9 Reasons to Wear a Kimono in Japan

Contrary to the many outdated textbooks we see in public schools, the Japanese do NOT wear kimonos all the time. Yukata (a very simplified version of the kimonon) are worn often but not the full kimono.

1. Babies are often dressed in kimono when they pay their first visit to a shrine.

2. Children are dressed in kimonos for shich-go-san festivals.

3. Coming-of-age day – the year the girls turn 20, you will see the young ladies, now women, all decked out…but not all of them.

4. People in traditional arts – dancers, workers at restaurants will wear kimonos.

5. Graduations – college or university

6. Weddings – many attendees will wear them.

7. Festivals – just for the fun of it.

8. Older women – like to wear them

9. Funerals – they are black and special for this event

Kimonos are expensive, think thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.

Why would they be worn daily?