Kimono and Hakama

"KIMONO" is the traditional costume of Japan. However, even if you visit Japan you hardly would see Japanese who is wearing KIMONO. Although many Japanease have pride in KIMONO, they do not put on usually from following reasons;

1) They are so expensive.
2) They are not active clothes.
3) It is difficult to wash them. (Most of them are silk)
4) There are traditional rules to wear. (Most of ppl cannot wear by themselves and need somebody's help to put on!)

However, many Japanese possess some kind of KIMONO and are wearing them in special occasion: wedding ceremony, coming-of-age ceremony, New Year, graduation ceremony, Japanease tea ceremony, summer festival etc. Today was a good chance for me to wear Kimono and Hakama to attend the graduation ceremony!

Taken by James Heneghan.

"Hakama" is a long pleated skirt worn over the kimono, and it is very populer with the students.This style had been populer In the Meiji era and in the Taishou era before. An interesting thing is its footwear. In most of cases, we wear a zori for Kimono. but only in Hakama case, we often wear Western Boots!!! Because of those era, our life had been dramatically westernized since opening country. The style is called "HAIKARA" There're some Japanese Manga called "Haikara san ga to-ru". The story about the woman wearing Hakama and always riding a bike!!! What do you think of Haikara women???