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私は1955年、大阪で生まれ。10歳まで、東大阪(近鉄沿線、瓢箪山)に住んでた。その後、奈良の新興住宅地、やっぱし近鉄沿線で学園前に引っ越しした。私の父は普通のサラリーマン、母は主婦、かつてはお店も持っていた腕のええ仕立て屋さんやった。そして、おばあちゃんも奈良に来た。でも、あんまり寒かったから3年で淡路の叔母さんの所へ逃げてった。

小さい頃は動物好きで将来は獣医！　高校２年の時、父に反対された。東京にはだしてもらえんかった。腹立ったわぁ、
近くの学校でないとって・・・結果、浪人。そのせいばかりやないけれど、その間、職業訓練所で経理の勉強、まったく性に会わんかったし、父は絵を描き、母は洋裁をし、私は染織を選んだ、いろんな物を作るのが好き、ややこしいほどおもしろい。私が洋裁が出来るようにと、あの手この手。母さんの顔、つぶさんように私、がんばったわ。そんなことしながら、私の学校生活は始まった。

ここで、ええ先生、ええ友達におおた。言い合いしたり、絶交したり、全エネルギー投入、 どんどん心が合わさっていった学生生活、小野先生は、人生の師、いつも静かな人、言われたことに「くっそ！」て思たこともいっぱいあった。その時はわからへんねんけど･････時間と共に染み込んできた。

 先生に最後におおたのは、男か女かわからへん名無しのごんべぇ、お腹の中で7ヶ月やったかな？大きなお腹に手ぇあてて、｢お前がなぁ～、はっはっはっ｣ 満面の笑みを浮かべてた。
シゲオが生まれた。一番に会いに行こうと思てた矢先、心臓発作で逝ってしもぉた。先生、会いに来たかなぁ?もぉ、18年前も前や、

古友男、ヘビー、増田、名前を上げたら、限････あるか、　思いっきり生きてたなぁ、“反物、3日間織り”、当然のことながら　私は出来んかった。 これだって、始めたきっかけは古友男の一言。｢お前に出来るわけがない!｣
悲しいかな、この間この話しをしたら、「そんなこと、覚えてない｣････えっ････、なんやて、３０年の間、私の独りよがりやったんかぃ、
私、織物はまったくの素人やったから、織り屋の息子の古友男には、いつも、嫉妬してた。そやかって、何でも知ってるし、持ってるし何でも出来るんやもん。

 音楽、お酒、タバコの煙、織物の話、くだらん噂話、ほんま生きてたなぁ、自分しか見えんかった。布、いろたり　糸を紡いだりする時に 懐かしゅう思い出す。ヘビーはわが道を行く、静かで、強くて、のんびりしてる南の国から来た人。またその内、彼女のエピソードも紹介します。

いつも「もっとゆっくりしぃなぁ～」の言葉に背中向けて、急いだ人増田。卒業して1年もたたんうちに白血病で逝ってしもた。その時初めて、何でかがわかったゎ。増田は電車通学の時間を、「乗ってる人のクロッキーやってみぃ」って進めてくれた。行きは出来たんやけど、帰りは時々、酔っ払ってたからできんかったなぁ。｢太陽のお化粧｣やら「山の描き方」あの声が聞こえる。

バンコクに来てもうすぐ4年になる 。来てよかったけど、日本の四季や田舎が恋しい。まぁええ、ここには日本食にも困らんだけの食材もあるし、着物もある。日本にいてた時は、ほとんど着んかった着物も、ここで結構、役に立ってる。

着物好きはおばあちゃんから母さん、私と代々受け継いだもんやなぁ。戦後、着物は廃れてきたけど、最近、戻って来た。二部式のまるでスーツのような着物や、マジックテープがついてて簡単に着けれる帯がある。若い人たちは短い着物をワンピースみたいにしたり、
中古の着物を好きに楽しんでる。ええんちゃう？　着物で楽しむん、

2004年　TAKoOME

追記：色んな布や反物が着物になったり鞄になったり・・・・2008年

To mother and grandmother thank you very much for your love.
To Ms.Tomoko and Dr.Ono who has gone  earlier than me, Mr.Kageyama in friend with for a long time, and Mr.ANDY who helps this project.

 I was born in Osaka Japan in 1955.I grew up in downtown Osaka and when I was 11 my family moved to the countryside, to a new area, on the outskirts of Nara. My family was as usual as others, my father worked in an office and my mother was a housewife,  but had been tailor before I came along. My grandmother moved with us, but found it was so cold in winter that she had left after 3 years.

In my childhood I had many pets and wanted to go Tokyo and become veterinarian doctor,but my father didn't allow me to go to Tokyo.I was angry about this and ignored all others to study closer to home.I had no job although it was depend on  not only this reason. And although I studied accounting, I did not care for it.

Next year entered Art school in Nara and never looked back.  My father painted and my mother made clothes so it was natural step for me, I liked to make goods, and the more difficult one was able to get interested rather.My mother had forced me to become a good seamstress when I was younger. so that I could pass my mother's　classes and keep her reputation intact.
 It stood me in good stead and I felt in love with the life at art school and weaving.I was able to meet some of the most important people in my life, my teacher and three classmates and at the end of the year we were as thick as thieves.
My teacher was the only teacher I have ever had in my whole life.I was very much a hot head and he was very calm.Although I don't understand then, time has understood earnestly.
 His last few months of life he hung on until my son was born, then he passed away. His hand was applied to the big belly. "You, You are ,Ha , Ha , Ha"  Shigeo was born. He passed away in a heart attack when the moment my son and me were going to meet to him.
 Did the teacher come to meet?  It is already an occurrence of 18 years ago.
 Hideo, and I argued our way though art school, and a 3 days contest to weave a Kimono's material.I lost, but it is wonderful to remember black jazz music, whiskey and endless "Highlight" cigarettes over that three day period. It is longingly remembered as touching thread.I was always enviable the reason why Hideo was from a family of weavers, he had the background and I had the raw energy  he lacked. She was very independent person who was calm and was intense character,and the peculiar temperament of tropical regions."Take a time, please " Tomoko turned the back to my attention.It lived and hurried and hurried. After art school she died and them knew the reason she hurried . She taught me how to crochet on our one hour train trip to school saying "You must crochet on the train" I was able to do that in the morning but  in the evening I was often drunk, but she was sober and health conscious.

I had lived away from Japan for almost four years now and I don't miss it. However I miss its culture, which for me is symbolized by the Kimono. I have worn them often since leaving Japan and my collection has grown rapidly. For me Kimono is a Lifelong interest and you could say that it runs my family and in my blood. I sense that in the past fifty years Japan has lost its way and that the re emerging interest in the Kimono is an encouraging sign of my people looking inside themselves again. The kimono became a suit. and big belts "obi" with modern fasteners such as Velcro.

So the Kimono can wear now easily. And young people has many way,  short Kimono, it likes one-piece dress.Used Kimono began to be in fashion now. I am happy about this because even though the wear is not traditional at least they get to know the Kimono and can appreciate the difficulty correct usage of this fine piece of clothing.

2004　TAKoOME