Ana's Ikimaru is a Kimono-ya and Japanese Cultural Panelist team founded by Anna Rosato and RJ Schafer of Tampa, FL. Using technology of the modern era, and the history of Japanese textiles, Ana's Ikimaru strives to continue breathing fresh life into the kimono industry to prevent it from fading away.

Anna Rosato is currently studying Kitsuke Kimono Dressing and holds a First-Level License from the Aiko Yamano Kitsuke School, as well as studies from the Komagome Kitsuke School every year. She also is a student of Nagauta and Jiuta Shamisen under the guidance of Kawahara Tomoko, and of Minyo Kai Japanese Dance from the Fujinoya LLC, and Kodomo Buyo Kai. She also studies Omotosenke Chanyou Tea Ceremony, is a registered member of the Urasenke Chanyou International Society (NYC). She has given lectures at events and festivals across the Eastern United States, with her educational classes reaching over 2,000 individuals. She teaches a full schedule of subjects from kimono, geisha culture, and Japanese history, as well as workshops on tsumami kanzashi hairpins, and shibori tie-dye. She is also known for her kimono-san persona (stage name “Eiko-san”). She launched her kimono exhibit last fall, “San Maru” featuring highlights of her and her partner's antiquities collection- with some items dating over three hundred years in age.

RJ Schafer manages the Ana's Ikimaru website which includes numerous interactive elements for its visitors such as: an educational forum, press and articles, as well as the first English-speaking Kimono Podcast. In addition, he is responsible for all product displays and photography elements, digital editing, graphics, and the bi-weekly e-Newsletter. He brings modern items into the traditional world of kimono by pairing cyber and graphic elements into Ana's Ikimaru, using innovative items such as memory cards, records, and 8tracks for prints, kimono-inspired artwork and accessories.

Together the pair founded the first United States branch of Kimono Jack Florida, are active members of J-Club in Orlando, and manage the continent's first traveling & residential Geisha & Samurai Henshin Makeover Studio. The latter opened at Metrocon 2009 as a direct result of overwhelming support received by Ana's Ikimaru since its debut in February of 2008.

Thank you!
Anna and RJ