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The Ornamental Hairpins by Kazurasei-rouho
Beautiful Hatpins along Tradition & Modernity
Date:27, Apr, 2016
Investigated and Written by Misaka Youhei
About our introductory articles


Hair is crucial for women, it is said. Since old time in Japan, women’s long hair has been a qualification to be regarded as a beauty. For women, namely, hair is an important element. Of course, that’s so when they wear kimonos. Women express beauty by doing up hair and wearing an ornamental pin called “Kanzashi.”

Origin of kanzashi is, according to one theory, female custom in the Jomon era. At the time, thin sticks were considered to include a divine power. They used to wear fine sticks in hair for warding off evil spirits, therefore. Time passed to the period when the Japanese coiffure style was established. The kanzashi were widely known as an ornament for hair and then, most women needed in the Edo era.



Crepe Kanzashi

Size & Price w/o Tax (from the top):
90 mm × 90 mm Drop: 120 mm / 21,000 JPN
Diameter 100 mm Leaf: 50 mm × 60 mm / 16,500 JPN
120 mm × 145 mm / 14,500 JPN
Diameter 90 mm / 9,000 JPN

A longstanding shop of ornaments for women, “Kazurasei-rouho” in Kyoto was built in 1865. Kazura is an archaic word which means wings and hair extensions, and also points hair ornaments. In other words, they are a professional group of women’s hair.

All their gold-lacquered ornaments are produced by their exclusive artisans at the Yamanaka atelier in Ishikawa. Lacquering is influenced largely by humidity and temperature. Yamanaka is the best place for the occupation.



Gold-lacquered Kanzashi with Mother‐of‐pearl
Ginkgo Hairpin (Small)


Size: W 50 mm × L 130 mm
Price w/o tax: 48,000 JPN

There are almost a thousand hairpins lying at their Gion store. Although they have various types from the affordable to the gold-lacquered ones, their gold-lacquered ornaments with traditional beauty are recommendable for the formal style of adult women. They say “Tame-nuri in gold-lacquering makes gentler than pure black and then, suits not just raven but also brown hair. Though lacquering might look a symbol of Japan culture, some of them like vermilion-lacquered ones are supposed to suit blonde hair.”


Kazurasei-rouho Online Shop (Japanese)




 

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