- Kimono means thing (mono) to wear (kiru). Kimono first emerged as an - When wearing the kimono over the chest, the left side should under garment for the Japanese aristocrats during the Heian period. always be on top (right side worn first). In Japan, only those who Back then the court nobles used to wear kimono-like outfits that had passed aware are wrapped in kimono where the right side is on top. a total of 12 layers. Later it became a formal wear. During the Edo period commoners were punished if they wore more stylish kimonos than the noble samurai. When you are wearing a kimono, you are - Women should not wear the sash ribbon in front. Historically, practicing a 1000 year-old tradition. In most countries, traditional only the courtesans used to tie their sash from the front. clothes are only worn during festivals and parades, but in Japan, it is normal to wear a kimono during social gatherings (marriage, tea ceremony, graduation party, meeting with friends at a - Most young girls you see on the streets of Kyoto wearing teahouse, etc.). the kimono are usually domestic travelers from Osaka or Tokyo who are visiting Kyoto since Kyoto. In other Japanese cities, it is rare for youngsters’ to wear a kimono on the street except - The kimono patterns and motifs have symbolic meanings the graduation ceremony and the coming of age day. mostly related to seasons. For instance pine, chrysanthemum and bamboo branches represent winter while cherry blossom and plum flower represent spring. Monthly festivals and new - Men’s kimono tend to have simple dark colors with no motifs, year celebrations can also easily be found on kimono decorations. comes with a black and white patterned small sash which is put in a way that shows the big belly. Bigger belly means the man has higher social status. - Besides marking the seasons, kimono motifs also have other symbolic meanings such as cranes and hexagons: longevity; wisteria flower and peacock: love; hand fan: - Women’s kimono tend to be more colorful, have wedding; taiko drums: fun, paulownia flower: femininity; a big sash and feature flower motifs. overlapping circles: 7 jewels of buddhism; connected diamonds, dimond-stars: the hemp leave that grows fast which is often used for children’s kimono. The crane is often used - Kimonos have long sleeves for wind to in wedding kimonos since it represents pass by. This makes the wearer feel longevity, good fortune and loyalty. comfortable and also looks The loyalty comes from the fact that more appealing. cranes are monogamous animals. Chrysanthemum is perhaps the most common flower as it also - Kimonos are made by standard symbolizes the imperial family. fabric that is 36 cm wide which is very impractical (4-5 pieces should always be sewed to - The kimono colors have make a T shape) distinctive meanings in Japan. Blue: the ocean and sky; red: wards off evil spirits; pink: spring - Maiko (training geisha) dress and youth; purple: noble; yellow: can weigh more than 10 kg. harvest season. Bright colors It has many layers of inner used for spring, dark colors garment to show the chest used for winter and paster flat, that gives the image colors are used for summer. that the girl is “pure”. Old ladies’ kimono tend to have very simple colors with limited or no motifs. - Yukata is a type of kimono that is made out of cotton as a summer wear. Its design is more casual and - Historically, all kimonos for adults it does not require inner wear. came in only one size. Since people have different heights, it is not easy to put on a kimono. - The sash (obi) can be tied in the back in dozens of different ways. Each way has a different meaning. Apprentice geisha has - Most young Japanese women today long sash and mature geishas have cannot wear a standard kimono by short sash. themselves because it requires as certain amount of training and practice. Wearing a summer kimono (yukata), which - Most young women with powdered white is found in all ryokans and hot springs face you see on the streets during the day is rather easy, all Japanese can do it. time tend to be travelers from Asia who dress up as an apprentice geisha. Real apprentice geisha (maiko) usually do not - While the Western clothing usually shows walk outside as groups, walk fast, have the appeal of women by emphasizing the real hair instead of wig, have only bottom curvy lines, the kimono does the opposite. lip painted and always carry seasonal It shows the body straight, which is more flowers and seasonal motifs on their suitable for the body type of Japanese outfit. Real geishas also usually do not women. The inner-wear stuffing is used wear all-red kimono designs. to show the body more cylinder-like.
-In Japan married and single women should wear different kimonos. You can understand if someone is married or single from the kimono. Do Japanese wear kimonos? A typical Japanese person would wear a kimono during social ceremonies such as the graduation ceremony, a wedding party or a tea ceremony. Wearing a kimono is also normal in cultural What is the purpose of kimono? activities such as flower arrangement, The purpose of kimono is to cover the body buyou dance and kabuki watching. in a formal way that has been preserved for Yukatas are worn by young people more than 1000 years. Kimonos traditionally when they watch the summer fireworks. come only in one size and it is difficult to You rarely see a Japanese person learn how to put one on. If the Japanese wearing a kimono in downtown Tokyo. wanted, they could have added buttons to However, in Kyoto, many locals and kimonos, but they did not, just to preserve domestic tourists put on a kimono their tradition. Ki-mono means thing to wear especially when they visit historic in Japanese and when it first emerged the neighborhoods, temples and shrines. kimono was an under garment for the Japanese aristocrats. What is the difference between kimono and yukata? What is a geisha kimono? Kimono is worn during the winter Geishas usually wear a black kimono or and yukata is worn during simple-color kimono to show their maturity. the summer. Kimono is made out Apprentice geisha, the maiko, usually wear of silk and you need special inner more bright colors with flower designs. garments to put it on. Yukata is The apprentice geisha’s kimono is similar to made out of cotton and has more uchikake, the wedding kimono, and mature geishas’ casual and colorful design. kimono is similar to tomesode. Only geisha and maiko wear a red juuban (inner-garment, robe). Why do kimonos have big sleeves? Where can I see a real geisha in Kyoto? In the past, only children’s kimonos had You can spot many real geishas on Hanamikoji street big sleeves and the reason was to let the between 5:45 pm and 6:45 pm during their walk from wind blow through and create a cooler feeling. their residence to teahouses. You can also spot some Later it became a norm. Also it is believed that geishas outside the Gion Corner after when they are dancers who wear long sleeve skimonos look more leaving their dance performance at 7:45 pm. You elegant and the long waving sleeves keep the evil spirts away. can walk to the Gion area from here in 10-15 minutes. Yukata, tomes ode and male kimonos tend to have shorter You are more likely to see geishas on Friday and Saturday sleeves. Chefs and housewives usually put on a piece of fabric evenings. It is a bit expensive but you can also reserve to prevent the sleeves from hanging so they they can move easily. a geisha dinner show at Maikoya.