[Take care of your kimono! Let's make it last longer] Tips and when to change clothes and dry insects

In the imperial court, changing of clothes takes place on the first day of summer in May and the first day of winter in October.
All of the emperor's clothing, room decorations, night clothes, etc. can be changed according to the season.
Until the Muromachi period, the changing of clothes was done only twice, in summer and winter, but after the Muromachi period, the modern style of changing clothes was born.

In the world of kimono, October is also a time when people change their clothes and wear lined kimonos called awase.
As for the obi, we also attach the obi.
For kimono lovers, this is a busy time to change kimono and obi.

So this time we will talk about [insect drying] for kimonos.

If your kimono absorbs moisture, it will become easily damaged and mold will grow more easily.
Therefore, we use a unique Japanese care method called insect drying, which removes moisture from small items such as kimono, obi, sandals, and bags.
There are different names for drying insects depending on the season: Doyo-boshi (July to August), Autumn-boshi (October-November), and Cold-boshi (January to February).
It seems that in the past, careful maintenance was done in the summer to remove the moisture during the rainy season, in the autumn when the air is dry, and in the winter when it is the driest, but now it is done at least twice a year at the end of the rainy season and in February. Seems like a good idea to do it.

During Doyo Hoshi, items that have not been touched much in the winter, such as tomesode and mourning clothes, are aired, the wrapping cloth is washed, and the wrapping paper is changed.
In winter, we hang out summer silks, gauze, and other items that we don't wear often.

In either case, on a crisp sunny day after two or three days of continuous sunshine, hang a kimono on a rope or pole in a well-ventilated place indoors between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to let the air pass through and remove moisture. Masu.
If you don't have enough insects to sort out in that time, you'll have to worry about drying them next time, so cleaning your kimono once every six months is the key to making your kimono last longer.

When drying insects, don't forget to check for stains and dirt.
Hanging insects is a lifestyle wisdom that will help you wear your kimono for a long time.