Photo = (From left) Ageta, Suzuki, and Wakisaka, who have been selected as "Nagahama Kimono Ambassadors of Friendship"= Hikiyama Museum, Motohama-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, photo courtesy of Nagahama City.

The screening competition for the "2018 Nagahama Kimono Shinzen Taishi," or Nagahama kimono goodwill ambassadors, 2018, recently took place at the Hikiyama Museum square, in Motohama-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. Women attired in "furisode," or colorful long-sleeved kimonos, showed off their beautiful ways of dressing, etc.

The event is held every year by an association of Shiga Prefecture kimono retailers to promote dressing in kimono, such as ones made of "Hama Chirimen" or a crepe that is a specialty of the area, and other materials. This year, which marks the event's 20th anniversary, its name has been changed from the previous "Lake Biwa Kimono Queen." Nine applicants from Nagahama City, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture and other locations entered the competition.

The applicants were judged based on their promotional speeches, their poise when walking on stage and other items. Three were selected as ambassadors; Aoi Ageta, from Nagahama City, Honoka Suzuki, from Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, and Asuka Wakisaka, from Nagahama City. They will participate in events to be held in the prefecture, mainly in Nagahama City, for the year 2018.