Layers in Silk

Each country has its own traditional gown that marks it apart from other countries and Japan, no less, has its own traditional gown. Often people refer to the kimono as Japanese traditional dress, which is true, but Japan has a variety of kimonos and traditional gowns depending on event, gender, age, status, and season. Kimono is well known to foreigners because many Japanese wear it for important events such as wedding and New Year. Long ago, however, in the Heian era, for major events high status court-ladies wore a type of kimono that does not resemble the image of a kimono when we immediately hear that word. They wear the Jūnihitoe, literally translated as “twelve-layer robe.” According to my friend who major in Japanese history, this robe is worn by aristocrat ladies and sometimes it can more than 12 layers depending on occasions. It could weigh up to 30pounds.

While the woman wears the Jūnihitoe, the man wears the Sokutai. It is not elaborated as the woman’s gown but both aren’t commonly worn anymore. Nowadays, Japanese commonly wear well known kimono, hakama, and yukata.

The kimono is often worn for New Year, weddings, and hanami. The designs and fabric can be very simple for hanami or extremely elaborate for wedding. The hakama, on the other hand, is worn over the kimono and is similar to trousers with divided legs. It is often worn by priests and priestess at shrines and temples, but it is also commonly used in traditional sports such as aikido and kendo, and for graduation ceremony.

Yukata is similar to a kimono but instead it is best suited for summer. Due to the hot climate in Japan during the summer, many Japanese wear a yukata because it is thinner. On Saturday, Kansai Gaidai hold a yukata fitting event for international students. I learned that whichever traditional dress you wear, the process of putting it on is complicated.

A National Sport?

If I ask a person what is the national sport of Japan, some will say Baseball while others think of Sumo. So which one is it really?


Traditionally, Sumo has been Japan’s national sport since 17th century (Nihon Sumo Kyokai Pamphlet)—with attentive viewers and fans all over the nation—but with the recent introduction of baseball, Sumo’s fame begins to fade. I go around and ask Japanese and international students about national sport of Japan, the common answer are baseball because it is the most popular sport. Only one student mentions Sumo, “It represents Japan and exists only in Japan.”


Over spring break I had a chance to witness this interesting sport. My roommate and I managed to get some tickets to see Sumo on the 13th day and it was truly a splendid sport. Aside from being a sport, Sumo is infused with deep rituals and customs before and after each match that carries a strong tie to Shinto. According to the pamphlet I received from the ticket attendant, there are six Grand Tournaments each year and each tournament lasts for 15 days. Each day during the tournament right before the maku-uchi matches (matches for rikishi, Sumo wrestlers in the five top ranks) start, “the colorful dohyo-iri or ‘entering the ring’ ceremony takes place.” The rikishi would gather around the ring, dohyo, with their elaborately embroidered “kesho-mawashi or ceremonial aprons” that seem to cost a lot, which do cost a lot ranging from 400,000-500,000 yen… (pamphlet)


The goal of the game is quite simple. The rikishi must force his opponent out of the circular ring or have any parts except the feet touch the ground in order to win the match. There are times where it seems to be a draw, the judges in black kimono and the referee will decide the winner or do a rematch.

Even though Sumo may no longer be as famous as baseball but it still is a powerful sport with art.