During this rainy season, I noticed a smell of clothes in the closet. I believed it was a smell of materials such as wool but it smelled stronger than before. Besides, the possibility that it has been caused by mold or mothballs cannot be denied. Then I put a lot of drying agents inside and opened the closet. Also I hang the clothes in my living room for a week or two.
I remembered when I was a child my mother was doing this before rainy season, never during the rainy season.
According to the information I got from the internet, August, November and February is good for Mushiboshi (airing). After two sunny days, kimono should be hung in an airy shaded area between 10am and 3pm to get rid of moisture.
If my memory is correct, my mother was hanging her kimono on a clothesline to air them out before rainy season.
My parents bought me expensive closet and chest of drawers made by local artisans when I was young, though they were leading frugal life during and after raising me.
After my mother died, some of her kimono (Japanese traditional costumes) are kept in my drawers for years. Since the drawers are airtight, to open each of them, a little stronger pull is required. When the drawer is pushed back into place, another drawer is slowly opened. There is no extra space between each of drawers and other parts of the furniture to keep moisture and bugs out of the inside.
The other day, I hung some of kimono and examined the condition. There is no moth hole or discoloring.
It is because of the artisan skill!
