Woman in a Kimono

着物着る女

Posing in front of the orange gates at Sanjusangendo Temple, in Kyoto, a young woman models a kimono.

Though restricted mainly to formal occasions today, the most well-known form of Japanese dress is by no means dead or dying.

Other than foreign tourists, in Japan no one gawks at a woman in a kimono; it signifies a special occasion, to be sure, but one that is utterly ordinary.

Women wear them to weddings, funerals, their coming-of-age day ceremony when they turn 20. In summer, the lighter cotton yukata robe is also seeing a revival.

Young designers now incorporate non-traditional designs into yukata. Other designers have used kimono and yukata material to fashion western clothing.

The woman pictured above is participating in a coming-of-age day ceremony, which takes place in early January.

A team of paid hairdressers took two-three hours to dress her, do her makeup, and style her hair.

Guide to Kyoto

Japanese Art - byobu screens

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Japan Kyoto Sanjusangendo Kimono fashion Japanese fashion