Japanese Traditional Clothing

CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
Final Assignment: Free Topic of Cultural Aspect
Topic;
Japanese Traditional Dress

Kimono
MUHAMMAD HIDAYAT
1252041047 / Class C
PROGRAM STUDI PENDIDIKAN BAHASA INGGRIS

JURUSAN BAHASA INGGRIS
FAKULTAS BAHASA DAN SASTRA
UNIVERSITAS NEGERI MAKASSAR
TA. 2012/2013
JAPANESE TRADITIONAL DRESS

KIMONO
Traditional Japanese clothing distinguishes Japan from all other countries around the world.
The Japanese word kimono means "something one wears" and they are the traditional garments of
Japan. Originally, the word kimono was used for all types of clothing, but eventually, it came to
refer specifically to the full-length garment also known as the naga-gi, meaning "long-wear", that is
still worn today on special occasions by women, men, and children. Kimonos do not come in
specific sizes as most western dresses do. The sizes are only approximate, and a special technique is
used to fit the dress appropriately.
Kimono in this meaning plus all other items of traditional Japanese clothing is known
collectively as wafuku which means "Japanese clothes" as opposed to yofuku (Western-style
clothing). Kimonos come in a variety of colors, styles, and sizes. Men mainly wear darker or more
muted colors, while women tend to wear brighter colors and pastels, and, especially for younger
women, often with complicated abstract or floral patterns.
The style of kimono also changes with the season, in spring kimonos are vibrantly colored
with springtime flowers embroidered on them. In the fall, kimono colors are not as bright, with fall
patterns. Flannel kimonos are ideal for winter; they are a heavier material to help keep you warm.
Most Japanese men only wear the kimono at home or in a much laid back environment,
however it is acceptable for a man to wear the kimono when he is entertaining guests in his home.
For a more formal event a Japanese man might wear the haori and hakama, a half coat and divided
skirt. The hakama is tied at the waist, over the kimono and ends near the ankle. Hakama were
initially intended for men only, but today it is acceptable for women to wear them as well. Hakama
can be worn with types of kimono, excluding the summer version, yukata.
The kimono of a woman who is married (tomesode) differs from the kimono of a woman
who is not married (furisode). The tomesode sets itself apart because the patterns do not go above
the waistline. The furisode can be recognized by its extremely long sleeves spanning anywhere
from 39 to 42 inches, it is also the most formal kimono an unwed woman wears. The furisode
advertises that a woman is not only of age but also single.
Formal kimonos are typically worn in several layers, with number of layers, visibility of
layers, sleeve length, and choice of pattern dictated by social status, season, and the occasion for
which the kimono is worn.
Because of the mass availability, most Japanese people wear western style clothing in their
everyday life, and kimonos are mostly worn for festivals, and special events. As a result, most
young women in Japan are not able to put the kimono on themselves. Many older women offer
classes to teach these young women how to don the traditional clothing.
HISTORY
As the kimono has another name, gofuku (?, literally "clothes of Wu ()"), the earliest
kimonos were heavily influenced by traditional Han Chinese clothing, known today as hanfu (,
kanfuku in Japanese), through Japanese embassies to China which resulted in extensive Chinese
culture adoptions by Japan, as early as the 5th century AD. It was during the 8th century, however,
that Chinese fashions came into style among the Japanese, and the overlapping collar became
particularly women's fashion.
During Japan's Heian period (7941192 AD), the kimono became increasingly stylized,
though one still wore a half-apron, called a mo, over it. During the Muromachi age (13921573
AD), the Kosode, a single kimono formerly considered underwear, began to be worn without
the hakama (trousers, divided skirt) over it, and thus began to be held closed by an obi "belt".
During the Edo period (16031867 AD), the sleeves began to grow in length, especially among
unmarried women, and the Obi became wider, with various styles of tying coming into fashion.
Since then, the basic shape of both the mens and womens kimono has remained essentially
unchanged. Kimonos made with exceptional skill from fine materials have been regarded as great
works of art.
The formal kimono was replaced by the more convenient Western clothes and yukata as
everyday wear. After an edict by Emperor Meiji, police, railroad men and teachers moved to
Western clothes. The Western clothes became the army and school uniform for boys. After the 1923
Great Kant earthquake, kimono wearers often became victims of robbery because they could not
run very fast due to the restricting nature of the kimono on the body and geta clogs. The Tokyo
Women's & Children's Wear Manufacturers' Association () promoted
Western clothes.
Between 1920 and 1930 the sailor outfit replaced the undivided hakama in school uniforms
for girls. The 1932 fire at Shirokiya's Nihonbashi store is said to have been the catalyst for the
decline in kimonos as everyday wear. Kimono-clad Japanese women did not wear panties and
several women refused to jump into safety nets because they were ashamed of being seen from
below. (It is, however, suggested, that this is an urban myth.) The national uniform, Kokumin-fuku (
), a type of Western clothes, was mandated for males in 1940. Today most people wear
Western clothes and wear the breezier and more comfortable yukata for special occasions.
These are some types of popular Kimono with its accessories & related garments;
Tomesode ( )
Kuro-tomesode
black
kimono
patterned
only
below
the
waistline, kurotomesode are the most formal kimono for married

