Traditional Japanese Clothing

Home , Japanese clothing, Kimono, Obi (sash), Yukata

Traditional Japanese Clothing by Justin Moy

If you visit Japan, you may see people wearing some kind of robe. They may be going to a special ceremony like a wedding. The robe is called a kimono. Kimono is a Japanese word. It means a "thing to wear."

Kimonos are long. They go all the way down to people's ankles. People use a long sash to tie around the kimono. The sash is called an obi. The obi keeps the kimono closed.

There are different kimono styles for women and men. Women's kimonos and obis often have colors and patterns. Flowers are a popular pattern for women's kimonos and obis. Their obis are usually tied in complex knots.

Men's kimonos and obis are often dark colors. Many men's kimonos are black. Men's obis are usually tied in simple knots.

There are also other robes that look like kimono. They are called yukata. This means "bathing clothes" in Japanese. People used to wear them at home usually after taking a bath. Today, some people wear them at Japanese-style hotels. Some people wear them at festivals too. Like kimonos, an obi is tied around yukata.

Japanese people used to wear kimonos and yukata every day. Now, people usually wear these robes only during special times.

Name: ______Date: ______1. What is a kimono?

A. a sash used to keep robes closed B. robes people wear after taking a bath C. a type of Japanese robe

2. What does the text compare?

A. The text compares kimonos with American dresses. B. The text compares yukatas with pajamas. C. The text compares yukatas with kimonos.

3. Read the following sentences from the text:

"Women's kimonos and obis often have colors and patterns...Men's kimonos and obis are often dark colors. Many men's kimonos are black."

What does this information tell us about kimonos?

A. Today, people usually wear kimonos during special times. B. Japanese people used to wear kimonos every day. C. There are different kimono styles for women and men.

4. Where would you probably have seen someone wearing a kimono long ago?

A. only at a special ceremony like a wedding B. around the house or at the market C. only during a holiday celebration

5. What is the main idea of this text?

A. There are different kimono styles for women and men. Women's kimonos often have colors while men's kimonos are often dark colors. B. Kimonos and yukatas are robes people in Japan wear. People used to wear them every day, but now they are only worn during special times. C. People used to wear yakatas after taking a bath. Today,some people wear them at Japanese-style hotels and festivals.