The Kimono of the Geisha-Diva Ichimaru [Hardcover]

Barry Till (Author), Michiko Warkentyne (Author), Judith Patt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2006

Ichimaru (1906-1997) combined her experience as a geisha with an extraordinary talent as a vocalist and musician to become a unique figure in the social history of twentieth-century Japan. Determined to distinguish herself, she studied music with the best teachers to be found in Tokyo's "floating world," or pleasure district. Ichimaru secured a recording contract in 1931 and never looked back as she won international renown.

In keeping with the geisha tradition of elegant dress, Ichimaru accumulated a striking collection of kimono over the course of her long career. After her death, the collection was given to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. In this colorful, well-informed, and satisfying little book, three members of the gallery's curatorial staff tell lchimaru's life story and place it in the context of the floating world and the larger world of Japanese culture. They also provide detailed information on kimono construction, materials, dyeing and stitching techniques, styles and the cultural connotations evoked by those styles, and the secret language of kimono imagery. Color photographs accompany their descriptions, and Ichimaru's life is illustrated with color and black-and-white images.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Pomegranate Communications (March 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764935135
• ISBN-13: 978-0764935138
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,408,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended to students of Japanese culture, May 2, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kimono of the Geisha-Diva Ichimaru (Hardcover)

Collaboratively researched and co-authored the team of by Barry Till, Michiko Warkentyne, and Judith Patt (all of whom are from the curatorial department at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria), The Kimono Of The Geisha-Diva Ichimaru is a visually impressive photographic and informative biographical compendium of the life and success of the world renowned Japanese artist Ichimaru (1906-1997), and her collection of kimonos now owned by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. The Kimono Of The Geisha-Diva Ichimaru presents story of her childhood which found her born into poverty, sold to a geisha house as a young teenager, and of her achieving fame as a singer and musician. Beautifully illustrated throughout, The Kimono Of The Geisha-Diva Ichimaru is very highly recommended to students of Japanese culture.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book, November 5, 2006

By 

Ballet Boy "Isis14" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Kimono of the Geisha-Diva Ichimaru (Hardcover)

But there could be more pictures, more detail. The art of Kimono is divine and it is an interesting book. Worth having if you are interested in Geisha and Kimono.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kimono oof the Geisha, December 28, 2007

By 

B. Rackley "Sierras Creative World" (Look for me in a library Any library All ...) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Kimono of the Geisha-Diva Ichimaru (Hardcover)

Most interesting and a behind the wall look at the Geisha through the fashion.
Great research for artists and designers.