After much consideration of how to make Edo Komon, a traditional Japanese culture, more enjoyable, Hirose launched the stole brand "Comment?" to propose komon items for the modern era. Edo Komon has many patterns, but the brand offers silk and cashmere stoles dyed using a technique unique to Hirose Dyeing Factory called "double dyeing," which layers another pattern on top of the "shark pattern," one of the most representative patterns known as the "Edo Komon Sanyaku" (three roles of Edo Komon). The colors are soft pastel tones, and the design is not overly Japanese.

"When I began my training as a craftsman, I never imagined I would work overseas. However, even Edo Komon, which boasts a 400-year history, has seen a decrease in production in recent years due to the decline in the number of kimono wearers. No matter how much I trained and tried to become the best craftsman in Japan, if there were no one to wear Komon anymore, I couldn't see a future as a craftsman. Some craftsmen were reluctant to put scissors to kimono (bolts of fabric) and make accessories, but in order to popularize Edo Komon, I overturned this insistence and thought about how to incorporate Edo Komon into designs and how to match it with the times, and I decided to start my own original brand. Until now, stencils were only made by shifting a stencil paper that was the same width as the bolt of fabric in one direction, so stencils on wide fabric like a shawl were very difficult and a new technical challenge. Currently, I exhibit my work at exhibitions not only in Japan but also in New York, Paris, and Milan, spreading the appeal of Edo Komon to the world."

Hirose sometimes comes up with colors and patterns inspired by his experience as a windsurfer, having previously been a training athlete for the Sydney Olympics. Common changes themes for each season, and many of their designs are based on a shark motif and inspired by sea and water motifs such as "abuku," "awa," and "sazanami." Amidst all this, a new design that has emerged as one that can be used worldwide is the "horse" motif. These designs feature horse patterns layered on top of shark motifs, such as "Hidariuma," which depicts the left horse, which is said to bring good fortune in shogi, as a pattern called Seigaiha; "Yoseuma," which depicts a horse with a traditional small pattern galloping with its mane flowing; and "Batei," which layers a horseshoe, which is said to be a symbol of good fortune, into the design to resemble the initial letter "C" of the brand name.

"The reason I chose horses, which are considered an auspicious motif worldwide, for the pattern is because I wanted each design to have a story to tell when the products are distributed around the world. I'm thinking about how to pass on Edo Komon, a traditional culture that has been passed down for 400 years, to the present and next generation using a modern approach, and I would like it to spread throughout Japan and the world while incorporating new elements. I would like even people who don't wear kimonos to know about Edo Komon as a fashion item and feel close to it, and I would like them to pick up an Edo Komon kimono one day," she said with a straight look in her eyes.

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