The final kimono in a series that features images representing the culture and nature of 213 countries and regions in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games has been completed. People involved with the aptly named Kimono Project say that its aim is to "send a message of peace and friendship."
The Kimono Project, completed with its Japan-themed kimono, has been a work-in-progress of the Tokyo-based organization Imagine One World for six years, anticipating athletes from every country, region and even refugees to participate in the Games.
Craftspeople and workshops all over the country were engaged in the kimono making process, and the production costs -- 2 million yen per garment -- were covered by donations from companies and individuals from around the world.
The kimono representing Japan was created by the Kyoto based and long-established kimono shop Chiso, known for its Kyo-yuzen, a Kyoto-style dyeing technique.
This kimono was designed with the image of Hinomaru, the national flag of Japan, in mind and features a pattern called a noshi bundle design, that boasts multiple layers of auspicious motifs.
Imagine One World's founder is 52-year-old Yoshimasa Takakura, the third-generation owner of Choya, a kimono shop in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. "Each kimono has its own story. I hope that this will become an opportunity for people to get to know the culture and history of foreign countries."
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