2 1/2” long / 1 ¾” diameter
7.5 cm long / 5 cm diameter
Tokyo

This hairpin was made by an artist living in Tokyo. We first discovered her work in a small store in Yanaka, an area in Tokyo with many small buildings and residences and little winding streets. Yanaka was developed as a temple town in the Edo period and still retains much of its historical value. Kanzashi are hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. They can be very elaborate or simple like this one. Kanzashi first appeared when women abandoned the traditional taregami hairstyle where the hair was kept straight and long and adopted coiffured nihongami hairstyles. Kanzashi became popular during the Edo period, 1600 – 1867, when artisans began to produce more finely crafted products. Today, brides and professional kimono wearers such as geisha, tayu and yujo or adepts in Japanese tea ceremony and ikebana most often wear kanzashi. But more and more there is a growing revival in Japan for traditional things and styles. Each hairpin comes in this pretty paper package our co-worker Yuki made for us!