【 凛rin life 】 Vol.008

In this mail magazine, 【KUDEN by TAKAHIRO SATO】 will send you topics such as Japanese culture including kimono, fashion, lifestyle, and behind-the-scenes stories of creators every Friday, written by fashion designer Takahiro Sato.I became a fashion designer at the age of 43 to create a place to work with my son who has a disability, and I am challenging myself as a creator and manager to go overseas. I will share with you my personal viewpoints and perspectives that I cannot easily share on my website.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

┃K┃U┃D┃E┃N┃【 凛rin life 】
Vol.008
/ Issued 17th March, 2023 /

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

■Index
■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□
… 1. News
… 2. Catch up
… 3. Original serialization for KUDEN Charity , Novel “KUDEN Samurai Sword Jam”
　Ep.04 Samurai-Dan part.01
… 4. Q&A
… 5. Media & Serials and introduction of mail magazine serial-contents
■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□

………………………………………………………………

■ 1. News

★from「KUDEN by TAKAHIRO SATO」★

#Clothes for people who love kimonos #Japanese ModestyleKUDEN by TAKAHIRO SATO is a brand created to get people interested in traditional kimono with a modern kimono style that does not need special dressmaking.

We have received wonderful feedback from the winners of the mail magazine subscribers-only Samurai Mode Vneck T-Shirt monitoring promotion.

Review by C
"I could feel the chill of the coolness and the silhouette when I put it on neatly, and I felt I would definitely wear it in summer. The fabric is firm and does not seem to be transparent. The sleeve length would be about 1/4 for a woman. Because of its sleek silhouette, this shirt can be worn alone or as a woven, making it a versatile shirt."

As soon as we receive feedback from the winners, we will share it in our mail magazine.

Next week, we are preparing to offer a coupon for free Vintage Haori when you purchase Samurai Mode Shirt II, Samurai Mode Shirt II KASANE. (This is for new customers, not those who have already purchased a shirt.)

KUDEN not only makes new clothes, but also sells kimonos in closets that would otherwise be thrown away, such as Vintage Haori.
While kimono are usually priced according to the quality of the fabric and design at most kimono shops, KUDEN prices its haori based on condition alone, so you may be able to find a bargain at a bargain price.

Please take a look at our Vintage Haori, and if you combine KUDEN's Samurai Mode Shirt II and Samurai Mode Shirt II KASANE with our affordable and eco-friendly Vintage Haori, you can easily complete a Japanese-Western blended coordinate. Please look forward to seeing them.

※Vintage Haori is one of a kind. It may be sold out at the time of delivery of the mail magazine. Please understand.

Also, the first order event of Samurai Mode Skirt - HAKKAKE - started last week. We have created a sharp and supple silhouette that can be worn by both men and women. The entire surface is designed to look beautiful, but the back is elasticized, making it easier to wear than it looks. Why don't you dash about in the coming season, fluttering your skirt and showing off the clever color of the Hakkake?

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
【March Pre tailor-made event Samurai Mode Skirt - HAKKAKE 八掛-】

＜Order period ＞
11th March [Sat.] 18:00(JST) - 2nd April [Sun.] 23:59（JST）

＜Event privileges＞
・Special discount for order event: 5% off

＜Guidline for delivery＞
Shipping from June to the end of July.

＜ Items ＞
・Samurai Mode Skirt - HAKKAKE 八掛- tight
・Samurai Mode Skirt - HAKKAKE 八掛- flare

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

※Click on the "Shop now" button below to jump to the link for the Hakkake skirt order.

● Samurai Mode Skirt - HAKKAKE 八掛-
The latest in the 3-piece kimono-like Japanese mode series/ Enjoy the traditional kimono hakkake in a single skirt/ Detachable hakkake parts allow you to dress one piece in various ways/ Change the silhouette easily with two buttons/ Italian design award-winning series/ Unisex design/ Sewn and designed in Japan

・Designed in the motif of "hakkake," the chic Japanese mode with a hint of color that shows through as you walk.・A unisex design that can be worn by anyone of all ages, in Japan and abroad.
・The "hakkake" part is replaceable. The hakkake part is replaceable. By removing and replacing it, you can enjoy a variety of ways to wear one skirt.
・You can match the color and pattern with tops from the Samurai Mode Series to further expand the range of your outfits.
・Wrap-style design inspired by kimono. The button position can be changed for a 2-way style.
・Two silhouettes are available: a tight skirt and a flared skirt.
・This dress allows you to incorporate the enjoyment of a traditional kimono into your dailylife.


