The Future of Japanese Kimono

Where Japan kimono may be headed in the 21st century. In Japan today you can still occasionally spot people (women mostly) wearing the traditional Japanese kimono. If you encounter someone in kimono walking along the street in Japan then it is likely they are on their way to some important event such as a marriage or school entrance ceremony. Community festivals and religious events are also great places to see people dressed in some version of Japan's traditional costume. Only a few decades ago in Japan it was not uncommon to frequently see older women wearing subdued kimono as they went about their town errands. Such women commonly wore kimono as their standard outfit, and may have held an impressive wardrobe of these beautiful robes in their home. The traditional kimono wardrobe for a woman did in the past commonly include one or more kimono for everyday wear; another for shopping, traveling or meeting with friends; still another for semi-formal visiting; another for weddings and receptions and finally a black crested ceremonial kimono for use at funerals. In addition, a woman would require a large number of supplemental items such as a kimono corset, special undershirts and half-slips, a lined under-kimono and half-collar, silk waistband, tabi socks and zori or geta sandals!

My wife's grandmother wore and made her own kimono all her adult life until her passing in the mid 1980's. While growing up, my wife Yumiko and her grandmother shared a small bedroom together, and Yumiko today enjoys telling stories of watching her grandmother dress herself in kimono each morning. Grandmother always awoke early to prepare the family's breakfast and would invariably put on one of her everyday kimonos. My wife tells how she was always fascinated to watch her grandmother perform the complicated procedure of tying the kimono's obi (sash) behind her back with no assistance (very few modern Japanese women can do this). Grandmother was always careful to put on one of her three-quarter length michiyuki (literally "while on the road") outer coats to protect her fine, hand-made kimono from becoming soiled during the day.

Sadly, today there are very few older women (or anyone else) in Japan who wear kimono as their daily attire. As time passes and memories fade, many families (though not ours) have sought to respectfully dispose of their ancestor's kimono wardrobes in order to free space in the normally cramped Japanese home. With this occurrence we are beginning to see a larger number of interesting, high-quality kimono and kimono accessories appearing in Japanese fabric and antique stores as well as at flea markets and auctions. This transition of traditional Japanese clothing into the open marketplace presents us with a rare and interesting opportunity to find and acquire authentic Japanese kimono and kimono accessories at a reasonable price. Such items with their wonderful fabrics and unique Japanese patterns are often well suited for use as decorative accents within the home. Kimono Obi for example make beautiful table runners, often without the need to cut or alter their form in any way.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• Japanese
• kimono
• obi
• Tokaido
• Softypapa

[free2speak94]

i sometimes wish i was japanese so i could wear a kimono lol i really liked 0:43 (favorite) 0:55 1:05 and 2:00

[softypapa]

@free2speak94 I am happy that you enjoyed the kimonos. Thank you for watching and commenting! -Kurt :-)

[HimeGabi]

The movement you mentioned is called Mori meaning forest. It's very popular as a counter to the KoGal and Lolita wear that is very showy and has a lot of detail. Mori style is made to look like you spend a lot of time in nature. Brown and beige are popular colors.

[softypapa]

Hello HimeGabi, Thank you for providing the name and background information about this movement. The people I see dressed this way always look so peaceful and interesting. It's a very attractive form of dress and way of life. Thanks again! -Kurt :-)

[watcher8o]

Whew... I was nervous there for a moment at the beginning. For the most part, these really aren't too different from what I, as an unrefined foreigner, would consider a kimono. Of course, it's the right of the culture to modify and evolve it's own customs, but personally I am glad that these new kimono do not stray far from the beauty of the classics. The last one in the video is really interesting! Thanks for sharing this.

[softypapa]

Hello watcher80, I too do not want to see any of the wonderful old arts, crafts, clothing or any of the many other fascinating and unique aspects of Japan change too much or dissapear. However, it does seem that the march of the new must ever move forward. At least the direction its heading looks nice as regard s kimono. -Kurt :-)

[NihonJuggalette]

it's such a huge shame people cut up antique kimono for modern twists, & modern/abstract designs are unattractive. One has to have a great appreciation for tradition to wear kimono, & straying from that is wrong.

[TheRosedeResht]

@HimeGabi

Ich bin Ungarin und lebe in Deutschland. Seit Langem bin ich von den japanischen Kimonos fasziniert und selber habe um die 100 schöne Stücke (auch wirklich alte) in meiner Sammlung. Der Artikel zu den Bildern ist auch sehr interessant. Vielen Dank!

[hwq99818]

Ugly, i like the classic ones, oh future, whar have you done to them? Btw, how the hell do u walk or sit down in that tiny thing??

[GracieBurd]

1:05 I can TOTALLY see my sensei in this....

[akissy]

Thank you for this video!! I loved the last one as well. ^^

[MishaIrfanMusic]

@NihonJuggalette It's not that we're straying from it. It's just that wearing Kimono all the time is very difficult, and yukata is made so that we can wear it easily and feel comfertable with it. The traditional Kimono is too heavy and too hot so it's not easy wearing it all the time. But we do wear it on special occasions.

[MishaIrfanMusic]

They are very beautiful but very hot at the same time! & when ever i wear one on occasions and stuff, its like i might suffocate to death cuz of the おび (beltish type thing). But I love my country and its dress :D

[swiperchey]

i really want a kimono but parents dont want to ship it over to michigan just for me to get one also that i dont have the money

[viperxraptor2001]

@NihonJuggalette Some might be hideous, yes. Others, ehh not so much.

[caohanlu]

the colors and patterns on the 2:00 one are amazing. Good asymmetrical balance.