Kimono Sunao Co., Ltd. Selected for Ministry of the Environment's "FY2025 Supplementary Budget Model Demonstration Project for Promotion of Reuse, etc."

Kimono Sunao Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yamashina-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; Representative Director: Nao Shimizu) is pleased to announce that its project, "Economic Revitalization and Technology Succession Model Using Stored Kimonos," has been selected for the Ministry of the Environment's "FY2025 Supplementary Budget Model Demonstration Project for Promotion of Reuse, etc."

According to the Ministry of the Environment's announcement, our company has been selected as a contractor for Division III, "Model Demonstration Project for Balancing Resource Utilization After Clothing Collection with Business Sustainability."

This project aims to revitalize the kimono industry and support artisans by collecting unwanted kimonos through nationwide collection points and social media, and then implementing repair, resale, upcycling, and fiber recycling, thereby aiming to build a sustainable resource circulation model. The Ministry of the Environment stated that it selected this model demonstration project based on its novelty and advanced nature, as well as its effectiveness beyond mere investigation and its potential for expansion to other regions and organizations.

[Overview of Selection]

The Ministry of the Environment solicited proposals for the "FY2025 Supplementary Budget Model Demonstration Project for Promotion of Reuse, etc." with the aim of effectively promoting reuse and disseminating information widely, and selected 10 projects as a result of the review. Our company has been selected in Division III, "Model Demonstration Project for Balancing Resource Utilization After Clothing Collection with Business Sustainability."

[Selected Project Name] Economic Revitalization and Technology Succession Model Using Stored Kimonos

[Project Overview Announced by the Ministry of the Environment] Collect unwanted kimonos using nationwide collection points and social media, and implement repair, resale, upcycling, and fiber recycling. Build a sustainable resource circulation model while aiming to revitalize the kimono industry and support artisans.

[Background of This Project]

Kimonos are traditionally Japanese garments that can be passed down and worn for a long time by altering them. However, in recent years, due to factors such as a decrease in opportunities to wear them and the burden of storage, many kimonos remain unused in household chests across the country. In response to this situation, our company has adopted the business concept of "circulating kimonos stored in chests" and has been promoting initiatives to pass on kimono culture to the future.

On our company's official website, we clarify our aim to build and realize a unique kimono circulation model through the collection of kimonos that are no longer worn, their alteration and regeneration, the development of remade products, and the construction of an artisan network, from the perspective of a circular economy for a sustainable future.

[Goals of This Project]

The selected "Economic Revitalization and Technology Succession Model Using Stored Kimonos" will conduct demonstrations that go beyond simply collecting unwanted kimonos. It will aim to connect them in a reusable form through repair according to their condition and value, give them new value through upcycling, and even circulate them as materials.

This will promote the redistribution of still usable but stored kimonos within society, create new opportunities for artisans involved in kimono repair and regeneration, and lead to technology succession for the future. This initiative also contributes to the realization of our company's goals of a "circular society," "technology succession," and "well-being."

[Previous Initiatives by Kimono Sunao Co., Ltd.]

Kimono Sunao Co., Ltd. has aimed to realize a society where anyone can easily enjoy kimonos by operating kimono dressing classes, sharing know-how on social media including YouTube, organizing and participating in events, managing communities, developing products, and operating online stores.

Furthermore, our company's vision is to be a "comprehensive kimono company that can be relied upon for anything related to kimonos." We aim not only to expand the base of kimono fans but also to create demand for kimonos by circulating those stored in chests, create new fields of activity for artisans, and contribute to the overall development of the kimono industry.

From a sustainability perspective, we are promoting multifaceted initiatives such as kimono collection through our take-back service, regeneration through alteration and repair, development of remade products when kimonos are difficult to reuse as kimonos, and the construction of an artisan network and artisan support projects.

[Regarding This Selection]

We interpret our selection for this Ministry of the Environment model demonstration project as recognition that our ongoing initiatives centered on "kimono circulation" have social significance not only in reducing environmental impact but also in revitalizing traditional industries and succeeding technology.

Through this project, we will refine the process from collection of unwanted kimonos to their redistribution and recycling into a more effective system, and disseminate it as a model that can be expanded to other regions and organizations, thereby working towards the realization of sustainable kimono circulation.

[Information Released by the Ministry of the Environment]

Ministry of the Environment Press Release: Results of the Public Solicitation for the FY2025 Supplementary Budget Model Demonstration Project for Promotion of Reuse, etc. June 18, 2026

Press release here

[Company Profile]

Company Name: Kimono Sunao Co., Ltd. Representative: Nao Shimizu, Representative Director Location: 2-1 Takeno Jizo-ji Minami-machi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, 607-8088 Established: July 2, 2020 Capital: 2 million yen Business Activities: School operation / Sharing know-how on social media including YouTube / Organizing and participating in events / Community circle operation / Product development / Online store operation Official website here

Contact for Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Kimono Sunao Co., Ltd. Public Relations Contact Person: Shota Ito E-mail: info@kimonosunao.co.jp