●What is hakkake?
HAKKAKE is also attached to the hem and cuffs of a kimono, and can be glimpsed through the cuffs when a person moves, such as when walking lightly or moving his or her hands. They not only add color to the appearance of the garment, but also play a practical role in protecting the outer fabric from friction between the fabric and the hands and feet that move around a lot. The hakkake (kimono wrappings) around the feet, which are subjected to a lot of friction, are sometimes frayed, and the kimono is often replaced and re-tailored to be worn for a long time. The kimono is often worn down by the friction of the outer fabric, especially at the feet, and the kimono is often replaced only with a new hakkake.

………………………………………………………………

■ 2. Catch up

Hello everyone. It is Takahiro Sato, aka Tak, the designer. Thanks to all of you, my son's graduation ceremony has ended without incident. My son, who entered spring vacation a little early, is a little unstable because he will have his first meeting with his mom, grandmother, and Nikko next weekend.
My son, who has intellectual disabilities and autism, is torn between wanting to see his mom and not being able to forgive her.
Although I am very busy and unable to carry out my work as scheduled, I am grateful for the days when I can feel my son's worries in my body, and I am reminded to cherish each and every day that passes by.

Now, we have decided on the official name of the new Samurai Mode Kimono Gown (tentative name). The theme of this Kimono Gown is "back to the roots"; we first launched the Samurai Mode Jacket in 2018 through kickstarter crowdfunding. The design was completed in 3 pieces (jacket, shirt, and pants), but even at that time, we didn't have enough money and only the jacket could be commercialized...that was the start. Since then, we have released pants and shirts, refined the design, and evolved it into Samurai Mode Pants II and Samurai Mode Shirt II.

"Back to the roots"
In this kimono gown, I tried to express in my own way the modern kimono, which has changed from the "Japanese mode where three pieces look like a kimono" to the "one piece looks like a kimono". Taking into account the changes in our busy lifestyles and the warmer climate, I put my love for kimono and care for the wearer into the design.
We want to “Back to the roots" in terms of design, and also in terms of KUDEN's raison d'etre. The kimono gown was created with these two meanings in mind.
What is KUDEN's raison d'etre? KUDEN is not just a fashion brand.
I am also working on the aforementioned kickstarter to create a place to work with my mentally challenged, autistic son who lives far away from me! This is the brand we launched with that determination.
I tested various businesses before arriving at KUDEN. Among them, the clothes I designed received recognition from customers and design awards in Italy and Hong Kong, leading to KUDEN as we know it today. (This story is going to talk in KUDEN History...)

In anticipation of Japan's aging society and declining population that will lead to an economic downturn in the future, I aim to please customers overseas who love Japanese culture with my interpretation of modern kimonos and products designed with Japanese culture, and to employ people with disabilities without relying on government subsidies.
Why not rely on government subsidies? I have experience working for a large toy manufacturer in charge of hiring people with disabilities.
Through the charity, we also learned about the current employment situation of people with disabilities and continuous employment support in Japan.
With all the concern about social security for the so called "healthy" people, is it possible that support for children with disabilities like my son will automatically become more generous? If so! That is how I started KUDEN, challenging again the once bankrupt and fearful business owner.

Five years have passed since then. Due to a series of circumstances, I started to raise my son for the first time in 10 years. I have to take my son to his special-needs school every day, and I see the children I come into contact with on the way there and back. Once I have felt a heart-to-heart contact with them, it is impossible for me to ignore them.
My son's graduation ceremony. The school is integrated with the elementary, junior high, and high schools, so I was able to watch the graduation ceremony for the high school students right in front of me. The children, who had a hard time even entering the hall at elementary school, responded in a splendid manner and received their diplomas from the principal. Even though I did not see the children and their parents' journey to that point, my imagination alone brought tears to my eyes.

And there is "reality" in front of us.

The current situation is that there are few places for children to work after graduation. There are also many other problems: where to work for children who have graduated from high school and what to do after their parents pass away. School teachers have repeatedly encouraged KUDEN to do its best to employ people with disabilities.

My impulse to dream of a place to work with my son no longer stops with him alone. I want to hire all these kids too! I had to do my best. Thanks to my children, I was able to once again remember why I work so hard at KUDEN.

I feel that these clothes symbolize KUDEN's " back to the roots" in both of these senses.

We will be shooting for crowdfunding next week with such a "back to the roots" theme.
We expect to be able to release the crowdfunded Kimono gowns at the end of March or early April, after reviewing and other processes. The Kimono gowns will be the largest in KUDEN's history in terms of length (the length of the fabric needed to make the garment). It depends on the size, but it is over 5 meters!
This is why the price of the fabric alone costs more than 8,000 yen, and because it is sewn at a highly skilled sewing factory in Japan, the price is higher.
Instead, crowdfunding offers the largest discount in exchange for the initial production experience.
Of course, KUDEN's clothes can be used for four or five years because the fabric and sewing are firm, and we have a concierge service to ensure that they can be used and loved.

