Japanese kimono makers seek to revive declining industry

The two innovations in kimono sales seem to be New design and Cheaper.

The other innovation seems to Rentals.

In a brilliant display of Monday-morning quarterbacking, I must say these three approaches should have started well before 2000 when the industry shrank by almost a third.

Still, I know of a kimono maker who is coming up with designs young women want: aside from Mickey and Hello Kitty, he’s adding more ‘cheerful’ (childish) designs. And his business is surviving.

Nobody wants to buy them at suck ridiculous prices. A cheap one is 5 grand. Then, you talk about rentals? A one-day rental starts at 300 bucks for a crappy one. If you want to rent something nice you are looking at very little change from a thousand bucks. Do you really wonder why it's a declining industry?

Ever been to Kyoto? Loads of tourist buses block the big roads as their passengers either take a photo shot or do a day rental. Most people who wear kimonos are Chinese.