About Me

Konnichiwa. My name is Akane Mashimo, and I was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. After having my first child in Los Angeles, I started learning Kimono dressing and taking photos. It has been over 10 years since then. In 2018, I attended Kyoto Kimono Gakuin Kyoto Honko in Kyoto, Japan, to obtain a certificate as a Kimono dresser. That same year, I became pregnant with my second child. Fast forward to today, I am the proud mother of three children. Apart from Kimono, I also enjoy studying Tea ceremonies and Japanese flower arrangements at the Sougetsu Ikebana school. I also hold a first-grade certificate in Japanese calligraphy, and my learning journey continues. In October 2022, I launched my business under the name WakaWakka Kimono and Photo Studio. (Waka is my pen name for calligraphy, and Wakka means loop in Japanese.) In my free time, I serve as the president of the LA Kimono Club with my husband. Our club organizes kimono shows, an annual New Year kimono contest, and cultural workshops and events throughout the year. I am passionate about sharing the kimono lifestyle with others. By respectfully dressing in the beautiful and traditional Japanese kimono fashion, anyone can enjoy Japan's traditional and cultural heritage, even in Los Angeles.