The history of "Kimono"
When Asuka period, in the 6 century, Buddhism came to Japan. People wore like Tong costume. But people put a stress on a crown than clothes. When Heian period, in the 8 century, nice clothes for Japanese climate were begin to make. If you hear the word "Kimono", you probably visualize costume of this period. The famous woman's "Kimono", "Juuni-hitoe" which is put clothes on the other over twenty clothes is costume of Heian period. When Kamakura period, in the 12 century, people wore the simple and very active clothes. And when Momoyama period, in the 16 century, today's "Kimono" was established. Then when Edo period, in the17 century, the way to wear "Kimono" "Iki" which wear "Kimono" chic was in fashion. Since Japan was national isolation, Japanese original "Kimono" was large. However in modern, "Kimono" was replaced a western style dress as casual wear because of influence of the West upon Japan, a low price and an easy attention. But today, for people long for beauty and elegance, "Kimono" is lifted, many people wear "Kimono" at a formal place.
The kinds of "Kimono"
There are a lot of kinds of "Kimono". So I will publish representative.
"Juuni-hitoe": This is for the noble class of woman's clothes in Heian period.
"Juuni-Hitoe"'s size of upper clothes are made more smaller than under clothes. For this reason, cuffs and sleeve become like a rainbow, which is put a stress on beauty. People wore the clothes at least five or six. According to the example that people wore the most clothes, some wore more than twenty clothes.
"Tome-sode" and "Fri-sode": They are for woman's full dress. "Tome-sode" has short sleeves for a married woman.
"Furi-sode" has long sleeves for a single woman, which is worn in Coming of Age Day, too.
"Shiro-muku": This is for a marriage. "Shiro" means white color and "muku" means innocent. A bride must wear white clothes all over. The reason is white represent virgin, moreover a bride will be infected with the family married into and once a bride marries into a family, she never comes back her home.
"Yukata": This is "Kimono" for people wear after taking a bath. Most "Yukata" are made of cotton. At first, "Yukata" is noblemen's', but today people wear it at "Bon-odori", which Japanese summer festival, too.
Rie
Last updated 6-Dec-2001