Who Gets to Wear Kimono? Japan Society x Kimono Club of San Jose Panel

*In-person program

Do you want to learn more about Japanese kimonos but need help knowing where to start? Do you have concerns about wearing a kimono while in America? Do you own a kimono but want to wear it in a style that is unique to you? Find out the answers to these questions and more by joining the Japan Society of Northern California and the Kimono Club of San Jose for a panel titled “Who Gets to Wear Kimono?” This panel will delve into the personal history, significance, styles, and challenges of wearing a kimono in America while also debunking misconceptions about kimono rules and culture. There will also be a demonstration at the end that will show how to wear a yukata properly. This panel offers a unique opportunity for anyone interested in immersing themselves in the world of Japanese kimonos.

Our Amazing Speakers

Jodie Austin | Associate Professor, Menlo College

Jodie Austin is an Associate Professor of English at Menlo College and a Japantown, San Jose local. In her spare time she organizes volunteer events and photoshoots with the San Jose Kimono Club. She and her brother are fourth generation (yonsei); her grandparents were interned at Manzanar during World War II before being sent to Tule Lake for being No-Nos (dissenters). She was first introduced to kitsuke through her great aunt, Sadako Sumida, who studied the koto in Japan— an art that she tried and failed to pass on to her niece despite her best efforts.

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Stephanie Hancock (she/they)| Artist

Stephanie is a multifaceted artist living in Japantown San Jose. Originally from a small town in the Appalachia foothills of South Eastern Ohio, Stephanie found their true home after moving to J-Town over a decade ago. Stephanie started learning about kitsuke after modeling a vintage haori for Nichi Bei Bussan, the first unofficial kimono club event. Since becoming a founding k-club member, they use their artistic eye to create a modern and fun west coast vibe to kitsuke.

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Melinda Po | Digital Artist

Melinda Po is a digital artist based in the vibrant San Jose Japantown. She has been a member of the local Kimono Club since its inception. Melinda volunteers her skills in photography, social media management, graphic design, and magazine layout for the club. She plays a key role in curating and expanding the club’s kimono collection by gathering donations and sourcing unique pieces from vintage resellers. When she’s not working on media or with the Kimono Club, she starts her mornings by powering a leaf blower and sweeping the streets of Japantown.

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Crystal Rast | San Jose Japantown Event Organizer

Crystal Rast is an active community member, organizing cultural events, assisting with neighborhood beautification, preservation and historical knowledge. Coming from a legacy family/business, she helps to facilitate the preservation and growth of business and organizations within the community. As part of various community organizations, she works to help foster community relationships, as well as uplift the next generations of Japantown. Through kimono and her own personal journey in kimono culture, she is able to help teach and share in the traditions of kimono, as well as help encourage new ways of wearing.

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Moderator: Nene Kalu Schaffert (she/her) | Strategic Partnerships, Meta

Nene works in strategic partnerships for Meta living in Mountain View. For nearly 20 years, she’s been interested in Japanese culture mostly due to her first trip to Japan in 2008. In 2019, she deep-dived into the world of kimono – learning about the different weaves and dyes and the details of kitsuke through books, kimono magazines, YouTube and workshops. Since then, she’s built a modest collection of tailored kimono from Japan. As one of the newer members of the San Jose Kimono Club and a member of the Japan Society of Northern California’s leadership circle, she’s passionate about preserving the legacy of Japanese traditional cultures by getting more people to wear kimono!

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