Japanese Clothing

In modern Japan you have western clothing (yofuku), and Japanese clothing (wafuku). The various traditional ethnic garments worn in Japan are still in use, they are mainly worn for ceremonies and special occasions- like weddings, funerals, coming-of-age ceremonies (seijin shiki), and festivals. Western clothing is worn more often in day to day life. They wear western style clothes in the work place, in the fields, and walking down the street. Both men and women favor "western-style" clothing in their daily lives- due to the comparative convenience and the influx of global fashion. While the westernization of fashions has continued at a rapid pace the kimono is dying, but it will remain part of the Japanese way of life for a good many years to come.

The Japanese clothing consisted entirely of a great variety of kimono. The first of which appeared in the Jomon period, with no distinction between male and female. After Japan opened up for trading with the outside world, other options started to come in. Officers and men of some units of the shogunal army and navy were among the first to adopt western clothing, fashioned after the style of those worn by English marines stationed at Yokohama. The style only grew from there, moving out from just the military to other forms of life as well. students of public colleges and universities were ordered to wear western-style uniforms and businessmen, teachers, doctors, bankers, and other leaders of the new society wore suits to work and at large social functions. Although western-style dress was becoming more popular for the work place, schools, and streets it was still not worn by everybody. Since WWII most areas of Japanese life have been taken over by western clothing.

Types and styles

An example of a Japanese clothing is the kimono; the kimono is a traditional garment. Japanese kimonos are wrapped around the body, sometimes in several layers, and are secured in place by sashes with a wide obi to complete the human parcel. The modern kimono is not worn as often as it once was. Most women now wear western-style clothing and only wear kimonos out for special occasions. In modern Japan kimono are a marked feminine costume and a national attire. There are 6 different types of kimonos that a woman can wear; furisode, uchikake, houmongi, yukata, tomesode, and mofuku, depending upon her marital status and the event she intends to attend. Japanese clothing, specifically kimono, is styled to fit the seasons. Clothing with more rustic colors and patterns (like russet leaves) are favored in autumn, while in spring more vibrant colors and floral designs (like cherry blossoms) are common. In winter, those dressing in kimono tend to wear darker colors and multiple layers (sometimes as many as ten). It is important that you dress for the season in certain layers, because you do not want to be too hot or cold. These days if you were to go to Japan, you would rarely see kimonos unless you happened to get there at the time of a festival. You are more likely to see modern western clothing on the Japanese while you are visiting. In fact, if you were to watch the women in London andTokyo, you would have difficulty finding any differences in fashion between them.