KIMONO AND YUKATA Kimono and Yukata are Japan traditional cloth. It had been worn by all Japanese for generation. Kimonos are made of silk and are usually very expensive. Nowadays they are worn at formal or traditional occasions such as funerals, weddings or tea ceremonies. Only rarely kimono can still be seen in everyday life. Kimono differ in style and color depending on the occasion on which it is worn and the age and marital status of the person wearing it. To put on a kimono needs some practice. Especially tying the belt (obi) alone is difficult so that many people require assistance. Wearing a kimono properly includes proper hair style, traditional shoes, socks, underwear, and a small handbag for women. The yukata, on the other hand, is more of informal leisure clothing. It can even be worn without underwear and is very comfortable on hot summer days or after a hot bath. Yukata are relatively inexpensive and made of cotton. While staying at a ryokan, you will be provided with a yukata. (Picture in appendix page 13) 1 | Page
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
KIMONO AND YUKATA
Kimono and Yukata are Japan traditional cloth. It had been worn by all Japanese for
generation.
Kimonos are made of silk and are usually very expensive. Nowadays they are worn at
formal or traditional occasions such as funerals, weddings or tea ceremonies. Only
rarely kimono can still be seen in everyday life.
Kimono differ in style and color depending on the occasion on which it is worn and the
age and marital status of the person wearing it. To put on a kimono needs some
practice. Especially tying the belt (obi) alone is difficult so that many people require
assistance. Wearing a kimono properly includes proper hair style, traditional shoes,
socks, underwear, and a small handbag for women.
The yukata, on the other hand, is more of informal leisure clothing. It can even be worn
without underwear and is very comfortable on hot summer days or after a hot bath.
Yukata are relatively inexpensive and made of cotton. While staying at a ryokan, you
will be provided with a yukata.
(Picture in appendix page 13)
RYOKAN
Ryokan are Japanese traditional style inns. They come in all sizes and are found across
Japan. A stay at a ryokan is highly recommended to all visitors to Japan, as it offers the
opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese atmosphere. Typical rates for ryokan
range between 8,000 and 30,000 yen per night, per person. There are some no-frills
establishments that offer rooms for less.
1 | P a g e
Guests stay in Japanese style rooms with tatami floor and a low table. Shoes are
usually removed at the ryokan's main entrance, where slippers will be kept ready. You
are supposed to remove even your slippers before stepping onto tatami mats.
Dinner and breakfast are included in the overnight stay, except at some no-frills
establishments. Some ryokan serve meals in the guest room, while others serve them in
separate dining areas. Both meals are in Japanese style and often feature regional and
seasonal specialties.
A yukata (Japanese robe) is provided to be worn during your stay at the ryokan. The
yukata can be used for walking around the ryokan and as pajamas. In many onsen
resorts, it is also okay to take a walk outside of the ryokan in your yukata. The yukata
provided at Western style hotels, unlike those provided at ryokan, are not supposed to
be worn outside of your room.
During your stay, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a Japanese style bath. Most
ryokan come with a gender separated, communal bath, but in many cases it is also
possible to use the bath on a private basis by reserving a time slot. In hot spring resorts,
the ryokan's bath water is directly supplied from the hot spring. Elsewhere on the site is
a guide on how to take a bath.
Ryokan guests sleep in the traditional Japanese style by using a futon, which is spread
out on the tatami floor. The ryokan staff will prepare the futon for you before bed time.
At inexpensive ryokan, you may have to do it by yourself. During the day, the futon is
Ponds, streams, hills, stones, trees, flowers, bridges and paths are used to create a
miniature reproduction of a natural scenery which is often a famous landscape in China
or Japan. The name Tsukiyama refers to the creation of artificial hills.
Tsukiyama gardens vary in size and in the way they are viewed. Smaller gardens are
usually enjoyed from a single viewpoint, such as the veranda of a temple, while many
larger gardens are best experienced by following a circular scrolling path.
(Picture in appendix page 14)
Karesansui Gardens
Karesansui gardens reproduce natural landscapes in a more abstract way by using
stones, gravel, sand and sometimes a few patches of moss for representing mountains,
islands, boats, seas and rivers. Karesansui gardens are strongly influenced by Zen
Buddhism and used for meditation.
(Picture in appendix page 14)
Chaniwa Gardens
4 | P a g e
Chaniwa gardens are built for the tea ceremony. They contain a tea house where the actual ceremony is held and are designed in aesthetic simplicity according to the concepts of sado (tea ceremony).
Chaniwa gardens typically feature stepping stones that lead towards the tea house,
stone lanterns and a stone basin (tsukubai), where guests purify themselves before
participating in the ceremony.
(Picture in appendix page 14)
CHERRY BLOSSOMS (SAKURA)
The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated
for many centuries and holds a very prominent position in Japanese culture.
There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom
for just a couple of days in spring. The Japanese celebrate that time of the year with
hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees.
JAPANESE PLUM
The Japanese plum or ume (sometimes referred to as a Japanese apricot) has played
an important role in Japanese culture for many centuries. It was originally introduced
from China.
The plum is associated with the start of spring, because plum blossoms are some of the
first blossoms to open during the year. In the Tokyo area, they typically flower in
February and March. The event is celebrated with plum festivals (ume matsuri) in public
parks, shrines and temples across the country.
Like cherry trees, plum trees come in many varieties, many of which were cultivated by
humans over the centuries. Most plum blossoms have five petals and range in color
5 | P a g e
from white to dark pink. Some varieties with more than five petals (yae-ume) and
weeping branches (shidare-ume) have also been cultivated. Unlike cherry blossoms,
plum blossoms have a strong fragrance.
(Picture in appendix page 15)
TRADITIONAL MUSIC
Gagaku :
Ancient court music from China and Korea. It is the oldest type of Japanese,
traditional music.
Biwagaku :
Music played with the instrument Biwa, a kind of guitar with four strings.
Nogaku :
Music played during No performances. It basically consists of a chorus, the
Hayashi flute, the Tsuzumi drum, and other instruments.
Sokyoku :
Music played with the instrument Koto. Later also accompanied by Shamisen
and Shakuhachi. The Koto is a zither with 13 strings.
Shakuhachi :
Music played with the instrument Shakuhachi, a about 55 cm long flute. The
name of the flute is its lenght expressed in the old Japanese length units.
Shamisenongaku :
Music played with the instrument Shamisen, a kind of guitar with only three
strings. Kabuki and Bunraku performances are accompanied by the shamisen.