I started learning kimono, and I can wear it myself only these days, but not well enough. You must feel strange.that we, Japanese people, cannot wear our own ethnic wear without learning how to put it on. I think so, too, and it's one of the reasons I am learning it .
My mother was always wearing kimono in her pictures. I remember her putting kimono on in front of the mirror. But kimono disappeared quickly after the World War II, when Western, especially American culture rushed into Japan. Our way of living , houses, food, and clothes, changed a lot. The people of my generation have grown up in western clothes. Shirts and skirts or pants are far easier to wear when we work or do sports. I was not interested in kimono because I had no time to waste in kimono and kimono was so feminine that it seemed narrowing women's way to live. I felt no needs to know about kimono.
In this way we have lost a lot of skills and cultures of us. These days some people find the good things or beauty in our old way of living and culture. Some people says our traditional food is good for health, and some people live in old Japanese style houses. Kimono also has a long history, and so, many kinds of skills were born and used to make it. I know a woman of 81 years old, and she showed me a beautiful kimono she made. It means that she spun silk thread from the cocoons, wove it into a cloth, sewed it into the kimono. She was not a craftsperson, but just a young girl then. I am surprised that women usually had such a skill only some fifty or sixty years ago. They are all lost now. Today, kimono is considered a special dress only for special days like wedding, tea ceremony, or coming of age ceremony. At the same time, kimono became such an expensive fashion, and it's one of the reasons why we don't wear kimono often.
I had only a few kimono, and I needed some more to learn , but they were too expensive for me. So I got some used kimono at the antique shops. Rich people never go to those shops, but I sometimes find almost new ones .there I think wearing used kimono is the way to revive the work of old handicrafts. I went to a concert in an antique kimono the other day, but to my rich friends it's a secret that the kimono is a very cheap used one I got at an antique shop!
I will tell you one more reason I'm trying kimono. Have you ever heard the name " Sawachi Hisae"? She is a good writer and a big activist for peace and the Article 9. She is always in kimono and looks cool. I really respect her and I wish I could be like her. If I wear kimono, can I be like her?
In Saku-city, the international festival is going to be held on November 30th, and you can try kimono on there. If you are interested, why don't you come? I'll be there in kimono and help you in the morning on the day. See you there! .
My mother was always wearing kimono in her pictures. I remember her putting kimono on in front of the mirror. But kimono disappeared quickly after the World War II, when Western, especially American culture rushed into Japan. Our way of living , houses, food, and clothes, changed a lot. The people of my generation have grown up in western clothes. Shirts and skirts or pants are far easier to wear when we work or do sports. I was not interested in kimono because I had no time to waste in kimono and kimono was so feminine that it seemed narrowing women's way to live. I felt no needs to know about kimono.
In this way we have lost a lot of skills and cultures of us. These days some people find the good things or beauty in our old way of living and culture. Some people says our traditional food is good for health, and some people live in old Japanese style houses. Kimono also has a long history, and so, many kinds of skills were born and used to make it. I know a woman of 81 years old, and she showed me a beautiful kimono she made. It means that she spun silk thread from the cocoons, wove it into a cloth, sewed it into the kimono. She was not a craftsperson, but just a young girl then. I am surprised that women usually had such a skill only some fifty or sixty years ago. They are all lost now. Today, kimono is considered a special dress only for special days like wedding, tea ceremony, or coming of age ceremony. At the same time, kimono became such an expensive fashion, and it's one of the reasons why we don't wear kimono often.
I had only a few kimono, and I needed some more to learn , but they were too expensive for me. So I got some used kimono at the antique shops. Rich people never go to those shops, but I sometimes find almost new ones .there I think wearing used kimono is the way to revive the work of old handicrafts. I went to a concert in an antique kimono the other day, but to my rich friends it's a secret that the kimono is a very cheap used one I got at an antique shop!
I will tell you one more reason I'm trying kimono. Have you ever heard the name " Sawachi Hisae"? She is a good writer and a big activist for peace and the Article 9. She is always in kimono and looks cool. I really respect her and I wish I could be like her. If I wear kimono, can I be like her?
In Saku-city, the international festival is going to be held on November 30th, and you can try kimono on there. If you are interested, why don't you come? I'll be there in kimono and help you in the morning on the day. See you there! .
