the weave patterns of silk, It seems there are different weaves specific to certain regions?

[@ikasugami8066]

Happy Birthday! 🎉🎈🎁🎂 Looking forward to seeing what you make with that new bolt of fabric!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you!! I hope I can start sewing it soon!! 💚

[@auratchan6985]

Really enjoyed this video.

[@nidiatrevino5170]

Hello Billy, I have been watching your videos for a long time and I really appreciate the effort you make to teach us Westerners about Japanese culture. I´ve always wanted to ask you something, sometimes antique or vintage haoris have a strange finishing thread in large stictches all the way down the collar, do you know what function it has or if it can be removed?

[@deafbear18]

Billy, it makes me wonder if they will make Barbie doll-inspired fabrics for kimonos and others after releasing of Barbie movie?

[@BillyMatsunaga]

The movie isn’t such a big hit here in Japan. Japan has its own movie culture. And kids usually play with Rika-chan, a Japanese Barbie. So I don’t think that there will any kind of Barbie designs.

[@amyjanefrater1447]

I wish I was there. I would talk to everyone and ask a million questions.

[@poisonouscherrybomb]

Hi, Billie! Love your videos, have been watching them since high school and now I came to Japan for university. Could you, please, make a video on where to buy a kimono? I really want to buy one and be beautiful wearing it every week. My Japanese friends say they just have it from their parents, but I am assuming there must be other options except for Amazon

[@mariontitmuss723]

This is awesome, so interesting …so wish I could have gone to it, can you give us dates for next year!!!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

When you follow me on my Instagram or Torie, you will see announcements of coming up events. Of course next year isn’t settled yet 😅

[@tjf42193]

Billy when did you color your hair pink? It looks cute!

[@LauraC369]

Hi. I'd like to know where can I go to buy material to make a yukata. Currently, I'm in Yokohama and will be in the area for the next few months. I'd like to follow your tutorial on making it once i return home. Can anyone attend these events? Thank you so much for these interesting videos.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Unfortunately I don’t know any kimono stores on Yokohama. You will have to do some research. For events in different areas I can only recommend to check out social media like Facebook and Instagram. When you follow the ppl I’ve introduced in this video, you will get updates of kimono events in whole Japan.

[@Hiroto195]

Happy early birthday 🎂 ❤ thanks for another Amazing video😊 it looks really fun to be there. I actually binge watched all ur videos yesterday😅 , oh and I actually met 2 geisha wednesday and it was really amazing. Have you ever met a geisha/geiko?

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you! 😊 Kumamoto doesn’t have a geisha culture, so no. I’ve seen real maiko on the streets in Kyoto, though.

[@Hiroto195]

@@BillyMatsunaga really cool, is there a reason kumamoto doesn’t have a geisha culture?

[@tylinious]

Do you have any advice for wearing kimono on curvier/plus sized bodies?

[@marijastojanovic6585]

Hi ! Do you offer private lessons?

[@mrsthe97]

I really enjoyed this video. Please make more!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you! At least for next month I’ve one more video like this lined up 😊

[@lauraleecreations3217]

👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️