10/07/2026
For my own wedding, I wore this personal furisode modified into the "Okizuri" style, where the long hem trails elegantly along the floor.
Historically, daughters of samurai families during the Edo period wore black okizuri for their weddings. However, my kimono was originally designed as a standard furisode, so it’s not exactly the same. Samurai bridal kimonos had no patterns on the top half; instead, they featured five family crests, with designs only on the sleeves and hem. This meant that if you cut the long sleeves short later, it would transform into a formal "Kuro-Tomesode" (black wedding-guest kimono). If I cut the sleeves of my furisode, it wouldn't look like that because the vibrant patterns go all the way to the top.
Modern furisodes feature larger, bold patterns to balance the long sleeves. At our shop, we generally do not recommend shortening regular furisode sleeves, as we believe it goes against the original artist's intent for the design. However, if a kimono is designed with small patterns only at the bottom—with the intent to shorten the sleeves later, like in the Edo period—then transforming it into a Tomesode is a wonderful idea!
By the way, Geisha and Maiko wear this okizuri style to perform traditional dances indoors, and it is absolutely breathtaking to watch!
Looking back, this video was actually taken about 15 years ago. I’m a bit shocked at how young I look! But more than that, it’s amazing to see how Japan still beautifully preserves these 19th-century traditions today. ✨
