Naoko Tosa: Sound of Ikebana / Four Seasons

The fashion show consists of four segments, each themed around one of the four seasons. Using Tosa’s art, it showcases expressions of Japan’s traditional seasons and how they merge with Western interpretations.

Spring: The Brilliance of Life—Spring is the season when life is born and shines. Across East and West, people celebrate this through flowers. Models will perform wearing fashion designs featuring Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms and the iris beloved in the West.

Summer: Prayers to Ancestors—Summer is the season when people entrust their thoughts for their gods and ancestors to prayer, a practice shared by people across cultures. Japanese prayer is expressed through the Gion Festival, while Western prayer is conveyed through an homage to Martha Graham’s dance.

Autumn: Celebration of Harvest—Autumn is the season to celebrate the fruits of people’s labor. Here, this is expressed through West Asian dance and Japanese hand clapping. The Japanese hand clapping evolves into Slavic dance rhythms, representing New York’s melting pot of races and the crossing of cultural boundaries. Frames of animation are printed directly onto the dress featured, and when the dancer moves and the lights flash, the images come to life as animation. Please enjoy the world’s first animated dress fashion experience.

Winter: Memories of Battle—Winter is a season to recall past battles and transform them into prayers for peace. A scene will be performed depicting the death of Atsumori, a representative moment from the famous The Tale of the Heike portraying samurai warfare. Similar stories exist in both East and West, evoking a sense of melancholy and a desire for peace. Further, as battles with nature have become an important theme in the modern era, models will wear fashion equipped with disaster-prevention functions.