1. Kimono
By Tina

2. About
Kimono
“Kimono” is one of the traditional clothes of Japan. About 200 years ago, all Japanese wore kimonos as their everyday-clothing. Now young women like to wear kimonos in some special holidays, at wedding, for performances, etc. Still, there are some people who spend their daily life in the kimono for fun. Even children like to wear kimonos, too.
Kyoto, which is at the South West of Japan, is a place where you can get to see many traditional and beautiful kimonos. In Kyoto, there are special girls called “mayiko” and “geyiko” (or “geyigi”). All “mayiko” must be trained for a few years to become “geyiko”. They both learn and perform Japanese traditional arts such as classical music and dance. Kimono is their daily clothing. As the time gets by or as their levels of the skills increase, their kimonos will change little by little.

3. Red and White are the two traditional colours of Japan.

5. The Two Main “Hair Decorations”
Kanzashi– “Kanzashi” is the Japanese word for “ornamental hairpin”. Kanzashi is like a small metal (or wooden) stick that one end is pointy, and the other end has the beautiful decorations. Many women like to put kanzashi in their hair while they wear kimonos.
Kushi— “Kushi” is the same thing as “comb”. People use kushi for combing their hair, but some beautiful ones can be used as hair decorations, too. Women can also put kushi in their hair while they are wearing kimonos.

7. How Kimonos are from Other Clothes
Different
How Kimonos are from Other Clothes
Making kimonos are mostly like cutting some lines on a rectangular cloth, and sew it into a clothing called kimono. Except for the line of the opening around the neck, other lines on kimonos are mostly straight. In some places, after people dyed the colors onto the kimono, they will steam the kimono to make the colors look more natural and beautiful.

8. Different Colors on Kimono
The colors and designs are very important to kimono. These are the main colors and designs of kimono.
1.This color came from Bengal, India.
2.This color is from the color of a precious
bird in Japan.
3.This color was made in the time of Edo (About 400years ago). It was also Edo’s most popular color.
4.This dark blue had the meaning of “victory”.
5. This color came from China in the time of Nara (About 1300 years ago). Its main material is copper.
6.People imagined the color of spring onion, and made these two colors.
7.This color is from the color of persimmon (a fruit).
8.People imagined the color of gold.
9.People imagined the color of silver.
10.This color is from the roasted pottery.
11. This color is from the color of powdered tea (one of Japanese valuable and traditional tea).
Many colors came from plants and birds’ feathers, which are all from the nature.

10. Kimono and Cherry Blossom
Cherry blossom is the most popular flower in Japan. In spring, Japanese has a habit of viewing cherry blossom. Long ago, there were even kimonos that are for women to wear while they are viewing cherry blossom. Those kimonos were very beautiful and valuable. One kimono’s value can be about the same as a car that we buy!

11. How to Wear Kimono (Yukata)
In these days, Japanese like to wear yukata in summer. Even though yukata is not the everyday-clothing, many people still enjoy wearing it on specials days. Yukata is like a simpler version of kimono. It is not as vaulable as kimono, but it’s also one of the traditional clothes in Japan.
Wearing yukata is much more easier than wearing kimono. Even adults need at least two assistants while they wear kimono.
Now I will show you how to wear yukata:
Put on the yukata. (People usually wear thin T-shirts inside the yukata.)
Let the string in my right side to go through a hole underneath the sleeve in my left side. Then tie the strings in the back (or front if the strings are too long).
Wrap the “obi” (the belt) around your waist, and tie the strings in the back. Put the strings into the obi so people won’t see them.
Put the metal part of the ribbon into the obi and tie the strings. Put the strings into the obi. (You can first put your ribbon in the front/ tie the strings in the front and then turn them to your back later if you think it’s easier.)

12. How Much Did You Remember
When people get married, what is the main colour of women’s kimono? The men’s?

13. How Much Did You Remember?
Women’s: White
Men’s: Black

14. How Much Did You Remember?
In which city you can see many traditional and beautiful kimono?

15. How Much Did You Remember?
Kyoto- it is a place where you can get to see many Japanese traditional cultures.

16. How Much Did You Remember?
What do people do to make kimono’s colours look more natural and beautiful?

17. How Much Did You Remember?
People steam the kimono after they dyed the colours.

18. of the Japanese festivals that have relations with
Now I will tell you some
of the Japanese festivals
that have relations with
Kimono.

19. The Girls’ Day

20. What is Girls’ Day:
March 3rd is the Girls’ Day in Japan. During this day, especially for those family that have daughters will decorate their house with special dolls. People also eat special kinds of treat on this day.

21. These are that special dolls for the Girls’ Day
Some are in a huge position, but at home, you probably just need the two main ones.

22. Seven Five Three
七 五 三

23. Simple description about Seven Five Three:
This festival is for girls that are the age of three and seven, and for boys that are the age of five. Perhaps a girl is going to have her third birthday on 2012, her parents (grandparents) could buy her a kimono and decorations. Then, probably on her birthday or during that year’s New Years Day or when people will get to see cherry blossom, that family could go out and take a picture, go out for lunch/dinner, have a walk in the park, visit some places with traditional Japanese buildings, etc.

24. These are the some decorations for girls
These are the some decorations for girls. And this is me when I was three.