KAIR Closing Party & The Teary Speeches

After two and a half glorious months, it was time to say goodbye. To all our new friends, to KAIR, to Kamiyama, and to an experience that has profoundly affected us. And just as KAIR organized a welcoming party, they put out all the stops for the farewell.

This year, it was decided to have the residency closing party at the theater where both Nik's and Suskens work was hanging. Tatami mats, tables and chairs were brought in and a banquet of all things delicious. It felt like being in a fire-lit log cabin with 50 of your best mates, snuggly, warm, and cheery to the max, surrounded by engulfing art.

Unbeknownst to most, Nik and I and Sayaka and Manus arranged to be outfitted in kimono, the official black tie of Japan. A sweet old lady sweated out 45 minutes of wrangling me into this gorgeous silken number. Yanking, pulling, hoisting. At one point I had to pantomime to her that I needed room to eat dinner, so she loosened it up a bit. We certainly caused an appreciative commotion when we arrived. (I spent most of the evening trying to keep Hopper's foody fingers off the silk!)

The night was a lovely emotional tribute to the intimate bonds we forged over the time together. We all gave speeches, even me all teary and choked up, and you could feel the love in the room. And just like any special party, it was over too quickly and we were off to the dresser's house to disrobe.

I've lamented for months how to adequately encompass the overwhelming gratitude I have for this organization and its lovely people. I cannot possibly put into words how magnificent the whole experience was, the magnitude of generosity and support. I cannot thank everyone at KAIR enough for inviting Nik to do what he loves and graciously welcome our family. Kamiyama and everyone there will always hold a special place in my heart for reasons too great to list here, and for that, on behalf of myself and my family, thank you thank you thank you.

lovely intimate atmosphere

Yu, Rufus, and Ira

Nik's speech with translator

Hopper did a lot of speech bombing! 

Nikolai

Keiko assisting Hopper photographer

Mori-san

more speech bombing

Yu trying to wrangle Hopper in the wings

us with Sayaka and Manus, missing Susken

Ominami-san, director of KAIR

Nikolai, Sato-san, us, Keiko, Mori-san

gorgeous obi

To Heaven in a Kimono

On an indigo dying trip, Keiko and I visited an exhibition on the factory grounds showcasing some master work on kimonos as well as other textiles. Everything was absolutely gorgeous, the fine hand, the vision, and the meticulous approach to seeing design come to fruition.

We were admiring a particularly beautiful kimono when one of the handlers asked if I'd like to try it on. I answered with an incredulous YES PLEASE. So, although they didn't give me the full monty, I got to wear it with a couple accoutrements just for fun. (Obi's are rarely folded in such a casual way, but this was nice and quick for the effect. Getting dressed in full kimono takes 45-60 mins!)

I'm a little tall so the folds weren't right and the length is just that much too short but who cares!?!?! Look at this magnificent piece of art! I was too nervous to wear it for long but it was such a wondrous experience, to be properly dressed with attention and care, that I got emotional and had to shed a few tears.

Behold...