Kurokami I by Kurokami-Kanzashi on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

So... I managed to do a bit more kitsuke in the last few days.

Kurokami Black Hair

There is a traditional Gion Kouta song which I have titled this kimono after:

It is the pillow We shared that night, When I let down My jet-black hair. That is the cause of my lament When I sleep alone With my single robe To cover me. 'You are mine,' he said, Not knowing the heart Of a simple girl. The voice of a temple bell, Sounds into the quiet night. Awakening from an empty dream In the morning, How lovely, sweet, And helpless is my longing. Before I know it The silver snow has piled up.

Kurokami is a dance/song traditionally performed by geisha. This kimono was made as a hikizuri so it could be worn for a geisha cosplay and it's deep black colour reminded me of that song. So that's where the name comes from.

This kimono is also a kurotomesode. Kurotomesode are typically worn by married women, but they are also worn by fully fledged geisha. Basically, geisha are considered to be women who have reached marrying age, but have refused to marry.