A (alternately or ) is a traditional set of

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

ese

clothing Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natura ...

worn by men, women and children during summer. Consisting of a side-tying, tube-sleeved

kimono The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono ...

-style top and a pair of trousers, were originally menswear only, though in recent years, women's have become popular.

Description

typically come in a matching set of a top and trousers that are either short or long. Though the trousers resemble Western trousers, the top resembles a

, with a wrapped front and a long collar set on a diagonal angle. However, unlike kimono, typically do not have an overlapping front panel (known as the ), and feature two sets of ties – one inside and the other outside – to fasten the top shut. The top is roughly hip-length, and is wrapped left over right, with the internal ties fastened before the external ones. Traditional are made from

hemp Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a botanical class of '' Cannabis sativa'' cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use. It can be used to make a wide range of products. Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants ...

cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...

, and are typically dyed a solid colour – such as indigo, blue or green – with either a muted or nonexistent pattern. Modern frequently feature prints ranging from simple textures to complicated and colourful floral patterns. Ladies' tend to be more brightly coloured, and often feature prints of popular culture characters and motifs. seams are very loosely sewn to allow for ventilation during hot weather, and from a distance appear to form a short gap between different fabric pieces.

Use

are usually worn as a form of

nightwear Nightwear – also called sleepwear, or nightclothes – is clothing designed to be worn while sleeping. The style of nightwear worn may vary with the seasons, with warmer styles being worn in colder conditions and vice versa. Some style ...

or house clothes, and are considered very informal clothing. Normally, are typically only worn outside of the house when travelling short distances, such as to go on a local errand, collecting the mail or while shopping. The formal use of , or wearing it outside of the house for a long duration, is frowned upon. can also be used as a substitute for during the summer months, particularly at summer festivals. The

whale shark The whale shark (''Rhincodon typus'') is a slow-moving, filter feeder, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known Extant taxon, extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of .McClain CR, Balk MA, Benfield MC, Bran ...

is also known as the or in Japanese, due to its skin patterns resembling those seen on .

References

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* {{Clothing Jackets Japanese full-body garments Japanese words and phrases Nightwear Suits (clothing) Trousers and shorts

Description

Use

See also

References

External links