July 3rd every year is Tsumami Zaiku Day

2016 (Heisei 28), based on the idea of the late Mr. Masayuki Takahashi, the founder of "Tsumami-do" (the predecessor of Ichirindo), and with the support of the Chief Priest (then Negi) of Asakusa Shrine, July 3rd was established as "Tsumami Zaiku Day" with the wish for the inheritance and development of the traditional culture of Tsumami Zaiku. The background was to liken "7" to tweezers and "3" to the petals of a round Tsumami (Maru-tsumami) flower, and to overlap with the timing of the "Natsumode" festival (first week of July), which began at Asakusa Shrine in 2014. Subsequently, in 2019, the founder of Tsumami-do unfortunately passed away, and from July 2019, we made a new start as "Tsumami Zaiku Ichirindo." Thanks to the kindness of the people involved at the time and Asakusa Shrine, we have continued "Tsumami Zaiku Day," and this year marks its 9th occurrence. Tsumami Zaiku is currently known as hair ornaments for Shichi-Go-San and Coming-of-Age ceremonies, but originally, various items were made as ornaments for women in general. For traditional crafts to be passed down, it is important not only to create but also to preserve materials and old literature. We face a handicap of having little of such documentation. In addition, due to changes in lifestyle, there are fewer people wearing kimono, and because of the declining birthrate, the number of children wearing Tsumami Zaiku has decreased. This has led to a vicious cycle where the work for artisans diminishes and successors are not raised properly. The founders of the former Tsumami-do started a course (classroom) business to let people know about Tsumami-making, in order to cultivate "future Tsumami Zaiku makers" in a new form that is not obsessed only with training and keeping artisans, with the help of active artisans. In the former Tsumami-do era, we produced and sold a DVD of "Traditional Tsumami Kanzashi" based on the techniques of Mr. Homi, a veteran Edo Tsumami Kanzashi artisan. Since then, we have conducted courses to learn the techniques of Ms. Kinuyo Tomura, an Edo Tsumami Kanzashi artisan and an intangible cultural property holder of Arakawa City spanning two generations. Later, in 2016, together with the first graduates of the course, 8 people were given the title of "Certified Instructor." "Tsumami Zaiku Day" was established as a symbol of our activity to correctly spread the traditional culture of Tsumami Zaiku together with these people. Just as the founder of the former Tsumami-do envisioned, by increasing "future Tsumami Zaiku makers," a new form of "Tsumami Zaiku that remains for the future" will be created. It is our hope that by not being obsessed only with when wearing a kimono, the next generation of Tsumami Zaiku will continue to exist.

Tsumami Zaiku Ichirindo Owner

Postscript On March 11, 2018, a Japan-Vietnam welcome event hosted by Ho Chi Minh City was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At that time, we held a workshop for Vietnamese people through a collaboration show of Tsumami Zaiku and Ao Dai. The photo shows [Center Left] Mr. Sy Hoang, a leading figure in Vietnamese Ao Dai design, and [Center Right] the late Mr. Masayuki Takahashi, founder of the former Tsumami-do.