Okami proprietresses of onsen ryokan, Japanese-style hot spring resort inns, were gifted several kimono after many of their own kimono were lost due to heavy rains that hit the Kyushu region in July.
An 80-year-old woman from Osaka heard about the devastation caused by the torrential rains and sent kimono to the ryokan hostesses, who require the special garments for work, in Hitoyoshi Onsen resort in Kumamoto Prefecture, where she had visited on a trip.
Hiroko Mori was herself once called an "okami," a female manager of a Japanese cuisine restaurant, until about 10 years ago.
"I knew that kimono is a necessity for proprietresses," she said. "I wanted to help them in some way."
So Mori asked an acquaintance living in Kumamoto City to send 10 kimono of hers that she had treasured from her work and hobbies. The kimono were sent to the Sakurakai, an association of hostesses in Hitoyoshi spa resort, along with some money and a letter, saying: "There is the coronavirus outbreak, and now a natural disaster. Don't be defeated."
Grateful for the gifts, the onsen ryokan hostesses said the kind gesture gave them a great deal of strength for reconstruction.
During the torrential rainfall, the Kuma River overflowed, and all 10 ryokan inns of the Sakurakai members were damaged and forced to close. Some of the inns had muddy water flowing into their facilities.
"More than half of my kimono were washed away, and the rest were covered in mud," Kanako Kawano, 70, proprietress of ryokan Suiranro, said.
On July 24, the first day after the disaster, the proprietresses gathered together and shared the gifted kimono with others. Some of the ryokan hostesses shed tears of joy, saying it was "wonderful" and "I'm so grateful."
"The kimono is perfect for my height and I really like it. I can't wait to welcome guests in this kimono," Kawano beamed.
Masayo Arimura, 69, president of the association, said: "Thanks to these gifts, everyone has been able to look forward to the future. We will do our best to revive the spa town."
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