We hope that you will support and purchase the clothes that are the crystallization of the brand's passion and the high sewing techniques of Japan.

We shot a video of a sample kimono gown, which is available only to our mail magazine subscribers. Please click the video to Youtube below.
(Sound is Japanese only but you can see the real texture and structure of them)

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
「Samurai Mode Kimono Gown」
（Belt and string included）
Expected sales price　55,000 JPY
Color：Black、BlueGray、Ivory ( Plan )
Size：XS、S、M、L、XL ( Plan )
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


The keywords for this "Kimono Gown" were...
・1 piece can be used in both Western and Japanese styles
・Can be combined with other existing KUDEN clothes
・Customers who want to wear Kimono overseas can enjoy the Kimono style with just one piece
・Customers from hot countries can enjoy the Kimono style with this piece
・I want to make it a universal design that changes its expression just by changing the fabric like the original traditional kimono
・I want to make a silhouette that looks skinny with the shoulders dropped like a Jacket

Thanks for reading.
See you next time.
Tak


【Subscriber Only】
NEW DESIGN 「Samurai Mode Kimono Gown」Fast sample Move　Part.01
https://youtu.be/vAvh8SITtII

【Subscriber Only】
NEW DESIGN 「Samurai Mode Kimono Gown」Fast sample Move Part.02 About how to wear
https://youtu.be/OemDMQ9fcu4

………………………………………………………………

■ 3. Original serialization for KUDEN Charity , Novel “KUDEN Samurai Sword Jam”

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Make the world just a little bit better by wearing your favorite "cool & kawaii" clothes!KUDEN, a fashion brand founded by a father with a mentally handicapped and autistic son, and Japan's leading animators, manga artists, and illustrators collaborated for a charity project.This novel is based on a charity that was started in 2021-2022 to create jobs at welfare centers for the handicapped and sewing factories with the help of animation and manga.Animation Director Mr. Ryosuke Takahashi famous for Blue Comet SPT Layzner(Armored Trooper Votoms, Fang of the Sun Dougram) , Character Designer & Animator Mr. Moriyasu Taniguchi (Armored Trooper Votoms , Captain Tsubasa, Samurai Champloo ), a combination of the TV animation "Blue Comet SPT Layzner" (We also received supportive comments from mechanical designer Mr.Kunio Okawara), voice actors Mr.Kazuhiko Inoue (Kakashi from Naruto, Nyanko sensei from Natsume's Book of Friends ), Rune Sasaki (Alfine from Crusher Joe , Vanessa Layard from Macross), and other splendid animators, manga artists, and illustrator teachers who have drawn characters in KUDEN clothing. Their character designs are printed on KUDEN's clothes and bags. (Currently being re-prepared for permanent installation)Its characters and worldview have been adapted into a novel by Takahiro Sato of KUDEN and serialized in Hobby Japan's Novel Up+! ( English version is publishedon Wattpad)The story is about a father who is the last sword smith struggling for his disabled son.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Novel 「KUDEN 口伝 -Samurai Sword Jam-」

Ep.04 Samurai-Dan Part.01

“AAAAAAAH! Now released!!”

“Harada, in front of the head. Be modest.”

“Come on, Arthur. They are the descendants of courageous heroes, land on Venus first after people couldn’t live on Earth! It’s out of sloppy man like me to be in a meeting with such a mess of big names, I’m sure our head won’t mind if I loosen up a bit.”

“Harada.”

Kondo glares at Harada with his sharp eyes.

“YES!!!”

Harada return his thrown-out feet and sits up straight to a chair without thinking.

“GA-HAHA HA!”

Seeing Harada like this, Kondo laughs boldly.

“Surely not for you.”

Just after laugh at Harada, turn back to his sharp face and says.

“Hey! Jin, start.”

“Yes, Kondo-san.”

“The leader and vice leader of the first through the tenth squads. I want to have all captains of 13 district but because of this emergency, I have only captains of Sakura district , capital of Bell, and neighboring districts.” 

Members of Samurai-Dan dressed in black haori and hakama are gathered in the hall of Samurai-Dan’s headquarter.

There is a large round table in the center of the room,  with their head Kondo at the center, the leaders of the first through tenth squads sit, each vice leader and captain of Sakura and some neighboring from 13 district seats in the back.

The name of this country is Bell on Venus.

Once, when human was flourishing on Earth and Venus was still unfit environment for human habitation, people named the place after mythical god.

This area was named after Baal.

