The traditional Japanese kanzashi hairpin is usually an elaborate affair meant to be worn in the hair when donning a kimono or yukata. Intricately detailed and beautiful, they’re like Japan’s answer to the corsage. But these particular kanzashi may just be too beautiful to ever wear at all on account of directing all the attention away from your kimono.
Sakae, a kanzashi specialty manufacturer, makes each kanzashi by hand from colored glass that’s been melted down and coated in resin to prevent breakage – and lord knows you wouldn’t want one of these shattering into a thousand pieces in your hair.
If you’re interested in purchasing your very own kanzashi from Sakae, then I’m afraid we have some bad news for you. Like so many other cool things from Japan, they’re not available for shipment outside of the country. But if you happen to live here, or are visiting on a whirlwind otaku tour like this guy, you can put an order in at Sakae’s official website.
Source: Otonarisoku
Photos: Sakae Blog