A nonprofit organization engaged in the elimination of land mines has opened a shop in Tokyo that sells handbags, table cloths and other items from kimono material to help fund its activities.
The Association for Aid and Relief Japan, a Tokyo-based NPO, is calling for donations of kimono, obi and other items related with the traditional garb, from people across the country.
Fusako Yanase, 65, an executive of the group, said the idea to open the outlet, Yume Usagi (Dream Rabbit), stemmed from the group's desire to connect the promotion of Japanese culture with her group's aid activities.
"In the future, we hope to open outlets overseas as a means of mutual understanding between Japan and other countries," Yanase said.
Since the outlet opened last month near JR Meguro Station on the Yamanote Line, some 5,000 kimono and obi have been donated, the group said. With help from handicraft experts, the kimono materials have been used to craft dolls, book covers, bags and table cloths.
Although she did not go into specifics, Yanase said sales have been good and all proceeds will go toward aid activities.
The group, set up in 1979 to assist Indochinese refugees displaced after the Vietnam War, has been engaged in the elimination of land mines and support for land mine victims.
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