- 23 Sep 2005
- 1,295
- 76
The kimono is japans national dress, it symbolises much about japanese culture and ideals of beauty (old, and perhaps modern too), even though japan has been "westernised" for a long time, with various steps towards westernisation taken at certain phases in its history (for example, when japan was first discovered by the west and had trade with the east india company, i think that was in the late 1600's, then again in the meiji period when japan opened its doors to the western world after centuries in virtual isolation from the western world, and in the taisho and showa period, as japan prepared and then went through WW2 and lost the war etc). The kimono has not really been worn by the masses as an everyday garment since the war years and early aftemath, but it still embraces its native dress even in this day and age (although rarely worn as an everyday garment, and when such is the case, usually by the older generations of women) etc. Summer festivals always seem to be a good occasion for the younger generations to get in touch with their native dress and grab their yukata's out of the closets/tansu and wear them at the festivals.
But how do japanese feel about foriegners like westerners and other asian groups like the chinese and koreans embracing the kimono and wearing it? Are they happy to see foriegners taking interest in their native dress, or is this not really a readily accepted thing, or something else completely? Do they feel embarassed or self-conscious/defensive when faced with a foriegner wearing kimono etc?
Have you (as a foreigner/non-native japanese) ever worn kimono in japan, and if so, what sort of reception did you get by people in general over there?
I collect kimono and wear them occasionally, i know how to wear kimono properly and the different types of kimono and obi and right sorts occasions to wear them to etc. I think that if someone (whether japanese or not) decides to wear kimono, you should make an effect to wear it properly- i have seen many westerners wear kimono incorrectly, even do glaring errors like men wearing womens kimono or grown women wearing childens obi, however i think this is only normal since access to material to learn how to wear kimono is very limited in the west unless you have access to the internet.
I have even seen japanese people though wear kimono incorrectly or very poorly though, i think this would be one of the most embarrassing things of all to do if i was japanese born and bred, however yet again it is sort of understandable considering that kimono is not worn that regularly by everyday people in japan- it does take a bit of practice to put it on right, and a fair amount of wearing to get used to it (wearing a kimono for the first time for me was like facing the same sort of discomfort i faced when i first wore high heal shoes/boots as a young teenager, you have to move differently and carefully otherwise you'll make a fool of yourself etc).
I think wearing kimono properly is the main thing and very important to know when you first start wearing kimono, although i think its fine to loosen some of the rules a bit once you know all the basics if you are just wearing kimono for yourself and not for the benefet of other people at semi-formal or formal occassions (like at a wedding or funeral etc).
But my worry would be to not be accepted even if i wore the kimono properly and well. Its tough enough over here in England, where even in our multi-cultural society, wearing the native dress of other countries still gets a mixed reception (mostly just a surpised although not tactful reception from other random people, although i have still had many positive responses on the few occasions i have worn kimono in public) if you do not actually come from that country whose native dress you are wearing. One day i would like to go to japan on a holiday, i want my visit to be pleasant, i have open-minded views about what japan is like, and it would be great if i could get away with wearing something like a yukata over there once or twice, although i would avoid doing such a thing if it would only give me a less than positive reception or embarrassment etc.
But how do japanese feel about foriegners like westerners and other asian groups like the chinese and koreans embracing the kimono and wearing it? Are they happy to see foriegners taking interest in their native dress, or is this not really a readily accepted thing, or something else completely? Do they feel embarassed or self-conscious/defensive when faced with a foriegner wearing kimono etc?
Have you (as a foreigner/non-native japanese) ever worn kimono in japan, and if so, what sort of reception did you get by people in general over there?
I collect kimono and wear them occasionally, i know how to wear kimono properly and the different types of kimono and obi and right sorts occasions to wear them to etc. I think that if someone (whether japanese or not) decides to wear kimono, you should make an effect to wear it properly- i have seen many westerners wear kimono incorrectly, even do glaring errors like men wearing womens kimono or grown women wearing childens obi, however i think this is only normal since access to material to learn how to wear kimono is very limited in the west unless you have access to the internet.
I have even seen japanese people though wear kimono incorrectly or very poorly though, i think this would be one of the most embarrassing things of all to do if i was japanese born and bred, however yet again it is sort of understandable considering that kimono is not worn that regularly by everyday people in japan- it does take a bit of practice to put it on right, and a fair amount of wearing to get used to it (wearing a kimono for the first time for me was like facing the same sort of discomfort i faced when i first wore high heal shoes/boots as a young teenager, you have to move differently and carefully otherwise you'll make a fool of yourself etc).
I think wearing kimono properly is the main thing and very important to know when you first start wearing kimono, although i think its fine to loosen some of the rules a bit once you know all the basics if you are just wearing kimono for yourself and not for the benefet of other people at semi-formal or formal occassions (like at a wedding or funeral etc).
But my worry would be to not be accepted even if i wore the kimono properly and well. Its tough enough over here in England, where even in our multi-cultural society, wearing the native dress of other countries still gets a mixed reception (mostly just a surpised although not tactful reception from other random people, although i have still had many positive responses on the few occasions i have worn kimono in public) if you do not actually come from that country whose native dress you are wearing. One day i would like to go to japan on a holiday, i want my visit to be pleasant, i have open-minded views about what japan is like, and it would be great if i could get away with wearing something like a yukata over there once or twice, although i would avoid doing such a thing if it would only give me a less than positive reception or embarrassment etc.