KIMONOS ON MONDAY: SKE48 Trading Cards.

Fan me off Jurina Matsui!

It still feels like July where I live, so I am going to try and cool down with a photo card collection of SKE48 members wearing lovely yukata.

Please enjoy this photo gallery of SKE48 Trading Cards, 2015. OK, everyone get your fans ready …

Notice that every time this page loads, the the mosaic changes.

Rena Matsui.

Rena graduated SKE48 and the AKB48 Family in August, 2015. Is this the end of the Matsui-to-Matsui axis? Who will step up — to team up — with Jurina and become the new “dynamic duo” within SKE?

Matsui squared — Rena and Jurina (no relation).

Starlight: I may have to travel to the planet of the Cold Turkeys for some time …

KIMONOS ON MONDAY: More Sakura-tan, her HKT48 friends (…and a “shout out” to all sentient beings who dwell in the Oort Cloud!)

BOTH ears visible !!! … (faints)

… continuing from last week’s post.  Is it even possible to get enough of Sakura Miyawaki?

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Excuse me — would you like a free sample of Sakura-tan today?

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Samples? Now I need an entire Hawks Town meal. Please enjoy Sakura-tan and her HKT friends here in colorful yukata!

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Starlight: If you read last weeks post, where in the universe will the images I shared be seen? … how far have they traveled?

Well, light travels at 299,792,458 meters per second (or about 670,616,629 mph American). Since last week’s post, Sakura in Orange Yukata, the images from my blog traveled about 112.66 billion miles. Or to express it another way 1,212 AU (the average distance from the Earth to the Sun is defined as one AU – or astronomical units). 

Thus, my images of Sakura are now reaching the Oort Cloud which surrounds the outer part of our solar system. (By way of comparison, Pluto is only 40 AU from the Sun.)  I hope my readers in this theoretical boundary of our solar system are enjoying the post!

 

Kimonos on Monday: Yui Yokoyama – Part III – Special Collection

This week we take a look at some of the other Yuihan kimono outfits. These are a few odds-and-ends which did not fit to the theme of the last two posts. This gallery will span several years, while my mind wanders …

This is young Yui soon after she joined AKB48. What a beautiful, fresh face. She would grow to be one of my favorites.

Ha ha. I really went back in time here. Yes, that is Yui! Here she is enjoying the bright sunshine in her little kimono outfit. I don’t know what kind of cookie that is.  Can someone tell me what she is eating?

This one is a little more recent (about three years ago).  This is probably my favorite kimono outfit of hers. I have a full-length shot of this kimono in my “No Politics” page (see my main pages).

Oh, goodness gracious! Do you remember how ravishing Yui looked in that “Kodoku na Hoshizora” music video? Here she is getting ready to perform in the video. Of course, a good foot rub between takes may help the young idol relax.

“Not Yet? If you say so Yuihan. I think you need that foot rub right NOW!”

Nice Zen-like perspective. Was it Yui who did the raking? I wish the photographer was less worried about showing the Zen gravel, and more interested in those tootsies. Perhaps I could be of service? LOVING THAT PURPLE!

That HAS to feel good Yui! … and might I suggest also a …. well .. you know …

I do not know the where and why of this shot. I know it is for a movie, and that is it. Of course Yuihan is “movie star beautiful” … maybe too beautiful for Hollywood.

On the web  site www.viki.com there is a program about Yui Yokoyama in Kimono.  During this recent special TV program, Yuihan takes the viewer on a tour of Kyoto … her birthplace city! Of course, there is A LOT of walking … which might make her feet tired … and so … you know …

“Follow your guide, AKB48’s Yui Yokoyama, as she takes you on a tour of the dazzling city. The unique colors of Japan have been expressed in its history, ever since ancient times. This history encompasses Kyoto’s culture and the colors of traditions that have been passed down. The vivid colors of cooking, the rich colors of architectural structures, the vibrant colors of shrine archways… Yui Yokoyama encounters various aspects of culture, artisans, and cuisine, all steeped in the beautiful colors of Kyoto. © KANSAI TELECASTING CORPORATION”

Dang it! I clicked on it …  The program is not available in my region!

(Denny kicks trash can, stubs toe, calls out in pain…)

OW .. now I’m the one who needs a foot rub … OUCH …

OK, right after this you can wear the next kimono Yui : )

Kimonos on Monday: Yui Yokoyama in Kimono – Part II

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More Yui Yokoyama in kimono! 

I am a “BIG FAN” of yours Yuihan!!!

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Yui Yokoyama is always lovely in kimono or yukata.  

Up for more Yuihan next week? Part III next time … 

PS: They did not have a Yui-in-kimono video on YouTube, but here she is dressed as a military man and courting Yuko Oshima in an old AKBINGO “Danso” sketch.

Kimonos on Monday: Yui Yokoyama … (gulp) … Yuihan Kimono Fantasy: Part I

Yui Yokoyama barefoot in kimono! Have I died and gone to Nirvanna?

