NATIONAL COSTUME DESCRIPTION        

“How would a formal kimono look today if it had
evolved with the times?”

John Galliano versions of today’s kimono for its latest Haute Couture collection are beautiful, but Yoshiyuki Ogata and Hiroko Ogata created together a Japanese couture design, made by Japanese, that reflects today’s trends.

Below is the draft that Yoshiyuki Ogata wrote to define Riyo’s costume, which we translated in English for you.

This year’s national costume is a kimono. Kimonos have a long history in Japan and have changed over time to reflect the society and culture of each period.

To celebrate the new face of Japanese beauty, this kimono was designed to accentuate strength and elegance.

We chose black and red colors for the bold statements they make. Black represents elegance and red represents power and passion in women.

How will Riyo dazzle the crowd in this piece? You’ll have to wait and see her on stage!

気品と強さと色気の融合 日本の伝統的装束である『着物』はまだまだ進化する。そう、男性社会が長く続いた日本において、女性が男性以上の進化を遂げ、全く新しい社会的地位を逞しく築き上げたように。日本人女性はおとなしくたおやかな立ち居振る舞いの中に激しく燃えるような情熱を内に秘めている。本年の日本は、日本人女性のそんな二面性を表現した。気品ある落ち着いた黒の内掛けの中には眼の覚めるような赤を基調とした大胆な大柄の着物。太腿と胸元を露出する挑発的なスタイリングは、伝統的に「女はこうあるべき」とされてきた日本人女性の着こなしのルールを破壊するもので、外側の「静寂」と相反する内面の激しさを表現した。大きく開いた胸元には女博徒さながらの「さらし」を現代的にアレンジしたインナーをあしらい、下半身には極短の猿股を着用。自由な身動きがままならない女性の着物に徹底的に活動性を与え、しなやかで美しい女の肢体を極限まで解放している。空手着を連想させるシンプルかつシャープな黒帯は、艶やかさと共存する女の強さを象徴する。着物と打掛のデザインは、今日本で注目を集めている新鋭の着物デザイナー高橋理子、帯、下駄、インナーは昨年度日本代表が着用した赤揃えの甲冑をデザインした緒方義志が製作。強烈な個性を放つ二人のデザイナーが日本代表のために手を組み、このような伝統と革新が見事に融合した刺激的で斬新なナショナルコスチュームに仕上がった。

 “Hirokoledge” designer:    Hiroko Takahashi

“Yoshiyuki” designer:   Yoshiyuki Ogata  who designed Kurara’s stunning red samourai costume last year, which won best national costume award in Los Angeles.

SEE THE WEBSITES OF THE 2 INCREDIBLE AVANT-GARDE DESIGNERS :

 http://www.hirocoledge.com/

WWW.YOSHIYUKI.JP ;    WWW.KOHAGI.COM

This year, I personnally choreographed Riyo’s presentation of her national costume, competition to be held on May 20th. 

Riyo during fitting: . 

This year Riyo’s national costume will be even more spectacular than last year costume. 

I beleive that the winning criteria is not based only on how beautiful the costume is. All countries each year present stunning and unique costumes which makes it difficult for the judges to choose one only to be rewarded.

It is based also on how you interpret your costume on stage and bring life to it. A mix of cultural tradition with a twist of fashion-fun-&-passion, which defines Riyo with perfection.

Hiroko and Yoshiyuki, from my heart thank you so very much for sharing your talent with me and for your extreme generosity.

The Fabulous Four “National” team!    [Hiroko, Riyo, Yoshi, ines]