In modern Japan you have western clothing (yofuku), and Japanese clothing (wafuku).2 The various traditional ethnic garments worn in Japan are still in use, they are mainly worn for ceremonies and special occasions- like weddings, funerals, coming-of-age ceremonies (seijin shiki)2, and festivals. Western clothing is worn more often in day to day life. They wear western style clothes in the work place, in the fields, and walking down the street. Both men and women favor "western-style" clothing in their daily lives- due to the comparative convenience and the influx of global fashion. While the westernization of fashions has continued at a rapid pace the kimono is dying, but it will remain part of the Japanese way of life for a good many years to come.4
Contents |
Before the 1860’s, the Japanese clothing consisted entirely of a great variety of kimono.4 The first of which appeared in the Jomon period, with no distinction between male and female.3 After Japan opened up for trading with the outside world, other options started to come in. Officers and men of some units of the shogunal army and navy were among the first to adopt western clothing, fashioned after the style of those worn by English marines stationed at Yokohama.4 The style only grew from there, moving out from just the military to other forms of life as well. During the 1880’s students of public colleges and universities were ordered to wear western-style uniforms and businessmen, teachers, doctors, bankers, and other leaders of the new society wore suits to work and at large social functions.4 Although western-style dress was becoming more popular for the work place, schools, and streets it was still not worn by everybody. Since WWII most areas of Japanese life have been taken over by western clothing.1
A kimono is a long robe with loose sleeves, made with different materials, colors, and in either single or multiple layers, that can be worn by both men and women though they are mainly worn by women.3 The kimono is a very traditional piece of clothing that is impossible for one person to put on alone, it is an intricate process to keep it clean, unwrinkled, and elegant. Japanese kimonos are literally wrapped around the body, sometimes in several layers, and they are secured in place by sashes with a wide obi to complete the human parcel.2 The modern kimono is not worn as often as it use to be. Most women now wear western-style clothing and only wear kimonos out for special occasions. In modern Japan kimono are a marked feminine costume and a national attire.2 There are 6 different types of kimonos that a woman can wear, furisode, uchikake, houmongi, yukata, tomesode, and mofuku, depending upon her marital status and the event she intends to attend.3 Japanese clothing, specifically kimono, is styled to fit the seasons. Clothing with more rustic colors and patterns (like russet leaves) are favored in autumn, while in spring more vibrant colors and floral designs (like cherry blossoms) are common. In winter, those dressing in kimono tend to wear darker colors and multiple layers (sometimes as many as ten). It is important that you dress for the season in certain layers, because you do not want to be too hot or cold. These days if you were to go to Japan you would rarely see these kimonos unless you happened to get there at the time of a festival, you are more likely to see the more modern western clothing on the Japanese while you are visiting. In fact, if you were to watch the women, in London and Tokyo, you would have difficulty finding any differences in the fashion between the UK and Japan.1
Up until the fifteenth century kimonos were made of a natural fiber called hemp or out of linen, and they were made with multiple layers, then over the following 200 years silk fabrics, new colors, and single layers were introduced to the kimono.3 The more modern kimono also includes various paddings, belts, cords, and clips.2 When western clothing was introduced it was made from materials such as wools and, to a much lesser extent, cotton.
For a very long time western clothes were for your street wear and Japanese dress was for your home, and the women would still work in kimono, even covering it with an apron or duster.4 For the most part modern kimonos are worn by women at special occasions. The furisode kimono is worn by single women, it’s usually bought for the coming-of-age ceremony but is also used for large social functions such as weddings and tea ceremonies.3 The uchikake kimono is worn on a girl’s wedding day, it is all white and very long.3 The houmongi kimono takes the place of the furisode once a woman is married and is usually made of solid colored fabrics.3 The yukata kimono is a light cotton kimono worn during the summer and at festivals.3 The tomesode kimono is only worn to a close relatives wedding, never at a friend’s wedding.3 The mofuku kimono is all black and worn to funerals, showing respect for the person who has passed away.3 You also have the hadjuban which is a white kimono like undergarment that is worn under all of the kimonos.3 Boys wear western suits for their coming-of-age ceremony, job interviews, work, weddings, and funerals, though the Japanese etiquette and rules of formality require the proper dress with great attention to detail, such as wearing a white tie to attend a wedding and a black tie, with the same black suit, to a funeral. Western style clothes are used for everything from relaxation, to play, to work and are used for the everyday living of the modern Japanese people.
|
|||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||