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Quick Facts
• "Kimono" means, literally, "thing to wear" in Japanese. It is a relatively new term. Only in the past two centuries has the word "kimono" come to mean the item we usually think of. (Reconstructing History)
• The plural of kimono is kimono. (Japanese Kimono)
• The kimono is not gender specific—a man or a woman can wear a kimono. The only differences between a man's kimono and a woman's kimono are the sleeves and coloration. A male's kimono has short, sewn shut sleeves, while a woman's kimono has open sleeves which may be either long or short. Young women's kimono are bright and colorful, while older women's and men's kimono are usually darker colors. (Fact Sheet)
• When a man reaches sixty years of age, he participates in a ceremony where he wears a red kimono. This kimono means he is no longer an adult but an old man, and no longer has the responsibility of youth. (eSSORTMENT)
• "Resist-dyeing" is the form of dyeing used to create the beautiful artwork usually seen on kimono. A special paint is used to decorate the cloth, and then the kimono is re-dyed. The special paint resists the dye, and when the paint is removed, the pretty design is left behind. (Black Moon Kimono)
• The sleeve length of a kimono can indicate a woman's marital status. Married and older women usually wear short-sleeved kimono. Unmarried, young women wear long-sleeved kimono, called "furisode." (Fact Sheet)
• A wedding kimono is called an "uchikake." The uchikake has silver and gold threads, and usually is made of pure white silk, although it can and will have beautiful floral designs. Uchikake are very expensive, and most couples opt to rent one as opposed to purchasing a new one if a family uchikake is not available. (Japanese Kimono)
• A "yukata" is a summer kimono, similar to a bathrobe. If one stays in a Japanese hotel, it is likely the "bathrobe" is really a yukata. (Japanese Kimono)
• The thick obi belt is tied above the hips, and is usually very ornate.
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