The “Emmon-Hajime no Gi” (Kimono-Starting Ceremony) of the Takakura School of Emmon-dō
Through the introduction of my friend Hokuto—an actor in the film National Treasure (Kokuhō) and its dialect coach—I was invited to serve as the model for the Ōkimi (Great King) court attire at the Emmon-Hajime no Gi (“Kimono-Starting Ceremony”) of the Takakura School of Emmon-dō.
The ceremony was held on February 6, 2026 (Reiwa 8) at Shōzan Resort’s Hōgyokutei in Kyoto. The Takakura School is a lineage devoted to the research, preservation, and transmission of the courtly methods of preparing, adjusting, and dressing Heian-period imperial garments—a tradition that connects directly to Japan’s classical court culture. The Emmon-Hajime no Gi marks the formal beginning of the year’s practice, study, and ceremonial work related to these garments, embodying both technical mastery and spiritual reverence.
As someone unaccustomed to such highly refined court traditions, everything I experienced was new. Yet I was received with exceptional warmth, patience, and dignity by the entire lineage and their associates, creating an atmosphere of respect that transcended formality.
During the dressing process—and later while wearing the Ōkimi attire—I noticed a distinct shift in my bodily awareness. My center of gravity gradually descended into my tanden (lower abdomen), my breath deepened, and my internal energy began to circulate more clearly. Even my perception of gravity and the quality of the surrounding air seemed to transform. It was a profoundly grounding, composed, and elevated somatic experience.
For a brief moment, I felt as if I had touched the aesthetic and spiritual world of The Tale of Genji and the era of Abe no Seimei, sensing a subtle continuity between past and present.
I extend my deepest gratitude to Professor Noriko Kumagai, Ms. Yuko Saga, the Takakura School lineage, and all those involved, as well as to the many artisans whose meticulous craftsmanship and intergenerational dedication have preserved these garments and their techniques. This experience would not have been possible without their collective devotion.
Being part of this ceremony—even as a model—allowed me to step inside a living layer of Japan’s cultural history. As I continue to travel and engage in musical exchanges across different countries, I am gradually deepening my understanding of the Japanese spirit of wa (harmony) and the rare, nuanced beauty of wabi-sabi.
From the practitioners’ refined movements, their focused presence, the tactile weight of the garments, and the sacred atmosphere of Hōgyokutei—I received Japan’s vibration directly into my body.
My body itself is an instrument.
This embodied memory will continue to nourish my music, my voice, and my artistic practice.
Earth Voice Singer
Kackey@dabigtree
Photo by Norie Mine
映画「国宝」出演俳優、そして方言指導を担当した友人・北斗からのご紹介で、
令和八年二月六日、京都・しょうざんリゾート峰玉亭にて
衣紋道高倉流様の宮廷装束を調進、着せ付けをするご流派の”衣紋はじめの儀”に大王（おおきみ）装束のモデルを務めさせていただきました。
無作法者ゆえ初めてのことだらけでしたが、
皆様大変温かく私を迎えていただきました。
着付けていただく間、そして身に纏った感触としては、
次第に丹田へとしっかり重心が定まり、氣がめぐり、
重力と空氣の質が変わり、大変心地良い身体感覚を覚えました。
光源氏の世界や安倍晴明の時代と少しだけ繋がれたような気がします。
熊谷範子先生、佐賀裕子様、ご一門や御関係者の皆様、
試行錯誤し連綿と紡いてくれた多くの職人の皆様、
貴重な経験をありがとうございました。
日本の美しい伝統文化と歴史の一部になれたことを嬉しく思います。
いろんな国へゆき、いろんな国の人たちと音楽交流する中で、
日本の和の精神、侘び寂びの稀有な美しさを少しずつ認識しています。
皆様の所作と心、お着物、峰玉亭の場から日本のバイブレーションを一身にいただきました。
私の身体そのものが楽器。
この身体感覚は、私の音楽、声の養分となるでしょう。
アーシーヴォイスシンガー
Kackey@dabigtree
Photo by 峰のりえ
