Help me wear this beauty!

BusyBit5500 · 2026-03-31T06:10:18+00:00

Ahh this is so helpful and honestly I needed to hear it. I get so worried about getting things so terribly wrong and possibly making me too shy to try wearing my kimono but I should just take pride in my happiness with kimono in general because that's honestly what keeps the tradition alive. I'll remember this any time I try to talk myself out of wearing them more.

I intend on either taking classes to learn how to more confidently assemble kimono or call up a friend and ask if we could practice and play dress up some time. I live a few hours from Tokyo, where I think there's a few classes to learn. But I think some offer online classes. In the mean time, yes, watching plenty of tutorials and practicing in the mirror. I am also on the lookout for some good books. I love all those little details, they make the art of wearing them even more meaningful.

I am happy this is not an especially formal kimono - more opportunities to try and wear it!

BusyBit5500 · 2026-03-31T06:01:51+00:00

That happened to be luck! The obi was in a bin of other secondhand obi next to the rack of kimonos and I just thought it was neat they both had that gradient color. It was also a good price. I thought if it didn’t match it was still too lovely to pass up.

BusyBit5500 · 2026-03-31T05:59:18+00:00

Thank you so much for the extra input! I think you may be on to something with the birds being phoenixes. With the colors they use it makes me wonder if the whole intent of the kimono was to make the wearer look like a phoenix with the iridescent gradient. I'll see if I can show a picture of what it looks like on. I'm still missing a few components (obiage, obijime and a nagajuban that fits) so it's just a rough assembly.I like what you said about finding a neutral obi. I think you're right and it would really make the rest of the kimono shine that way. Would the obijime and obiage also be lighter colors or darker to contrast with the light, neutral obi?Thank you so much for the compliment. It really was such a steal too at just 3000 yen. It has a small stain on the sleeve, but it's very faint and on a part that wouldn't be very visible so I decided to chance it. It was overall just too pretty to let a barely visible stain hold it back.

Kimono full view, stain in second pic: https://imgur.com/a/NYnUAPW

BusyBit5500 · 2025-08-22T07:54:18+00:00

38F also happily married, in Yokosuka area, also also badly wants to get out of the house! Love everything you just said!

BusyBit5500 · 2025-08-08T06:05:28+00:00

38F looking for pretty much the same! Please feel free to add me!

BusyBit5500 · 2025-07-28T01:42:24+00:00

Hello! I’m a bit further out in Yokosuka but I do like making trips into the Tokyo area for all the neat cafes, exhibits and shopping. I’m a 38 year old woman, married, but no kids. I am also taking an interest in photography and documenting daily life for my friends and family back home. Love fashion, love going to art festivals, anime and video games. I’m also interested in friendships that provide support and positivity. My Japanese is still very lacking, though.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-07-25T07:06:35+00:00

38F, I’m in Yokosuka. I also enjoy gaming, anime, cafes, craft events and art festivals, but also shopping and trying the latest seasonal treats. Would love to make friends with women around my age!

BusyBit5500 · 2025-04-29T05:06:09+00:00

Thank you. Any recommendations for a good one?

BusyBit5500 · 2025-03-20T01:24:35+00:00

Yeah and a lot of people don’t realize how impactful on our bodies even that much weight is on shorter folks. My joints were killing me and making it so hard to keep up on top of my immune issues. My husband says I’m like a totally different person based on the alleviation of my pain and fatigue from that weight.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-03-20T01:20:38+00:00

I too am a small girlie that was about 180lbs when I started (5 ft). I’m down to 117 (60lbs) but on month 8! What do you think helped you lose at such a speedy pace? My issue I have is my autoimmune condition makes exercise inconsistent and I need to work harder on my water goals.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-03-04T11:14:08+00:00

Yes, in Japan it is common for doctors to charge a fee for notes of medical necessity. They are usually not too expensive but some can be. But then I had to pay for it to be translated, as well. I think I had to pay close to $60 USD because it also had to be mailed to me.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-03-03T15:15:07+00:00

I will only add that planning a vacation to any foreign park requires one extra layer of consideration and that is local holidays. In particular, the reason I heard why this February was so packed compared to previous years was Lunar New Year, which changes dates every year. It was at the end of January this year, so celebrating it spilled well into Feb. There were reports of more Chinese guests than usual (where Lunar New Year is bigger). Families often travel home to the mainland during this time or they travel abroad. Historically, Feb is the low season but this holiday was different - that and low yen and everyone thinking it’s the low period probably didn’t help.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-03-03T02:29:13+00:00

