【Let’s wear Kimono!】 This is a summary of the advantages of “Kimono”.

This time, I will be writing on the theme of “The Goodness of “Japanese Clothes”.

You don’t usually see many people wearing “kimono” and “Japanese clothes” on a daily basis.
(“Japanese clothes” is same as “kimono”.)
In this day and age, most people are wearing clothes from abroad.
But don’t you think that’s strange?

We are supposed to be Japanese, yet most of us are wearing clothes that came from overseas, instead of the historic “kimono” that have been worn in Japan for many years.
It is true that wearing kimono may seem cumbersome, and that clothes (from abroad) may be more functional.
However, there are many good things about kimono as well, and what’s more, they are cool! 

That’s why I’m going to summarize the advantages of kimono for the revival of kimono.

The advantages of “kimono”

“Kimono” seem awkward and inconvenient to wear.
That’s the image you have, isn’t it?
I have that image a little, too.

However, there are actually some advantages that only kimono have!

This time, I’ve compiled a list of those advantages!

1) Clothing does not adhere to the skin.

I think most people who wear or are into kimono realize this.
“Clothes” are made to fit the shape of your body, so most of them are in close contact with your skin.
On the other hand, kimonos are made in a straight line, so there is far less contact with the skin.

For this reason, many people say that they can live without stress.
Some people say that once you know how good it feels, you can’t get out of it.
This may be because it is close to the natural state of the human body.

2) Stay warm or cool depending on your ingenuity

If kimono don’t come in close contact with the skin, aren’t they cold? Some people may think so.
However, in reality, it is not that cold because of the many layers of kimonos.
In addition, there are special coats for kimono, and you can also wear warm inner wear that does not spoil your appearance.

It’s also fun to dress up in a coat or gown!
On the other hand, it seems that people tend to have the impression that kimono is hot because of the layers of kimono.
Unlike clothes that have short sleeves or sleeveless, kimonos cover the whole body, so you may feel hot, but summer kimonos are highly breathable, so it is not as hot as it looks.

Some materials have excellent air permeability and heat dissipation, and for summer, materials such as “Ro(絽)”, “Asa(麻)”, and “Sha(紗)” are preferred.
Yukata, Jinbei, and Samue are also part of the Japanese clothing category.

3) Acquire good manners.

One of the reasons why people think it is hard to move when wearing kimono is because it is tied with an Obi(帯).
Kimonos, especially for women, are tight and difficult to relax in, and you may not be able to laze around the house.
It would fall apart easily and looks like vulgar.

However, on the flip side, being tied with an Obi makes your posture more correct and helps you avoid the impression of sloppiness.
With correct posture and good manners, you will naturally give the impression of being elegant.
It may be hard to wear a kimono 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in the modern world, but if you wear a kimono little by little, you will learn something.

4) Easy to coordinate

Unlike clothing from abroad, kimono does not come in many different shapes, so it is easier to coordinate.
Of course, there is a variety of materials, but they are determined to some extent by the season, so all you have to do is choose from colors and patterns.
You can also combine them with Western goods (such as hats and boots) to enjoy an unusual coordination.

5) It can attract people’s attention.

After all, kimono are very noticeable.
In this day and age, it can be said that you can show your individuality just by wearing a kimono.
Why not use it as a form of self-expression?

Advantages of clothing from abroad

Now, on the other hand, let’s look at the advantages of “clothes(from abroad)”.
Of course, there are many points where clothes are better.

1) Easy to move

This is probably the main reason why kimono are no longer worn.
Kimono are not suitable for exercising or riding a bicycle, because the sleeves are too wide and get in the way, and the legs are too exposed.
On the other hand, clothes can withstand strenuous activities.

2) Easy to put on and take off

I think this is the next reason why people have moved away from kimono.
Although the Obi knot becomes easier to tie once you get used to it, it is still not as easy to put on and take off as clothes.

3) A wide variety of designs

Compared to kimono, which have a certain fixed shape, clothes come in a wide variety of designs.
Jackets, pants, skirts, shoes….
You can choose from many different types and combine them.

4) Easy to protect against cold

Kimono tend to make your neck and feet cold, and you will have to use western clothes to keep warm.
Clothes, on the other hand, can basically cover your entire body, making it easier to keep warm.

5)inconspicuous

In modern times, most people wear clothes as opposed to kimono.
So, of course, there is the advantage of not being looked at oddly.

When do most people wear clothes?

So, when did clothes start to be worn in Japan?
It was during the Meiji era (1868-1912) that Japanese people started wearing clothes.

However, because of the high cost, only a few wealthy people wore clothes at first, and even in the Taisho and early Showa eras, most ordinary people wore kimono.
Many women wore kimono even in the early Showa era, and according to one survey, the percentage of women who wore clothes was about 20%.

It was after the war that most Japanese began to wear clothes.
After the defeat of World War II in 1945, clothes rapidly spread along with the penetration of foreign cultures and their admiration during the occupation.
Clothes, which are easy to move around in and put on and take off, gradually came to be worn by almost all the people, while kimonos are now only worn for special events.

I can’t believe so many people wore kimono until the early Showa period, and it’s only recently that clothes have become common.
It also seems strange to me.

Now is the time for Kimono!

On a personal note, I am not really interested in clothing from abroad.
Of course, it is partly because I am not interested in clothing in general, but I can be interested in “Kimono”.

I’m sure there are many other people like me.

And it would be a shame not to have kimono as an option for everyday wear.

I think it will expand the range of fashion.
Besides, Japanese people look very good in kimono, and I think it would be good if more and more people wore them on a regular basis.
I feel uncomfortable in a world where people only wear clothes as a matter of course.

That’s why I would like to see the world become a place where people can wear kimono more and more, and I would like to promote it.