Unite the world and save the industry, 213 kimonos were made to represent every country

Imagine One World Kimono Project, a Japanese non-profit organization created 213 kimonos to represent countries/regions which participate in the Tokyo Olympics. Source: Imagine One World Kimono Project

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The initiative called KIMONO project started by just one man who had a big idea. Broadcast on the 5th of August, 2021.

The Japanese kimono and obi (belt) was specially designed and made to represent Australia. Source: Imagine One World Kimono Project

In 2014, a year after Tokyo was chosen as the host city for the Games in 2020, Mr Yoshimasa Takakura, a third-generation kimono retailer, launched the KIMONO Project to create more than 200 kimonos which feature every country/region which participate in the Tokyo Games 2020.

Mr Takakura thought that the project would help the dying kimono industry in Japan. It also could showcase the beauty of kimono and send message of peace to the world.

Even though Mr Takakura knows the kimono industry for long, it wasn't an easy ride. He had to start from scratch as people including close friends saw the project as too complicated, expensive, and impossible.

It took four years for the project to start gaining traction. The last kimono which features Japan was completed in June 2020, barely making it to the original starting date of the Tokyo Olympics.

Due to the unexpected circumstances including the coronavirus pandemic and the 1-year postponement, the kimonos couldn't make it to the Opening Ceremony even though showcasing the kimonos at the Games was the goal which Mr Takakura and his ever-growing supporters were aiming for.

Yoshimasa Takakura who runs a kimono shop in Japan has founded a non-profit organization to create more than 200 kimonos featuring different countries. Source: Imagine One World Kimono Project

Koala? Kangaroo? No, boomerang!

The kimono which features Australia is one of a few kimonos which involved children in its making process. Year 4 students in Takatsuki city participated in the project by suggesting design ideas. They learned about Australia in a class and drew designs.

Teaching children things about kimono turned out to be a fresh and fun experience for Mr Takakura and his kimono-making team including a designer and craftsman. The Kimono industry is aging rapidly, and dying due to the lack of demands.

"I thought that we would have lots of koalas and kangaroos. But the most popular one was boomerang. I'm glad that we could include indigenous culture in the design", Mr Takakura said.

"In terms of the design, the designer put the roof of the Opera House in likeness of the traditional Japanese pattern of waves. That connects all different elements on the kimono."

Takatsuki city and Toowoomba in Queensland have a sister-city relationship. The kimono travelled to Toowoomba in 2017.

Mr Takakura has left the role of Representative Director for Imagine One World, a non-profit organization which runs the KIMONO Project, but he manages the 231 kimono sets on behalf of the organization.