Japanese kimono exhibition opens at Otago Museum

Media release – September 26, 2005

Japanese kimono exhibition opens at award-winning Otago Museum

A slice of Japanese history is being features at Dunedin’s national award-winning Otago Museum with the extraordinary exhibition, Kimono – a Japanese story.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Dunedin’s sister-city relationship with Otaru, Japan.

The Museum is celebrating this anniversary with a special exhibition of over 100 special kimono and accessories – gifts from the people of Otaru. The exhibition has fully opened this week.

Kimono – a Japanese story displays various styles of spectacular kimono, from traditionally worn for special or formal occasions through to more casual garments.

The kimono incorporate incredible detail and are full of symbolism, museum director Shimrath Paul said today.

``A number of other items of Japanese clothing including coats, skirts, pleated trousers, obi and their accessories, socks and sandals are also being displayed,’’ he said.

``This is an incredible exhibition which is expected to attract as many people as our Sir Edmund Hillary exhibition last year.’’

The kimono exhibition will run until the end of January next year.

The museum celebrates the opening of the Japan Festival with an array of events including traditional Japanese dancing, pottery, dance, film and sword performances.

The museum last week won the best culture and heritage attraction at the annual New Zealand Tourism Awards in Auckland.

They also won a distinction award for being the winner of a major category for three consecutive years and they were the major category winner for visitor activities and attractions.

More than 330,000 visited the museum last year.

Editors, note: Dunedin mayor Clifford Skeggs travelled to Otaru, in Hokkaido, 25 years ago to seal a friendship between the two cities that has thrived ever since.

ENDS

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