The art of Kimono, Geisha, Maiko, Kimono Rentals, Kyoto, Japan, Antique Kimono Kyoto,

A few years ago, my artist wife was so impressed by the beauty, textures, intricate patterns, silk fabrics and floral designs used in Japanese kimonos when we visited Japan on vacation.  She admired not only the classic styles, but also the explosion and endless varieties of colors of kimonos and became totally inspired.  When we arrived back in the USA, she decided that she wanted to use this inspiration in many of her oil paintings. "Kimono Dream" is one of her art works honoring the Japanese Kimono.

Painting: "Kimono Dream" 118 inches x 48 inches, Oil on Canvas

Our friend Baba Yuko and her son Takashi provided a memorable portion of our trip by allowing us to wear several beautiful kimonos and to capture wonderful photographs to treasure. We actually walked around Gion wearing the kimons.  Baba Yuko's antique kimono company has a variety of services with genuine antique pure silk kimonos as well as accessories you would need to properly wear a kimono outfit. 

Their kimono company is in a perfect location for getting around the large number of famous sightseeing attractions in Gion. Antique kimono company is just a few minutes walk from the Kiyomizumichi bus stop, the Rokuharamitsuji Temple, Kiyomizudera Temple, Hanamikoji and a host of other well-known sights, all easily accessed.

Antique Kimono Kyoto's website: http://atq-kimono.com/en/

The Kimono is a traditional Japanese garment.  It was basically derived from the local Chinese Hanfuin the Wú which refers to a region in China, around Lake Tai in Jiangnan China.   In ancient times, kimono originally meant simply “things to wear”.  It is now used almost exclusively to describe the traditional garments of Japan.

There are slightly different kimono styles for men and women, with variation in form, color and pattern. You can see this in the above photo.  Since women’s kimono tend towards brighter and more decorative designs, they have come to be seen as pieces of art, both in Japan and worldwide.  Kimonos were traditionally made of silk, and these precious items were often passed down to relatives for generations. These family heirlooms were then reserved mostly for very special formal and family occasions. These days it’s possible to find kimonos in a variety of other materials such as polyester, cotton, etc. which is less expensive and easier to care for. 

Wearing a kimono is a complicated process with many rules, which are important to understand and follow in order to keep it in place while wearing it! Surprisingly there are NO zippers or buttons so cotton sashes and ties are used to arrange the bountiful fabric into the standard kimono form. It took us a few extra pairs of hands and a couple hours before we were able to walk outside in this traditional Japanese style.

Today, kimonos are most often worn by women. Traditionally, unmarried women wore a style of kimono called "furisode", with almost floor-length sleeves, on special occasions. Now in Japan, only a small percentage of older women and even fewer men still wear the kimono on a daily basis.  Men wear the kimono most often at weddings or tea ceremonies, and very formal occasions. Professional sumo wrestlers are often seen in the kimono because they are required to wear traditional Japanese dress whenever appearing in public^.

Thank you for reading our blog on Kimonos and we hope you enjoyed the pictures we took as much as we do.  This part of our trip to Japan has given us priceless memories while wearing our kimono.