women. They are often worn by the mothers of the bride and groom
at weddings. Kurotomesode usually have five kamon printed on the
sleeves, chest and back of the kimono.
Iro-tomesode
single-color
kimono,
patterned
only
below
the
waistline. Irotomesode with five family crests are the same as formal
as kurotomesode, and are worn by married and unmarried women,
usually close relatives of the bride and groom at weddings and a
medal ceremony at the royal court. An irotomesode may have three
or one kamon=family crests. Those are uses as a semi-formal kimono
at a party and conferment.
Furisode ( )
Furisode literally translates as swinging sleevesthe sleeves of
furisode
average
between
39
and
42
inches
(110 cm)
in
length. Furisode are the most formal kimono for unmarried women,
with colorful patterns that cover the entire garment. They are usually
worn at coming-of-age ceremonies (seijin shiki) and by unmarried
female relatives of the bride at weddings and wedding receptions.
Uchikake ( )
One of the more elegant kimonos is the uchikake, a long silk over
garment worn by the bride in a wedding ceremony. Uchikake is a
highly formal kimono worn only by a bride or at a stage performance.
The Uchikake is often heavily brocaded and is supposed to be worn
outside the actual kimono and obi, as a sort of coat. One therefore never
ties the obi around the uchikake. It is supposed to trail along the floor;
this is also why it is heavily padded along the hem. The uchikake of the bridal costume is either
white or very colorful often with red as the base color. The uchikake is commonly embellished with
birds or flowers using silver and gold thread.
Hakama ( )
A divided (umanoribakama) or undivided skirt (andonbakama)
which resembles a wide pair of trousers, traditionally worn by men
but contemporarily also by women in less formal situations. A
hakama typically is pleated and fastened by ribbons, tied around the
waist over the obi. Men's hakama also have a koshi ita, which is a
stiff or padded part in the lower back of the wearer. Hakama are
worn in several budo arts such as aikido, kendo, iaid and naginata.
Hakama are often worn by women at college graduation ceremonies,
and by Miko on shinto shrines. Depending on the pattern and
material, hakama can range from very formal to visiting wear.
Yukata ( )
The lighter and sim pler casual-wear version of kimono often worn
in Japanese summer festival is called yukata. An unlined kimonolike garment for s ummer use, usually made of cotton, linen, or
hemp. Yukata are strictly informal, most often worn to outdoor
festivals, by men and women of all ages. They are also worn
at onsen (hot spring) resorts, where they are often provided for the
guests in the resort's own pattern.
Happi ( )
A type of haori traditionally worn by shop keepers and is now
associated mostly with festivals. A happi coat is a straight sleeved
coat that is typically imprinted with the family crest, and was a
common coat for firefighters to wear.
Haori ( )
A hip- or thigh-length kimono-like jacket, which adds formality to
an outfit. Haori were originally worn only by men, until it became
a fashion for women in the Meiji period. They are now worn by
both men and women. Men's haori are typically shorter than
women's.
Obi ( )
The obi is a very important part of the kimono. Obi is a decorative
sash that is worn by Japanese men and women, although it can be
worn with many different traditional outfits, it is most commonly
worn with the kimono. Most women wear a very large elaborate
obi, while men typically don a more thin and conservative obi.
Tabi ( )
An ankle high sock is often worn with the kimono. Tabi are designed
to be worn with geta, a type of tonged footwear.
Geta ( )
Geta are sandals mounted on wooden blocks held to the foot by a
piece of fabric that slides between the toes. Geta are worn both by
men and women with the kimono or yukata.
Zri ( )
Traditional sandals worn by both men and women, similar in design
to flip-flops. Their formality ranges from strictly informal to fully
formal. They are made of many materials, including cloth, leather,
vinyl and woven grass, and can be highly decorated or very simple.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Japanese_clothing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomesode
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furisode
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimono
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukata
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obi_(sash)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geta_(footwear)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zori

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CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

Final Assignment: Free Topic of Cultural Aspect

Japanese Traditional Dress

PROGRAM STUDI PENDIDIKAN BAHASA INGGRIS

JAPANESE TRADITIONAL DRESS

waistline, kurotomesode are the most formal kimono for married

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