It had been cold all week, and it rained the day before our lunch. Luckily, the sun came out on the day itself, although it was still quite cold.

We chose Wakaba because it’s a Japanese café and everyone is familiar with the food, which makes it easier to relax and enjoy the time together. This time we also had two new participants, both Japanese, which was really nice.

I arrived a bit late because I ended up helping two people get dressed — more than I had expected. But everyone was already there when I arrived, and the atmosphere was very good and calm.

Everyone wore komon, which felt perfect for a casual lunch outing. I realized later that I might have overdressed a little, since I wore a tsukesage, but it didn’t matter much in the end.

This lunch was our first event with the intention of normalizing kimono in everyday life, especially here in a foreign country. Not everyone could stay long — some had children to take care of, and some had taken a day off just to join us. Still, everyone made the effort to come, and that meant a lot.

After lunch, some of us continued on to a Japanese supermarket nearby, where we could sit down again and talk more. It was nice to extend the day a little and just spend time together.

Overall, it was very fun and relaxed. Small gatherings like this remind me why we do Kimono Biyori — simply wearing kimono, sharing a meal, and enjoying each other’s company.