Words on kimono?

[BenP]

Dear all,

Last year i travelled to Japan and bought a kimono with some japanese characters on it.

Can you help me out and translate them for me? I'd like to know what i'm communicating while wearing it!

Tx, Ben

 

[Glenski]

The vertical display is the correct way to read it. It says "kamikaze" (the suicide plane pilots from the war).

My wife said that young and stupid (Japanese) people wear such kanji on T shirts sometimes, like when they are cruising for girls, and they don't even know what it means. When I told her this was on a kimono, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

 

[BenP]

Wow, that's something completely different then what the saleswoman in Kyoto told me. : Thanks Glenski, I will not wear it in public.

 

[Glenski]

I'm curious what you were told originally.

 

[Tamayo]

Huh. Unless there's some sort of significance of wearing "kamikaze" on your clothing, I think it seems a little cool. You'd definitely be fine wearing it out anywhere with people who can't read kanji!

 

[BenP]

The saleslady told me something it means something like 'Godly Wind', which is technically correct if I read wikipedia. @ Tamayo: I'm not too big a fan of wearing stuff with political statements or things that can be considered controversial.

 

[Tamayo]

@ Tamayo: I'm not too big a fan of wearing stuff with political statements or things that can be considered contriversial.

I guess my edit didn't get saved.

I actually meant to ask if there IS actually any sort of social/political significance behind having "kamikaze" on one's clothing. I can understand why some people would think it's in bad taste, but I don't know if there's any more context beyond just it's significance in the war.

 

[epigene]

Just my two yen:
Looking at the photo, is it really "kimono"? It's solid black with the kanjis in gold as accent. My guess is it is some sort of jinbe or samue.
Jinbei - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
【楽天市場】作務衣（さむえ）新文人（しんぶんじん）織り：和木綿の宮田織物

If I'm correct, I think it's all right to wear it.
True, "kamikaze" has its political significance related to WWII, but the days are long gone from the memory of the younger generations. Although having such kanji on samue or jinbe is not exactly "cool," it is "tolerable" at the very least and even acceptable.

If it is a real kimono, IT IS unfashionable to have such kanji printed on it. Kimono design features flowers, nature and other designs of pictoral nature. If I should see someone wearing a kimono with that kanji on the lapel area, etc.. I'd probably think it's dorky (oops!).

 

[Keiha]

Kimono is a passion of mine, and I'm sure that whatever garment you have, it isn't a "real" kimono, at least one you could wear around Japanese/people who know better. It may be similar in construction to a kimono, but unless it is some super modern fashion piece, the embroidered kanji is a dead giveaway. Do you have a full-length pic of the garment?

 

[Glenski]

Yes, the direct translation is wind of the gods. She was less than forthcoming, though, and just wanted a sale.
If you don't care, wear it anywhere in the States. Expect a stare or two in Japan but nothing more.

 

[BenP]

Attached a pica of the whole kimono. I bought it in the Nishijin Textile Center in Kyoto, and a nice silky one with flowers and stuff for my wife.