Yesterday, it was the Adults day in Japan. The ceremony was held at big halls or convention center by the city governments. The new adults attended these ceremony in kimono or suit.
These are advertisements from today’s news paper.
They are ads of “the kimono school”. They are recruiting the new students. Actually, the average Japanese women who were boned after WWⅡdon’t know how to wear kimono by themselves!! It is embarrassing story, but I can’t wear it without someones help either… So, these ads might be published to the ladies who wore kimono yesterday and had good feeling in it.
Wearing kimono or learning how to wear are not common in Japan recently. It is a kind of accomplishments for women as well as the Japanese flower arrangements or the Japanese tea ceremony. I know about these traditional Japanese culture as much as, or even less than foreigner who love Japan .
However, as getting old, I don’t want to accept , I want to know the quintessences of our traditional cultures. I will try again in the future the art of calligraphy that I had learned before I had kids. The first objective of it is to learn how to write Japanese characters beautifully, but it give me the time for meditation.
Here is a good info for young man who wants to get married with a Japanese lady!
Kimono with long sleeves hanging down to her kneeds is called furisode and it was permitted to wear only for single women.
But be carefull, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t have any boyfried, it just means not married!!
Check how furisode looks like on my sister’s blog →★
I know that many Japanese ladies can’t wear kimono without help. (I know this is a fact of modern life, but it always makes me feel sad every time I hear that!)
I feel confident to wear most types by myself, but I’m not an expert. However, I like to break some 着付け rules. I feel that 着付け schools sometimes create a “rule” to sell more items. What do you think?
I also like vintage kimono but I’m 160cm tall, so sometimes it is impossible to have the おはしょり showing under the obi.
I love the styles of kimono designer Mamechiyo. http://www.mamechiyo.jp/
Someday, if I become wealthy… I would wear kimono everyday!
Hi, A.D.!
You are cool!!!
Where did you learn 着付け, in Japan? I can wear the easy-type of them like yukata since I had had a part time job at the Japanese restaurant where staffs wear kimono and zouris in my college days. I have never tried the formal one. It’s embarrassing!
Yes, I agree with you, A.D.
It costs very expensive if I buy all items needed for kimono style. I need underwears, obi, obijime, tabi, zouri, bag……etc.!!!
It will cost around 2-3 thousands US$ or more if I buy it totally.
So, many Japanese people choose rental kimonos for one-day ceremony.
I,
I am and had been very practical person!
I didn’t wear furisode at the adults day ceremony. My parents wished me to do but I asked them to pay for tuition of the driving school if they could afford to buy kimono for me!
I was so ruthless person!!
I should have worn it. I think so now. It might have made my parents happy.
My wife’s mother is a kimono teacher…so she always helped to put my wife’s and my daughters’ kimono on them properly at 七五三、十三参り、etc.
I wrote about 成人の日 too:
http://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/adults-day/
tokyo5,
Your mother in law is a kimono teacher! So, you can learn proper way from up close.
Do you wear kimono on any special occasion?
My husband is an instructor of the Japandese language, and he puts on kimono at the new year party.
He looks better than suit!
I have already read your post about 成人の日. Your post is very helpful for me to search the appropriate words and phrases for explaining about Japan. Thank you!
I think you should try to wear one, if only once, to see your parents smile!
You think I’m cool?! I just have strange hobbies!
No, I taught myself 着付け with books, DVDs and the internet!
I post some pictures on my blog in a 訪問着 from an アニメコンベンション I was a guest at in 2007! (I gave traditional art presentations.)
It can be much less expenise to buy the more beautiful vintage kimono! You can set your budget to only $200~$300 for everything.
I’ve like to buy my kimono from these two websites;
http://www.ichiroya.com/ (This seller Ichiro and his wife are very kind to foreigners!)
http://www.yamatoku.jp/classic/ (They sell very nice complete sets for a low price.)
I think you would look very beauitful in a bright 訪問着 like this one! http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/152852/ There are some spots, but a person can clean them carefully. (And the obi will hide them also.)
A.D.ちゃん
I was sure that you knew better about kimono than me!! haha!
>No, I taught myself 着付け with books, DVDs and the internet!
It is new way to learn kimono! I didn’t have such good idea to use the internet !
I am 古い…You have been grown up in 平成 era, so you are 平成の人間. 私は昭和の人間！
Actually, my mother in law loves kimono very much and she gave me some that she doesn’t wear now( thier color doesn’t fit on her now).
However, I felt it was too much trouble. Anyway, I will try if I have a good opportunity.
>Do you wear kimono on any special occasion?
I’ve only worn one once so far…my wedding.
>My husband is an instructor of the Japandese language
Your husband is a 日本語の先生? To foreigners or Japanese children (国語)?
Please teach me!
>Your post is very helpful for me
HAHAHA. Thanks.
Please comment on my site anytime!
tokyo5,
Your wedding!! いいですねぇ!! You were Tono!
My husuband teaches to foreigners who work at 外資系foreign-financed company in Kobe and Osaka area.
He has one-on-one lessons with them at their office or home.