Kimono’s Journey From Daily Wear to a Vanishing Cultural Symbol
From Everyday Attire to Cultural Symbol Why Kimono Faded from Japanese Life
In this article, I explore the significance of the kimono in shaping Japanese culture and the impact its decline has had on modern Japan.
Unfortunately, today, the opportunity to wear a kimono is almost nonexistent for most Japanese people. A considerable number of young Japanese have never worn a kimono in their entire lives. However, the influence that the kimono has had on the Japanese spirit is immeasurable.
First and foremost, the kimono is not merely a piece of clothing. If asked, “What is a kimono?” I would answer, “It is everything about Japan.”
Within the kimono, one finds not only the basic aspects of clothing, such as physiology and hygiene, but also an integration of Japanese art, literature, philosophy, and religion—all woven into a single garment. In other words, the kimono embodied the totality of Japan itself.
Thus, wearing a kimono meant not only embracing Japanese culture but also inheriting the entire history of the Japanese people. I believe that it carried a profound significance in this regard.
The kimono was a flexible cultural medium that could be freely adapted to individual preferences. For example, kimono patterns and the linings of haori (kimono jackets) often featured seasonal motifs, depictions of deities, poetry, haiku, reflecting the wearer’s beliefs and aesthetic sensibilities.
In other words, the Japanese did not wear kimono merely for convenience or functionality. This distinction is a key to understanding its cultural depth.
Among all the elements of the kimono, the obi (sash) was of particular importance. Tying the obi around the waist created mental discipline and physical posture, helping to maintain a composed and upright demeanor. Additionally, the obi played a crucial role in health maintenance.
For instance, it helped correct pelvic alignment and maintain spinal posture, which was one of the reasons why Japanese people were able to sit in seiza (formal kneeling position) and practice zazen (Zen meditation) for long periods.
Furthermore, the obi helped regulate body temperature by keeping the abdomen and back warm, preventing internal organ prolapse. This accumulation of sophisticated techniques in everyday life reveals that the kimono was, in a sense, a 24-hour wearable health device.
These are just a few examples, but they demonstrate that my statement—“The kimono was everything to Japan”—is not an exaggeration.
However, since the beginning of the Meiji era (1868), strong Western influence led to the decline of the kimono. Today, it has reached the point where hardly anyone wears it. As mentioned earlier, the kimono embodies the essence of Japan, and its disappearance signifies a growing disconnect between Japanese people and their own cultural heritage.
In fact, kimono production peaked in 1980 at 31,288 units, but by 2022, it had plummeted to just 565 units—a staggering decline to only 1.8% of its peak level within 42 years. At the same time, the number of kimono artisans has dwindled to less than 5% of its peak, with many businesses shutting down, threatening the survival of the craft.
However, when watching Japanese films from the pre-war and early post-war periods, one can still see many people wearing kimono. This was especially true for women. While men typically wore suits for work, they would often change into kimono at home, maintaining a connection to traditional dress in their daily lives.
Another revealing statistic is the annual household expenditure on kimono. In 1975, it peaked at around 18,000 yen, but by 2020, it had plummeted to just 1,083 yen. This is not merely a decline—it is more accurate to say that kimono has been lost from everyday life.
Moreover, the decline in kimono consumption has shown a clear gender disparity.
34 years ago, in 1991, Japanese women were still spending an average of 13,000 yen annually on kimono—the highest recorded figure. However, after 1991, the situation drastically changed. One of the key reasons behind this shift was the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble that year. Following this event, women’s spending on kimono sharply declined, falling below 2,000 yen by 2012.
As for men, spending on kimono had already remained low at around 1,000 yen since 1985, and since the 2000s, it has been close to zero.
The disappearance of the kimono from daily life feels synonymous with the loss of Japanese spirit, culture, and history.
Today, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, the rich cultural significance of kimono survives only in the realm of luxury goods, sold at prices far beyond the reach of ordinary people. Meanwhile, mass-produced kimono made of synthetic fabrics dominate the market, making custom-tailored kimono based on individual needs nearly impossible.
Looking back, it seems that the turning point in Japan’s cultural decline was the moment when Japanese people abandoned the kimono and fully embraced Western attire.
Perhaps now is the time for a new era of re-evaluating the kimono, and with it, a reconsideration of what it means to preserve and carry forward Japanese culture.