About Kimono - Japanese traditional clothes
Basics about kimono
Kimono and Obi
Kimono is a Japanese word meaning simply "clothes".
Samurai and rich people worn high-class kimono made from silk and the other people worn kimono made from cotton and hemp until the modern times.
Most Japanese people of all classes had worn kimono until the early 20th century.
After that, Japanese people started to wear Western clothes.
Now, kimono became the clothes which the people wear mainly for the special day in the life.
Kimono is long clothes from neck to foot.
Because the underwear is worn, the outermost is mainly called "kimono".
They are fixed at the waist with obi which is the belt of cloth.
The sleeves of kimono are large, and they are like pouches.
Kimono and obi are basically made of silk.
They are produced by using various traditional methods of weaving and dyeing.
Various patterns such as flower, pretty animal, geometric design etc. are drawn, and it is like a Japanese traditional arts when the kimono is worn.
So, the formal kimonos are very expensive.
Kimono for women is colorful and gorgeous.
It is the fashion that all Japanese ladies love.
On the other hand, kimono for men has dark and chic colors.
No gorgeous pattern is drawn, and quiet pattern or stripe is used.
(If a man wears gorgeous kimono, everyone implicitly regards him to be a frivolous person.)
Kimono isn't sporty and how to wear is complicated.
Now, only around 20% of Japanese people can wear kimono by themselves.
And, only about half of the people can wear Yukata (Thin type of kimono) by themselves.
So, most people have kimono dresser in major hair salons and kimono rental shops wear favorite kimono.
Accessories of kimono
Obi is an important partner of kimono, so it is also expensive.
Combination of kimono and obi is the point of dressing up.
Obi is a wide and colorful long cloth.
It is put around the waist and the edges are tied artistically on the back.
That is the most difficult technique to wear kimono.
Tabi and Zori
Geta for women
When we wear the kimono, we put on a pair of "tabi" instead of socks and wear a pair of "zori" instead of shoes.
(Shoes never suit with kimono)
Tabi is Japanese short socks and the toes are separated into a part for a big toe and a part for the other four toes.
Zori is a traditional footwear and it's like sandal.
It has a flat sole and a clog thong.
(For clog thong, we must wear Tabi.)
As casual footwear, "geta" is used.
Geta is the wooden sandal.
The clog thongs are tied to a wooden base.
Two wooden supports are attached under the base, so geta clatters when you walk.
Variety of kimono for women
Furisode
Furisode is the most beautiful and gorgeous kimono and has very long sleeves.
The color is brilliant and Japannish pictures are drawn on whole clothes.
Commonly, this is for unmarried young women.
This is generally worn for formal social events such as the tea ceremony or wedding ceremonies of relatives.
Tomesode
Tomesode is the formal kimono for married women.
The sleeves are short and the color and pattern are elegant.
Especially, black tomesode is most formal kimono and is worn at wedding ceremonies of relatives.
Homongi
"Homon" means "visit", and "gi" means "clothes", so this means visiting dress.
This is more casual than tomesode and the color and pattern are glamorous.
Both married and unmarried women can wear this.
Yukata
Yukata is the casual kimono for hot season.
Therefore, yukata is made of cotton, hemp or chemical fiber.
Generally it is worn directly on the underwear, so it is also used as a nightwear.
Obi for yukata is thin and soft.
So, it is easier to wear yukata than genuine kimono.
When you stay in Japanese ryokan or hotel, you can probably wear prepared yukata.
It is a casual wear and a nightwear only in the hotel.
In summer, young women wear the colorful yukata when some summer events are held.
That is one of summer fashions.
When you wear the yukata, you usually put on zori or geta with bare feet.
For young women, modern sandals are also OK.
Variety of kimono for men
Nagagi
"Nagagi" is the word that the style of general kimono is identified.
The form of kimono for men is almost same as one for women.
The difference is that the color is quiet and it has no colorful patten.
So we have no classified word.
Commonly we call this kimono for men "kimono".
Haori and hakama
Haori is like jacket and is worn on kimono.
Especially, black Haori with some family embrems is called montsuki.
Hakama is like trousers and is also worn on kimono.
These are generally worn for formal social events.
But many men today wear the Western formal suits in such events.
Only some men wear haori and hakama.
Yukata
Men also wear yukata in summer.
Generally, he wears it when his partner wears.
Other types of kimono
Working priests wearing Samue
Samue
Samue is originally work clothes of Buddhist monk.
It is similar to Judo uniform and the color is generally quiet and dark.
It is two-piece kimono and Obi is unnecessary.
You can find it in any temple.
And the workers in Japanese restaurants, craftsmen of traditional craft, etc. wear Samue.
So women can wear Samue.
Members of festival wearing Happi
Happi
Happi is similar to Haori, but it is simple and short.
In English, it is often translated as "Happi coat" or "Happy coat".
For a traditional festival and event, the same Happi are prepared like uniform.
All members of the operation team wear them, and the team is united.
So, the large-sized characters and marks of the team are printed on the Happi.
Try to wear kimono in Japan
For foreign tourist, there are some studios to rent kimono in major old cities.
Asakusa of Tokyo and Kyoto are the popular.
If you want to wear kimono, please check the following studios with some languages.
Studios with some shops in main cities (Asakusa, Kyoto, etc.)
Asakusa in Tokyo
Kyoto
Yumeyakata Okamoto Hana Kanzashi Hanakomachi Tekuteku Kyoto
Kanazawa
Kirara Karen Kokoyui Tsubaki Akari