Wakamono Kimono Global

Q. Is it hard to go to the bathroom when wearing one of these. Do you have to undo everything?

A. No, you don’t have to take off everything 😀 You strip only the bottom half of Juban (underwear) and kimono, so that your lower body is exposed.

Q. What can I do if my Yakata is too long? Can I fold the cloth around the waist up and tie the Koshihomo to fix it? Or should i cut the end … I don’t want to do that 🙁

A. Basically for men, we don’t wear too long yukata. But if you want to wear it, you could fold it at the center (around your weighst) by use of Koshihiko to fix. So what you think is correct 🙂 You don’t necessarily have to cut it.

Q. is it common to make a fold at the level of obi if the kimono is long?

A. Basically we men don’t do that, but in exception, if you want to do that, yes around obi, you could hide the unnecessary part. Different from wemen, we men should not show the fold.

Q. If the kimono is worn the other way round (right side over left), what does that mean?

A. If you wear it in a way of “right side over left”, that’s for funeral.

Q. You don’t put the koshi-himo the left side inside kimono hole cloth? Is that just for women or there are different ways? https://studio.youtube.com/video/S6EJ-wh1gD8

A. I didn’t use koshi-himo(string) in this video as you noticed. But it doesn’t matter whether you must or not use it. Koshi-himo is a part of underwear and nobody can see. It’s alright as long as kimono and juban is beautifully fixed.

Q. do you wash a cotton kimono and after that you iron?

A. I don’t iron but I wash my cotton kimono by my washing mashine with “dry” (gentle) mode. Because it soaks my sweat. kimono is heavy enough not to iron

Hi, I’m answering questions from Youtube comments as usual 🙂

Q. How much thus it cost to wear a kimono as a tourist in Japan?

A. https://kr-aki.co.jp/user_data/english this says “Adults ¥6,480 (yukata for ¥5,400)” for rental kimono. If you buy ready-made kimono, it would be like 20,000 to 40,000 roughly totally at like https://tansuya.jp/shop/kanto#Tokyo-West . If you buy made–to-order kimono, it’ll be like 70,000 yen and more, at like http://www.kimonosugata.info/ .

Q. Is it possible to rent a kimono in Osaka?

A. Yes, I saw some shops by googling “osaka kimono rental” 😉

Q. Fancy. looks sharp. does kimono get hot?

A. thanks. Yes, in summer I’m hot when I wear all of Juban, Kimono and Haori. But when it’s hot, you don’t have to wear everything. You can wear only Kimono if it’s cotton or linen, in summer. Or you can wear Yukata (casual kimono that used to be pajama).

Q. Thank you. About size, if I have a large juban then should I get a large kimono? Is the kimono longer?

A. Sure 🙂 Yes, basically kimono should be longer than Juban. It’s a little embarassing to show juban from kimono’s sleave and hem. But if the kimono is too big, that’s what you should avoid most. We should think of the balance.

Q. What’s the difference between kimono and yukata?

A. Yukata originally used to be used as pajama after bath, in Edo era. Nowadays it’s worn when it’s hot, especially in traditional events such as watching fireworks and dance festival (Bon-odori). Yukata can be used only for a casual situation as it originated as pajama. Kimono is worn in every situation except for the above, and it’s used in casual and formal both.

When it comes to fabric and color, tipical yukata is made of cotton, though recently linen is also used. And combination of white and navy are used in typical yukata often. Many other kinds of fabric and color are used for kimono.

Even Japanese wonders what the difference between yukata and kimono is.
In summer, many japanese wear yukata for watching fireworks and dance festival, but usually don’t wear kimono, that is sad for me.
I myself wear kimono and go to Starbucks usually, and the staff asks me if I have such events like fireworks. Many Japanese people already can’t tell the difference…

My activity is to make kimono more popular among normal Japanese people.

Hi, I still get questions on my youtube from the world, about men kimono lol

Here’re the questions and answers 🙂

Q. Do you wear anything inside the first layer of kimono, because that is too layered

A. I know lol , you don’t have to wear inner shirt in Juban (the first layer) if it’s hot. when it’s cold, you should wear something inside. But don’t you wear inner shirt, normal shirt, sweater, jacket and coat when it’s cold? it’s like that 😉

Q. how do u wear this in summers ! is it not feel hot inside?? 3 parts :[

A. I wouldn’t wear this type of kimono in summer. That would be really hot. I wear only thin kimono, but without haori and juban. Or in a really casual situation, I wear yukata.

