January 2025, Shogatsu Katame (In-depth)
Just a short walk east from Eizan Electric Railway’s Chayama Station, you’ll find “Seishodo” (a 6-minute walk from Whole Love Kyoto). Seishodo specializes in vintage kimono and a wide range of related items, such as obi sashes, obi cords, hairpins, bags, and even tableware that blends Japanese and Western styles.
The shop is nestled in an old building that blends seamlessly with the surrounding residential area. Slide open the sparkling frosted glass door, and you’re greeted by a calm yet warm “Konnichiwa!” from behind the wall. It might be the shop’s owner, Sano-san, gently peeking out, or staff member Minami-san appearing with a kind smile.
Since I purchased an Arimatsu Shibori yukata at Seishodo in the spring of 2024, I’ve become a fan of both Sano-san and Minami-san. They’ve recommended Whole Love Kyoto to their customers, and I’ve done the same for them—it’s a wonderful “neighborhood” relationship.
At the end of 2024, I found myself rushing over to this nearby gem of a shop.
Whole Love Kyoto’s HANAO SHOES are primarily showcased with Western-style outfits, as seen on our social media and website. However, for the first new release of the year, I wanted to photograph the new Hanao designs, crafted from Nishijin-ori kimono fabric and twill weave textiles, paired with kimono. That’s when I thought of Sano-san and Minami-san.
Minami-san, in particular, has an exceptional eye for coordinating colors and patterns, tailoring each combination to the wearer and the occasion. When I went to purchase a yukata, I brought along an obi sash inherited from my grandmother. Minami-san kindly helped me find the perfect yukata, offering suggestion after suggestion until I was completely satisfied.
This time, I brought three Hanao designs (HANAO_KYOORIMONO Kotobuki, Mi, and Leather) and shared my general ideas. Then, I left the rest to Minami-san’s expertise. Please take a look at the results on our Instagram and website!
While we were coordinating the items, another customer arrived at Seishodo. It turned out to be a delightful encounter that personally made my day! I’ll share more about that in next month’s issue.
2025.1 Chihana Mizobe