Yui Yokoyama ( Yokoyama Yui 横山由依) is one of my favorites in AKB48 and NMB48.  Yuihan also dazzled fans in the AKB subunit Not Yet. Not Yet was my second favorite subunit (after the WH7), but they disbanded after Yuko Oshima graduated.  Here is a link to a Not Yet music video. Yuihan is so pretty. It is notable in that she is about the only dancer who could distract me away from Yuko’s butt, … but I digress …

Get used to calling her “Boss”!

On December 8, 2014 (which is also Miss Yokoyama’s birthday, born in Kyoto 12-8-92), it was revealed that she would succeed Minami Takahashi as General Director of AKB48! She will be second only to Akimoto-san — after Takamina graduates later this year. I think that Yokoyama-san will be up to the challenge of keeping the AKB girls in line. She is smart and tough.  Although, I would say that if Ms. Yokoyama were my boss, I would not mind it if I were ever “called on the carpet” … if you know what I mean.

Please enjoy this Yui Yokoyama fantasy … Part II next time!

 

KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #33): What is in Jurina’s bag?

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I have a short post this week.  I will share this photo of SKE48 member Jurina Matsui wearing a lovely yukata.  It makes me wonder … what exactly is IN that little handbag of hers?

If you think you have the answer, or have a funny guess, please leave that in the poll above, or the comments below!

Meanwhile, please enjoy these SKE48 trading cards!

Jurina Matsui in yukata 2013

Jurina Matsui in yukata 2012

Jurina Matsui in yukata 2011

For more images of Matsui-san (not many in kimono or yukata unfortunately), please view my Pinterest page linked here.

KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #29): The “gaijin tarento” Leah Dizon

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Leah “Donna” Dizon is a “foreign entertainer” or gaijin tarento.  She was born in Las Vegas, but moved to Tokyo in 2006, to pursue a career as singer, actress and model.  Ms. Dizon was born in America, but claims Chinese, Filipino, and French ethnic ancestory. I will share this Leah retrospective:

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See more Leah on this YouTube post:

Also you can join her fan club on the Leah Dizon official page: website is linked here.

http://leah-dizon.net/

She does not wear kimonos in her more recent music videos, however this older clip shows her wearing a great yukata!  It makes her the prettiest lady at the party!

Please model more wonderful kimonos for us Ms. Dizon!

KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #18) Rena Matsui is a “Kimono Princess”

That got that right!

Rena Matsui (松井 玲奈 ) is a member of AKB48 J-Pop Idol family.  She is best known for her work with the SKE48 sister group.  During this past year’s group mix-up, shake-up, and reassignments,  Matsui-san also became a concurrent member of the Nogizaka46.  Rena has a beautiful face, of course.  Indeed, she has a face that could launch a thousand ships.

Rena looks especially elegant in kimono and yukata!  Please enjoy some of these lovely kimono images of Rena from the “Kimono Princess” magazine, and elsewhere.  See Kimono Princess site linked here.

 

KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #18) Rena Matsui a “Kimono Princess”

You may also enjoy my Pinterest page for Rena linked here.  Some of the images are kimono related.  Some not.  Some are actually pretty sexy.  All of them are beautiful.  Also, I have tried to make funny captions under some images.  Help me out and leave a funny caption in the comments!

Also, if you haven’t already, please VOTE for Rena-in-Kimono vs Rena-in_Bikini on my WP Page linked here.  I know that if you are following my blog, you may be biased in favor of Kimono.  I will summarize the poll next week.

BIKINI OR KIMONO?

Starlight: It took me five years to realize that Rena-chan is part of a “double star” system with Jurina Matsui.  

OH … THANK YOU!!!  Denny Sinnoh’s blog has now attained more than 5,000 views!!!  I know that many of these views are from Kimono lovers! Thank you all for visiting my blog.  I look forward to your comments!

KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #2)

Kimono or Yukata? 

A yukata is a “summer kimono”.  These are lighter, more casual garments than full kimonos.  The word Yukata comes from the Japanese word for “bathing clothes”.  In fact, many yukata look like fancy bathrobes!  Yukata are more common in the hot summer months, or for summer events such as outdoor hanabi (fireworks) displays or outdoor fstivals.  Yukata ensembles may be less ornate, and less complicated than full kimono dress.   Typically, younger women wear lighter or brighter colors than older women.

LOVE THE YUKATA!
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A complete yukata outfit might consist of a cotton undergarment (the “juban”), the yukata itself, an obi sash, and perhaps a hand fan, and/or a carry bag.  Footwear may be sandals, or if indoors, bare feet.  A typical man’s reaction: GRRROWWL…

Japanese actress/model Minami Akina wearing summer yukata.

Oh, those little piggies !

Is that a bath robe Acchan?

Above: AKB48 graduate Atsuko Maeda in yukata.

Below: Poster for “How to wear a Yukata” (click image for full size)

1428 x 1600 in full size.

From Wikipedia: “The left side of the yukata is wrapped over the right side (commonly reversed with right over left when dressing a body for a funeral) and secured with an obi sash tied in a bow with the excess or with the koshi-himo and traditionally the bow is placed in the back. Traditionally bows in the front represented a prostitute. In private, such as after a bath, the yukata may be simply belted. Yukata are often worn with wooden sandals called geta, buttabi are not usually worn.”