Japanese Kimono and Trivia

Konbanwa, by the way that's just Good Evening in Japanese if you were wondering...

I talked about Harajuku, a street fashion style last time, and this week I thought that I'd discuss traditional japanese fashion.

     The kimono (着物) is the traditional clothing of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" (ki "wearing" and mono "thing"), but now has come to signify a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment. 

    Kimonos are T-shaped, straight-lined robes with collars and full-length sleeves that typically are wide. Both genders wear their kimono so that the hem falls to the ankle. Kimonos are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right (except when dressing the dead for burial) and secured by a wide belt called an obi, which is tied at the back. Kimonos are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zōri or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi).

 Kimonos range from extremely formal to casual. The level of formality of women's kimono is determined mostly by the pattern of the fabric, and color. Young women's kimonos have longer sleeves,signifying that they are not married, and tend to be more elaborate than similarly formal older women's kimono. Men's kimonos are usually one basic shape and are mainly worn in subdued colors. Formality is also determined by the type and color of accessories, the fabric, and the number or absence of *kamon(family crests), with five crests signifying extreme formality. Silk is the most desirable, and most formal, fabric. Kimonos made of fabrics such as cotton and polyester generally reflect a more casual style.

*kamon (家紋 ), are Japanese heraldic symbols. Mon may refer to any symbol, while kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to family symbols. Mon serve roughly similar functions to badges, crests, and coats of arms in European heraldry.

Next time that you pick up your cell phone, remember it's called keitai in Japanese. 

Some More Japanese:

- kurai: dark, gloomy, also used to descrobe lack of light

-kirai- hate/dislike 

-koibito:lover, boyfriend/girlfriend

Interesting Facts about Japan:

1. In the Japanese language, it is considered rude to say the word "no" directly.
2. It is considered rude to show signs of affection toward a loved one in public.
3. When you go to a funeral or a wedding you must take a gift of money.
4. Many Japanese people eat rice with or for their breakfast, lunch and dinner.
5. Never stick your chopsticks upright in your rice. This is an old Japanese custom and is what is done when food is offered to the dead. When it is not an offering it is considered to be a very ill omen.

Japanese Art

     Ukiyo-e is a form of Japanese woodblock printing that typically depicts the floating world -- a world of luxury and privilege that was largely inaccesible to the typical Japanese of the time. 

Art is the illusion of spontaneity.~ Japanese Proverb