Kimono

Kimono is a traditional Japanese garment that is still widely worn today for formal events, ceremonies, and festivities. The term “kimono” means “clothing” or “thing to wear” in Japanese. The garment consists of a long robe with no collar, wide sleeves, and a wide belt called an obi.

There are various types of kimono, which vary in terms of fabric, pattern, sleeve length, and occasion for which they are worn. Some examples include the furisode, a long kimono with long sleeves traditionally worn by unmarried women on special occasions; the tomesode, a shorter kimono with short sleeves and elegant patterns worn by married women at formal events; and the yukata, a simpler and more comfortable type of kimono typically worn at summer festivals and in traditional Japanese inns (ryokans).

One interesting fact is that the martial arts attire known in the West as “kimono” is actually called keikogi in Japanese. It is a special uniform used in various martial arts such as judo, karate, and aikido. It consists of a jacket and loose pants, usually made of durable cotton or polyester. The keikogi is designed to allow a wide range of movements and withstand the intense wear and tear typical of martial arts training. Some models also include a belt that is worn to indicate the practitioner’s skill level, and the whole set is called a “gi.” A judo uniform is called a “judogi,” a karate uniform is called a “karategi,” and so on.