Talk:Kimono

Engvar
Prompted by the last edit, I've been bold and changed the minimal American usage to British usage. Not only is there a clear bias from "colour", but there's also a single instance of "trousers" not "pants".

We shouldn't mix Engvar within an article, so this is not unreasonable. Chaheel Riens (talk) 18:51, 14 November 2020 (UTC)

Reorganisation of this article
I've had some ideas about how we could reorganise this article - it's overgrown significantly beyond its original layout and it needs a bit of pruning. Namely, pruning into a number of potential new splitoff articles that could help shape up not only this article, but also a number of others floating around that are either similar or related to traditional Japanese clothing. It's almost midnight, so I'm going to try and keep this short.

Section 1, History, could easily be transposed into a new article entitled History of Japanese clothing. This would cover some of the information also found in the History section of Japanese clothing, as well, and would also allow us to cover clothing that isn't necessarily a kimono - like folk clothing, the clothing of the Ainu people, clothing worn during the war, etc. Section 2.2, History under Textiles and decoration, could also potentially be clumped under this new article, as well as 3.2, Evolution of kimono construction, and a bit of 7.1, Layering.

Section 2.1, Terms under Textiles and decoration, could possibly be put into a new list class article. I'm still not sure what kind of title I'd use, or what its scope could potentially be - working ideas include List of traditional Japanese fabric production methods, list of terms relating to kimono, etc. Possibly with a sister article entitled List of traditional Japanese fabric decoration techniques. To be honest, all three could probably stand alone as list class articles. There are a hell of a lot of stub class traditional Japanese fabric, textile and culture articles just floating around Wikipedia - I try and nab them on my watchlist whenever I see them, but I have a feeling a lot of them could be smushed into a few well organised, well referenced lists that would simply do away with all the fuss. It'd consolidate them nicely and ensure that people could go from this article to the relevant lists to find out more.

Section 5, Types of kimono, is fine, but I think it needs reorganising and ranking in formality. These could be subheadings; informal kimono, semi formal kimono, formal kimono, kimono worn for ceremonial events and religious occasions, etc. A subheading asunder from these distinctions of formality would need to be included - this would be to cover things like kimono worn by geisha and maiko, kimono worn for stage performances such as noh and kabuki, as all of these have differences in construction and appearance considerably set apart from the everyday kimono canon. These could easily be sourced well, too.

Section 6.1, Religious garments, under Related garments, could also be transposed into a list - I'm thinking List of religious garments specific to Japan, or words to that effect. I don't know a lot about this area. A specialist in Shinto and Buddhism in Japan would probably have to give these the once over; though I can easily port things into a new article, I don't have the resources, time or the know how to fact check the resulting article well. Section 6.2, Ceremonial and professional garments, could be split between the aforementioned religious garments list and section 5; section 6.3, Bridalwear, could easily be shoved under Types of kimono as well, and probably needs to be. Bridalwear might have to be its own subheading under something else.

Section 7, Accessories, is a little long. It's not too long, but it does appear overgrown. I think a lot of it could be written into some existing paragraphs, with some items sent away to take up space in the List of religious garments article, and others handed out to larger kimono related articles that stand solid in their own right, such as obi and hakama. There isn't, I have to stress, enough material in this section to warrant a List of kimono accessories article; I don't think it would genuinely have enough to stand on, as it's unnecessary, when larger articles hungry for a tiny puzzle piece of that shape and size could be well suited destinations instead, and there just. There just aren't enough accessories, y'know? There really aren't. Kimono can seem mystical but past a certain point, it's scarves of varying lengths and sizes, ties of varying lengths and sizes, belts of varying lengths and sizes, socks and shoes of a similar construction and hair accessories that orbit the same five basic styles.

Section 7.1, Layering, can be written into History of Japanese clothing, being a markedly older form of wearing one's kimono and therefore well suited to it. However, there is one section I haven't mentioned, that could possibly go under a revised and neatened History section, that should be there. This section is kitsuke.

Kitsuke (着付け), literally meaning "dressing", describes very specifically the process of wearing kimono, the way in which one wears one's kimono, and widely refers to the style of wearing one's kimono. You cannot have a discussion of any meaningful benefit about the evolution of kimono without discussing kitsuke - it needs to be included in this article, and it's not. I'll admit it's a difficult concept to know where to place; I don't know if I can really give it its own section proper, but I don't know if it really fits under History, either. It does need including, though.

I hope this is of interest or at least doesn't seem like rubbish - I'd welcome any feedback. I think I've managed to put my finger on it here. Many thanks to everyone who continues to edit and contribute to this article - it's well appreciated not to have to do this on my own. --Ineffablebookkeeper (talk) 23:59, 14 November 2020 (UTC)

Needs to say something about the slits between bottom of sleeves and belt
Authentic kimono styles have slits between bottom of sleeves and belt. Needs to say something about them.


 * - that's the miyatsukuchi, which is currently mentioned under the Construction heading. However, that diagram isn't the clearest, and I would like to submit a new one for the article at a later date that makes this construction feature more obvious. -- Ineffablebookkeeper (talk) 09:45, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 09:55, 8 May 2023 (UTC)
 * Yokohama Silk Museum 046.JPG

Plural of "kimono"
What's the plural form of the word kimono? I've seen "kimono" and "kimonos", and am wondering whether the latter shouldn't be written as "kimonoes". Nakonana (talk) 07:45, 11 June 2024 (UTC)