Japanese kimono industry looks to stitch up a revival

TOKYO - At a century-old workshop in a quiet Tokyo neighborhood, craftsman Yuichi Hirose brushes dye across meticulously hand-cut stencils laid on fabric, using a traditional technique to produce contemporary kimono patterns.

Demand for the elaborate, elegant centerpiece of the Japanese wardrobe is in decline, but a handful of artisans and entrepreneurs like Hirose, 39, are trying to revive it.

"The kimono has become something that is very far removed from our daily lives," said Hirose, who joined his family business after university.