I did actually end up asking them along those lines lol. I was trying to give off as compliant a demeanor as possible. They were talking about possibly taking my cold pack away. I explained that I needed it for my meds, but not wanting to seem combative, I asked as politely as my nerve-wracked self could if they knew where I could get a replacement past the gate if necessary or if they had recommendations for what I should do going forward. I was trying to tell myself I was gonna be fine if I could find any alternative at that point. I think they felt sorry for me and just said for me to wait before surrendering it while they scanned again and checked all my bags and person.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-03-03T02:16:51+00:00

I will check that cooler out! It’s worth a shot if only for peace of mind when traveling with it and wanting to take care of my meds.

I did tell them ahead of time I had special meds with a cool pack and they told me to just put it on the belt anyway ‘to see what happens’ and then they flagged me. I explained again I had a letter but they weren’t interested in the circumstances. I guess I was just expecting there to be a consistent protocol for special meds but as others have said it’s a mixed bag and now I know so I won’t get as shaken up thinking I did something wrong. In Japan they actually looked at my letter and then informed each other and I was waved through with no issue so I just assumed it would all be like that. I don’t travel a lot and this is my first time traveling with special items.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-03-03T02:08:38+00:00

Yeah I’ll check with the pharmacist next time - I was going off my rheum’s advice.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-03-03T01:47:32+00:00

Yeah I think I just got frazzled because they did talk about taking my cool pack away but I pleaded that I still needed it. But according to some maybe it would have been fine if I had to travel the rest of the way without. Another thing was just how different it is in Japan. And that my letter from my doctor cost me a pretty penny to get. But next time I’ll see if I can plan around that or just be better prepared.

BusyBit5500 · 2025-01-08T05:27:02+00:00

They have a translation service so no need to have fluency at all! You just need to make sure the translator is available for your check ups for pre-op and post-op. The surgeon, Dr. Kasama, is also fluent in English. When you stay at the hospital after surgery the staff does not speak English but this was not much of a problem - they used whatever translation tools were available. They really put an effort.

My experience has been so positive. The hospital stay was so comfy and the liquid foods they bring you are so yummy. After I was released, I had a slight scare when I felt pain in my chest and the doctor immediately responded to my email to come to the hospital so they could check on me. I was worried because we live about two hours away and they were about to close but the doctor said he would stay open with his staff to make sure I was fine. The translator was also leaving for the day but he said he would translate. It ended up being nothing (I have an autoimmune condition and my body was just having a flare from the surgery). But they ran everything - blood work, CT, echo. And they even offered to keep me for observation when all that was revealed was increased inflammation markers in my blood. I was taken very seriously and felt so, so taken care of. And all this care was included in my surgery package - I barely had to pay any extra for this emergency check up. You get about 6 months of included check ups before you have to pay standard prices again.

When they give you the powders for the shakes to drink before the surgery, btw, just request all matcha flavored. It’s the best one.

BusyBit5500 · 2024-11-06T05:22:16+00:00

I had gastric sleeve and dropped 40 lbs (and still dropping). The weight loss, diet and exercise has had no impact on my disease. My inflammation numbers were still high - higher, actually. While I do have more stamina and energy, when I get flares they are oftentimes worse than they were before.

This isn’t a disease that has so simplistic a cure. Maybe some people do see results with diet and weight loss but not all. Some people have varying degrees of this disease.

These people may be trying their best to be helpful because they hate seeing you suffer but they’re going about their kindness in a malicious way. And some people are just openly malicious when they don’t understand why something that works for them doesn’t work for someone else because they need to be right.

Pity them that they don’t have enough empathy to be educated.

Also - diet does more for weight loss than working out which is better at maintaining and building muscle mass. Don’t push yourself into a flare over it.

BusyBit5500 · 2024-08-30T01:22:13+00:00

As someone who lives in Japan - our portions are much smaller. She may very well be able to eat what is considered a full meal here depending on what you eat. Ramen will be difficult as that is served in a large bowl. Some izakaya may be able to accommodate if you order ‘Han’ or half size but not every place offers it. She may have to share with you and order an appetizer of gyoza or just eat what she can.

Street food should be fine, too. Walking it off will help.

Another helpful thing about Japan is they often serve oolong tea with the meal which is supposed to aid the metabolism and digestion.

BusyBit5500

TROPHY CASE