Kimono in Japanese Costumes

April 28, 2010 - PRLog -- Tradition and culture form the backbones of any country and society. Every country and its society have evolved in the past centuries, but the only thing which will never change is the deep rooted essence of the past. There are just a few ways you can show your love and fondness to your culture and one main way is to wear your traditional clothes and costumes. Japan is a country which still has a strong bond with its past and the citizens of this country still flaunt their traditional costumes whenever they get an opportunity.

The most popular traditional clothing of Japan is a Kimono which means, ‘something one wears’. It generally refers to the long dresses worn by men, women and children on special occasions. The color of kimonos varies from season to season. Men wear slightly muted and darker shades; while women resort to wearing bright and pastel kimonos with younger girls have floral and abstract patterns on their dress. Kimonos vary in design between married and unmarried women. All Japanese costumes are collectively called ‘wafuku’ which means Japanese clothes while western clothes are called ‘yofuku’. An important accessory of the kimono is a decorative sash Obi. Formal kimonos are worn in many layers and men wear this with a haori which is a half coat and a divided skirt hakama. Wearing a kimono can be quite complicated for beginners, so older women offer classes to young girls and also girls rush to parlors to get help on this.

Coming of Age Day is a ritual that has been followed in Japan since 714 A.D. and is celebrated every year on the second Monday of January. As the name implies it is a function to encourage and acknowledge all the youngsters who have become twenty years of age which is the age of majority in the past year. All young men and women flock the local Prefecture offices for formalities followed by festivities. Women attend this function wearing the furisode which is a special type of kimono and the zori sandals. Men also wear the kimono occasionally but suits and ties are more common. Happi is a straight sleeved dress or coat which is imprinted with a family crest is also a popular traditional wear. An ankle high sock Tabi is unique footwear which is worn along with the kimono and is supported by wooden sandals called Geta. This was just a nutshell view into the Japanese costume and dress culture.
 
From: http://allcosplayonline.com/