Kimono

Kimono: introduction

Japan has a very rich textile history, a major focus of interest and artistic expression being the kimono. Meaning …

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Kimono of the Edo period (1615-1868)

In the Edo period the kimono developed into a highly expressive means of personal display, an important indicator o…

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Kimono of the Meiji period (1868-1912)

The Meiji period was one of unprecedented transformation that was to affect all areas of life, including clothing. …

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Kimono of the interwar years

Although western-style clothes gained popularity among women during the interwar years, the kimono continued to be …

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Kimono today

Since the end of the Second World War western-style clothing has been the everyday wear of most Japanese. The older…

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Kimono: decoration, symbols & motifs

The patterns that adorn kimono are very significant, for it is through choice of colour and, most importantly, deco…

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Kimono: dyeing techniques

Most of the dyes used to colour Japanese textiles, and many of the techniques used to apply them, have a history th…

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Kimono: embroidery

Like other patterning methods, Japanese embroidery has a long history and reached its peak of technical sophisticat…

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Kimono: making kimono

By the beginning of the Edo period, the kimono ('the thing worn') was the principle garment of both sexes and all c…

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Kimono: weaving techniques

The simplest way of weaving fabric is to pass the weft (horizontal) thread over and under each successive warp (ver…

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V&A in Japan

The V&A's diverse collection of Japanese art and design is one of the largest in Britain

Haiku, which evolved out of earlier forms of poetry during the seventeenth century, is one of the best known of Japan's literary traditions in the West. The short poems aim to freeze a fleeting moment, as in a snapshot, and to evoke an emotional response in the reader.

Traditional Japanese pastimes: picnics

In sixteenth-century Japan a mid-day meal was added to the routine morning and evening meals, and the picnic set probably developed at this time.

Traditional Japanese pastimes: the tea ceremony

Japan is famous for the tea ceremony, a special occasion involving particular objects and rituals, which aims to create the illusion of separation from the everyday world. The host invites guests to a special room to share the enjoyment of tea and to appreciate prized tea utensils in a carefully cultivated atmosphere.