"Kimono" #1 "KIMONO" is well known in overseas as beautiful Japanese clothes. As seen in the archeological entombed clay figure called "Haniwa", in ancient times, men wore jacket and slacks, women wore a cloth similar
to skirt with a sash to hold it in place. During the Nara period (710-759),
Japanese clothes were strongly influenced by Korean culture, and an elegant
style with wide sleeves became popular among court rank in Heian period
(760 - 1191), where the basic style of unique Japanese clothing was established.
After the Kamakura period (1192 - 1334) where samurais gained power nationwide,
the Muromachi period (1335 - 1573), or the age of warfare arrived, and
it was the most uninventive period in the history of Japanese clothes.
However, a kind of kimono called "KOSODE" that was simplified and easy to wear appeared, and a style of kosode is
still existent today. From Momoyama through Edo period (1574 - 1867), gorgeous
and brilliant types of KIMONO created such as "YUZEN" which was an expression of art by printing colorful design on silk and "TSUJI-GA-HANA" which creates a profound world and is technically difficult to produce. Both of these techniques added brilliance to the KIMONO world. Today Japanese people wear Western clothes in daily life, but KIMONO is still loved as a home wear and is worn in formal situations. In case of women, they wear different design and color of KIMONO depending on married or unmarried, and they would choose what type of KIMONO in accordance with the purpose and the formality code, such as for wearing at the ceremony or for just dressing up. As compared with Western clothes that is easy to put on/off, KIMONO is quite difficult to wear unless properly trained. Thus, those who wear Western clothing daily cannot put KIMONO on by ourselves, and we ask someone who can help clothe a KIMONO or go to a beauty salon because there are staffs who can help getting dressed in Kimono in the salon. Meanwhile, there are also dedicated schools for training to wear Kimono. Until we can wear KIMONO by oneself it takes about 3 or 4 months, with once or twice a week lesson. An opportunity when men wear KIMONO is as a home clothe, during the New Year, or at various ceremonies such as a wedding ceremony. This type of men's KIMONO is properly called "haori" and "hakama". Today, although the traditional dyers and artist of KIMONO weavers have decreased due to the proliferation in Western clothes, it is still widely acknowledged that KIMONO made with layer over layer of meticulous and precise processes remains one of precious traditions of Japan. NEXT |