Q. Domo arigatogozaimashita. I am in Tokyo right now as a first time tourist. Your video is very helpful. Do you have any recommendations as to where the best place to buy kimonos? I am staying in Shinjuku area. Thanks.

A. Hi, it depends and I’m explaining some cases.

Reasonable price online: https://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/kyoetsu-orosiya/

Excellent tailor-made shop in Kanagawa prefecture: http://www.kimonosugata.info/

Second hand shop: http://www.subnade.co.jp/shop/hobby/tansuya.html

Good luck and enjoy Japan life!

Q. What is that people say 12 layer kimono?

A. 12-hitoe (12 layer kimono) is worn by noble women abut one thousand years ago. The current kimono was formed by people in all classes about 200 years ago. They are different from each other.

I hope you have a good kimono life 😀

Hi, here are questions on Youtbe and Facebook, and my answers.

Q. Why those Sleeves are so big?

A. In my understanding, the higher class you belong to, the longer sleeves you have. You can employ servant if you in a high class, and don’t have to do washing, cooking and cleaning, that can dirt your sleeves.

You can tell that from Japanese historical movies. Physical workers have shorter sleeves generally.

Q. hahaha its hot to wear …..

A. Right, it used be colder than now in Japan. 😀

Q. its hard to go in a bathroom or using a bathroom

A. It’s not to hard, it’s easy. But I don’t want to show how I use a bathroom on youtube :p

Q. I am looking around on all the websites for second hand kimono, but I am worried nothing will fit well.
(He said to me his size, and he’s taller than normal Japanese men)
With my measurements, it seems difficult to find a good second hand kimono. Is there a course of action you maybe able to recommend?

A. I’m 178cm tall, and it’s hard even for me to find a second hand kimono because old people in Japan were shorter than now. How about Oatsurae(made-to-order)?

if you need a formal (silk) kimono for tea ceremony, I can introduce a good shop in Atsugi-shi Kanagawa-ken (http://www.kimonosugata.info/) for you, which may cost 35,000 yen and more. If you just need a casual one for only lessons, I can make denim or cotton kimono, which may cost 20,000 yen and more.

As you may know, even Japanese people don’t know how to start Kimono experience, and are afraid of failing shopping like buying too expensive ones. So I think my role is to answer questions from starters.

Also, I myself say to beginners that you don’t have to start with such expensive order-made kimono, but you can start with this machine-made one. https://item.rakuten.co.jp/kyoetsu-orosiya/otokomuji04/ I have one from this shop, but the quality is enough good but the price is…. only about 5,000 yen! 😀 It may not perfectly fit your size but you could also start with this kind of light stuff (I mean small start).

The above kimono is polyester, and you cannot wear it in a really formal place. But sometimes I hold tea ceremony and wear polyester kimono as long as it’s not toooooo formal lol And 2 months ago, I had my own wedding, but the kimono was polyester lol Nobody can tell actually.

I got more questions at youtube comments lol. Here’re the answers.

Q. Can men wear more colorful kimonos? I don’t really like brown/blues :s

A. Yes, you could choose a little more colorful kimonos. But people here would think like “ah that man is a foreigner. He’s different from us but that’s also good.” Or if you were a Japanese, they would think “that man doesn’t know how to coordinate kimonos…omg” lol It’s up to you cause it’s fashion nowadays 😉

Q2. Thank you!!! I’m from Paraguay, and Japanese people thinking I’m just foreigner is super fine to me 🙂 thank you!!!

A2.  I see. Then it’ll be alright, and you’ll add more style to Japanese fashion. Good luck!

Q. why so many layers? what is the history meaning and reason for each layer and belt tie???

A. As for kimono for men, I don’t think there’re many layers. There’re just Juban (underwear) and Nagagi(Shirt). It’s similar to Western fashion, isn’t it?

Belt tie used to be a thin string before such as 1000 years ago, but little by little it became thicker and now it’s big 😀

Q: but Samurai Jack has just one piece of clothing

A: That may be simplified for animation. Sometimes you wear a jacket, sometimes you don’t, do you? It’s like that. If you don’t wear a jacket (Haori, in this case), it’s casual. If you do, it’s formal.

