Kimono

The kimono is the national dress of Japan.

It is a beautiful, wrapped garment with a rectangular body and square sleeves. People wear it by wrapping the left side over the right. This rule is very important, as the right side is only wrapped over the left for people who have died.

To wear a kimono, people often use a broad sash called an obi. They might also wear socks and zōri sandals. The way a person puts on their kimono is called kitsuke.

It is a special way of dressing that people cherish.

Making a kimono follows a specific method. Most are made from a long, narrow bolt of cloth called a tanmono.

Sometimes, people use fabric bolts made in the Western style instead. Different types of kimono exist for men, women, and children. The type of kimono someone chooses depends on the season or the occasion. It can also depend on the age of the wearer. In the past, marital status was also a reason to choose a certain style. Even though some find it hard to wear, there are styles for both formal and informal events.

The history of the kimono is a long journey. In the early Heian period, Japanese clothing began to change from Chinese styles.

This led to a unique Japanese culture. Before this, people wore garments called kosode. In the Heian period, the kosode was actually used as an undergarment for the upper classes. During the Sengoku period, the kosode changed from a simple undergarment into a more elaborate outer garment.

This change made the kosode the direct ancestor of the modern kimono we see today.

Many specific styles developed over hundreds of years. During the Edo period, women's kosode became much more ornate.

The sleeves grew longer and the obi became wider. To keep the garment from loosening, people started using an obijime cord. This helped create the modern furisode style.

During the Genroku era, these garments featured flashy designs and large sleeve pouches. Some people even wore the hem long so it would trail behind them.

Today, the kimono is still a part of Japanese life. While it is not used as everyday dress as often as it once was, it remains very important.

You will see people wearing more formal types at weddings, funerals, or graduations. At summer festivals, people often wear a yukata, which is a very informal type of kimono.

Some professionals, like geisha or maiko, must wear them for work. Even sumo wrestlers wear kimonos when they are in public. Many people in Japan still wear them as fashionable clothing.