The names of the other presidencies that comprise Venus are also after the original place names.

When The Earth became uninhabitable, humans conducted large scale terraforming and Venus became barely inhabitable, 

The descendants of  courageous pioneers who were the first to land on Venus and built the bases and cities, represent the countries today.

The first representatives of Bell country were of Japanese descent so the culture of this country is strongly influenced by the Japanese culture of the old earth.

The Samurai-Dan grew out of the first pioneers who moved to this area, used their katana for vigilantism and protected their fellows in the harsh environment.

“Emergency.”


Continue to next issue.
………………………………………………………………

■ 5．Q&A

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
▽Open to questions for KUDEN and designer Tak▼We welcome your comments, requests, and questions for KUDEN by TAKAHIRO SATO and designer Takahiro Sato.We will answer your questions in our weekly mail magazine.

We look forward to hearing from you.
Please mention “mail magazine Q&A Section” before sending your question.
https://ku-den.jp/ja/pages/contact

※Please note in advance that not all questions can necessarily be answered.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Due to the author's busy schedule, Q&A will not be available this week. We will start answering your questions in the next week.


【Ask a question to us】
Please mention “mail magazine Q&A Section” before sending your question.
From here>>

………………………………………………………………

■ 6．Media & Serials and introduction of mail magazine serial-contents

ｰｰ【Media】ｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰ

Up-and-coming nFashion Magazine
・AVESSA MAGAZINE
https://www.avessa.com/on-virtues-and-vices/

SF adventure
Novel「KUDEN Samurai Sword Jam」
・Japanese　
Powered by Hobby Japan　“Novelup plus”　
Free reading
https://novelup.plus/feature/kuden/

・English
"Wattpad"　
Free reading
https://www.wattpad.com/story/307475614-kuden-%E5%8F%A3%E4%BC%9D-samurai-sword-jam

ｰｰ【Introduction of mail magazine contents】ｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰｰ
The following is a list of contents that are being serialized in theRinlifemail magazine. The contents will be posted weekly on an irregular basis. Subscribers to the mail magazine can read archived articles on the website.

●What is traditional Japanese culture?｜Performing arts, crafts, events, food, clothing, and housing
During the Edo period (1603-1868), many artisans, including woodworkers, moved to Nikko when the Nikko Toshogu Shrine was being built.I was born in such a place, and in my childhood, I had a lot of contact with various artisans. There was a skilled knife smith who lived in the neighborhood where I was born and raised, and he took care of me from a young age and taught me how to forge knives.This experience is the starting point of inspiration for my designs, as I love to make things.Japanese traditional culture. I will introduce the arts, crafts, events, clothing, food, and shelter from a designer's point of view.

→The World of Ningyo Joruri Bunraku - a Traditional Japanese Performing Art - Latest article in Vol.002

●KUDEN clothes care point by staff Sena　
Sena, a KUDEN staff member, also handles PR, translation, and voice acting. But within the company, he is known as the ironing master. Sena has always loved ironing and does it before each KUDEN photo shoot, and since KUDEN's clothes have gimmicks and designs not found in other brands, ironing requires a certain knack. This is a care corner by Sena, who receives tips and advice from sewing artisans and concierges.

→"Can wash the Samurai Mode Series at home or not? List" Latest article in Vol.003

●KUDEN History「Live like traveling」
After falling into bankruptcy, falling ill, being separated from my son, and hitting rock bottom, I decided that I create a place where I could work with my disabled son in the future. I decided to start KUDEN with this goal in mind. Through encounters with various people, KUDEN has come to be what it is today. People who want to become fashion designers. People who are interested in how to start a new business in this era, people who like KUDEN's clothes and want to know more about KUDEN. For those who want to get hints for overcoming hardships and adversities, and for those who love children with disabilities, we will weave a memoir of KUDEN's history from its origins to the present.

→KUDEN History「Live like traveling」Part 03　“Stay in the Philippines: Fatherhood and Management Side”（Latest article in Vol.006）


○Archive from here
https://ku-den.jp/ja/blogs/mail-magazine-rin-life

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

・Edited/Published by：KUDEN by TAKAHIRO SATO（Gerbera Design Inc.）

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All copyrights to the contents of "KUDEN凛rinlife" belong to the editor/publisher.Please refrain from reprinting, forwarding, or re-editing most or all of the contents of this e-mail magazine without permission.Quotations on personal blogs and social networking services for non-commercial purposes are acceptable as long as the source is clearly stated.
© 2023 KUDEN by TAKAHIRO SATO /Gerbera Design Inc,

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
┃K┃U┃D┃E┃N┃【 凛rin life 】
Vol.008
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
/ Issued March 17, 2023 /