From left to right: Momoko Otsuka, GENKING, Arie Mizusawa and Rikako Sakata
asianbeat: GENKING san, Mizusawa san, how does it feel wearing kimonos that are made with "Kurume-gasuri?" GENKING, your obi (kimono sash) is made out of Hakata-ori, right?

GENKING: It feels really awesome, the obi hasn't loosened at all, I feel so grateful (for the outfit)! "Ya-yo!" ("Ya-yo" is GENKING's catch phrase)
(* Although Hakata-ori is used to make various items, the men's obi, which is noted for not slacking or loosening right from the moment it has been fastened in the morning right through until the evening, is a said to be a real gem that really makes the most out of the material's unique characteristics.)

Arie Mizusawa: Me too, I feel really comfortable, it's simple with a pop-kind of pattern, it fuses old and new, which I think is cool.

GENKING: It really suits you. It's Arie-esque, don't you think?

Arie Mizusawa: Really? "Ya-yo" (lol)!



asianbeat: Sakata-san and Otsuka-san, how does it feel to be wearing "Kokura-ori" kimonos?

Rikako Sakata: It doesn't lose its shape, also its soft, easy to wear, and also easy to walk in. Even though I am from Saga Prefecture, this is the first time I've worn Kokura-ori, and I think it was a really good chance to get to know about these kind of things. We're all from the same "Kyushu," I just think that Kokura is really great!

Momoko Otsuka: It's nice and snug, easy to walk in, feels cool (not hot or restrictive), and you can almost feel the "Japaneseness" in your skin. Being a local from Fukuoka Prefecture, it has made me think again that it would be great if this spread throughout the country.



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