Q. Is it seen as strange if someone wanted to wear the haori jacket by itself with other clothes? I gues what im wondering, is it strange or not polite to wear just the Haori or is it just fine?

A. No, it’s not that strange. Sometimes I see people with western fashion plus Haori, which looks like “like-Japanese”. Do you see what I mean? lol When people want to wear Kimono or something to show “Hey this is a day for Japanese culture” like festivals, they just wear Haori. Or some shop staff selling Japanese things do like this, too.

OK, Good luck, everybody! 😀

Q. I was wondering something, it’s about the belts… if you’re going to eat or sit down or something while wearing a kimono, won’t those belts being so tightened, make your belly hurt or have bad digestion? Just curious since you seemed to tighten them up very hard haha. Maybe it’s just might imagination, but i’m still curious.

A. Ah good question 🙂 I sit down and stand up many times while I wear kimono, but I haven’t felt that way by sitting down. I think that’s because the tightened part is not the center of waist but it’s the bottom area of waist. It’s like putting your stomach on the belt. When I first started to wear kimono, I didn’t know this trick and had kinda stomach ache when I wore kimono all day.

Q. I’m looking to buy a haori or something of Japanese origin for my husband. We have a Japanese wedding to attend and would like to dress in Japanese outfits. Can you suggest where I can buy one or do you sell it? I’m looking for a yukata for myself.

A. I make and sell kimono but it’s order-made and expensive, so I would recommend another shop to sell ready-made products. If you search by “kimono men” on rakuten global, you can find some products; http://global.rakuten.com/en/search/?k=kimono+men&l-id=search_regular

What do you think? 😉

Also, as for your yukata,

http://global.rakuten.com/en/search/?k=yukata+women&l-id=search_regular

Q. Can you make a DIY video of a men’s yukata or kimono?

A. Well, I’m sorry but the length of such a video would be more than two hours if I explain how you make kimono/yukata. It takes so much time. Making Obi belt doesn’t take that time so maybe I could make a video for obi 🙂

Hi, as usual, I copy and paste Q&A from my youtube comments.

This is not about kimono, but I was asked about tofu, lol.

Q: May I ask you… how much tofu do people normally eat? How often during a week?

A: I eat tofu almost everyday. it’s cheap. I buy it twice or three times a week.

Q1: can I wear作務衣(Samue) as the Juban?

A1: 1. If it’s casual situation, yes. For men kimono, the basic purpose of juban in appearance is to show collar. Samue also has its collar, so you can show Samue’s collar instead of Juban’s collar. But if it’s formal, the material of Samue is too casual and people around you will notice you don’t wear Juban through your sleeves and bottom edge.

Q2: does作務衣(Samue) goes with作業袴(SagyouBakama)or野袴(NoBakama)?

A2: 2. Kind of Yes. Top half of samue looks similar to normal kimono, except for string of Samue. Maybe people won’t notice actually you wear Samue. Especially SagyouBakama is used for casual situations like cleaning, and NoBakama is like for riding a horuse, so people wouldn’t care 🙂

Good luck for your kimono life! 😀

Hi,

I got two more questions on the youtube, and am sharing the answer here.

Q: So interesting, thanks! Who wears the kimono nowadays? When is it normal to wear it? Thank you very much in advance.

A: Hi Sandra, thank you for the compliment 🙂 Nowadays a part of Japanese still wear it usually and all of Japanese sometimes face occasions to wear kimono.

A part of Japanese: we just like to wear it and go everywhere like cafe and even a workplace! 😀 Another part of Japanese: we learn Japanese culture like tea ceremony and traditional dance and, arrow sport. In order to correctly behave and move our bodies according to the culture, we have to wear kimono. Especially how you walk is totally different from when you wear western cloth.

Sometimes all of Japanese: when you want to have Japanese style wedding, you have to wear kimono, both of husband and wife. And when you grow up and your age is 3, 5 and 7, you go to shrines to celebrate the growth. There the children have to wear kimono generally.

Q: can you wear it without the haori?

A: Yes, you can. Generally it’s more formal to wear haori, but you don’t have to in a casual situation. It’s like you wear a jacket at a formal restaurant or ceremony in western culture. Also, there’s a special rule that you should NOT wear haori in a tea ceremony room though it’s formal.

I hope they’ll help you understand more about kimono 🙂