VOL.200 FEBRUARY 2025
HISTORIC JAPANESE PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE OF THE MODERN ERA [Discovering Japan Through the Eyes of Japanese Influencers] The Many Ways to Enjoy the Charms of Kimono

MOE is an influencer who promotes Japanese home cooking and the cultures associated with it to the world under the name Kimono Mom. In this month’s issue, we asked her to talk about the appeal of Japanese kimono.

The kimono is a symbol of Japan’s fashion culture. While it may be strongly associated with formal occasions, it can actually be enjoyed casually in everyday life, and for sightseeing in Japan, as well. I myself love to wear kimono as everyday clothing. I hope to share the charms of kimono with as many people as I can.

First of all, the greatest appeal of the kimono is the way it combines beauty with practicality. Just wearing a kimono encourages improved posture and more intentional, graceful movement. Just putting one on will help you carry yourself more elegantly. You will have the impression that time is flowing in a more refined manner, not only on special occasions, but in daily life, as well. Another charm of the kimono is its flexibility for enjoyment in any season. In fact, the patterns and materials of kimono vary greatly. For example, there are cherry blossom patterns of silk material for the spring, cool linen for the summer, autumn leaves patterns of silk material, and warm wool fabrics for the winter. Pick out a kimono in harmony with nature to enjoy a sense of the season.

Wearing a kimono at a sightseeing destination is an experience I really want to recommend to overseas visitors. Walking through the streets of historic districts such as Arashiyama in Kyoto or Asakusa in Tokyo dressed in a kimono will give you such a deeper feel for the traditional Japanese essence of those settings. It will also provide such great photo opportunities. A full range of rental kimono services are offered lately, making it easy to enjoy a kimono-wearing experience. In particular, having a professional fitting expert dress you properly in your kimono will help you feel comfortable the whole day through.

I also highly recommend kimono for everyday wear. From casual kimono designed for modern lifestyles to ones made with machine-washable fabrics, a variety of types are now available. Options such as tsukuri-obi¹ that simplify the sash-tying process make it easier for even beginners to enjoy wearing kimono whenever they want to wear. Kimono are also attracting notice as a form of sustainability fashion, due to a very long period of time across several generations can be worn. I myself wear kimono handed down to me from my mother and grandmother. I hope to pass mine on to my daughter in turn.

Looking at a kimono, you might think they are a bit difficult to approach, but once you wear one, I am sure you will start to notice how appealing they are. And again, for overseas visitors to Japan, I really want to recommend the experience of wearing a kimono while sightseeing. There are also great ways you can enjoy their patterns: displaying a favorite obi sash in your room, for example, or using kimono fabric for cushion covers. I truly hope that you can experience some of the depth and beauty of Japan’s fashion culture by engaging with kimono.

MOE（Kimono Mom）
An influencer who promotes Japanese home cooking to the world. After retiring from her work as a maiko and geiko in a Kyoto’s kagai, traditional entertainment district, she launched her YouTube channel “Kimono Mom” in February 2020. Her videos mix in English and include introducing Japanese home cooking while wearing a kimono.
* See “From Maiko to Influencer: The Charm of Kyoto’s Gokagai,” in the November 2024 issue of HIGHLIGHTING Japan.

• 1.A type of obi sash that does not need to be manually tied each time it is worn or taken off, as its knotted portion comes pre-tied and can be fastened with Velcro or other means.

By MOE
Photo: MOE; PIXTA