Customer Reviews

The Book of Kimono: The Complete Guide to Style and Wear

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is one of the most beautlfuly written on the subject of the Japanese national dress, the kimono. Of all of the books I have read on the kimono, I found this one to be the most consice and entertaining . Nario Yamanaka, a leading athourity on kimonos and who has also established the Sodo Kimono Academy in Japan , truly knows the kimono and exibits its true beauty in a most lovely manner. Included in the book is a brief history of the orgin of the kimono, the process of making the garment, different types of kimonos for different seasons, the tying of the obi sash, beautiful color photos and kimono etiquette. There is a also a detailed step - by - step section on how to wear the kimono. If one is a true aficinado of the kimono, This book should be included in your library.I highly recommend it !!

In this book you'll discover the history of kimono, and complete and detailed explanations of actual and colorful kimonos presented with good quality pictures. You'll also been presented to all accessoires which are needed to wear decently a kimono. In the end you will get some hints about behaviour you should have while wearing a kimono. I can recommend this book without restrictions to anyone willing to have "de la classe !" wearing a superb silk kimono.

The author really takes kimono seriously, and it shows. He founded an international group whose goal is to popularize everyday wearing of kimono. Detailed step by step instructions on how to wear the undergarmet, kimono, and obi or pleated skirt. Also, he includes pages and pages of beautiful full-color photographs. My only complaint is that he did not include more photos of formal kimono.

I adore this book, having spent the better part of a week trying to research kimono wearing techniques for a costumers convention. Anyone who's tried to tie an obi from an animated gif found on the web should give this one a try!

This is, simply put, the best English-language reference that exists for people who are interested in both the traditions and wearing of kimono. The book covers the history, aesthetic theory, and creation of kimono, as well as traditional accessories and the meanings behind each item. It is the natural counterpart to Liza Dalby's excellent book that takes an anthropological look at kimono culture.

This book also contains a wealth of pracitcal information, from obi knots and step-by-step instructions for donning a kimono, to kimono etiquette for certain accessories, and for sitting, walking and eating. There's also, (wonder of wonder!) a section on the proper care and folding of kimono and obi, which I find absolutely invaluable.

I'll try to stick with describing things that the other reviewers have not. From the start, let me say that I really like the book, despite some of the negative sounding things I am going to say. I just want people looking at the book to understand a little more of what is and what isn't in the book. For the most part, the instructions in the book are clear enough, though reading the instructions and actually following them is going to take some back and forth work and probably a great deal of practice until you really understand what the writer is talking about.

First off, this book has a little bit of everything in it in regards to kimono history and usage. It does not have how to make a kimono, though it does have the basic preparation steps, like how to put on the protective lining collar for the under robe. There is especially a great deal of vocabulary and explanation - what are the parts of the kimono called, images of and descriptions of different styles and pieces. In fact, this is the only book I have ever seen (in English) to properly show all of the little things used in tying an obi. It shows not only traditional means of dressing in the kimono, but also the more modern "cheater" or "training" wear that is easier to use but in many ways more confusing looking than the traditional forms.

Because of all that detailed information, there are several places that might be considered a little brief to a person trying to learn how to actually wear the kimono themselves. For instance, the book does show you how to tie an obi for men and women, and as a plus, how to properly tie hakama pants and the ties on the jackets. However, the book only shows you how to tie two female styles - a formal and a more informal one - when there are really several fairly common styles for women. On the upside, there is a third style added about how to make and wear a "cheater" obi (a real obi is anywhere from 10 to 14 feet long, the cheater obi has a pre-made bow that you hook in place). Since the book has a photo spread showing several different types of obi ties for women, it was somewhat disappointing for me to only find the two styles and the cheater obi. For someone who is looking to just start, this is a good reference, but don't expect to see instructions for the other obi styles.

This book does show how to do common (but really, difficult) activities properly in a kimono (bowing, opening doors, getting in a car), the differences in wearing a kimono for married and unmarried women, and how to care for and store kimono. It describes the cleaning process, but points out that it is very complex and the kimono material is easy to damage, so most people do spot cleaning and rely on specialized cleaners. This book shows pictures of hair pieces, but does not have any information on how to do the hair styles (which isn't the topic of the book, anyway, but someone asked me about it once when I mentioned this book).

All in all, this book will answer all of the basic, introductory, or background questions, but if you are really interested in figuring out the details, this book will still leave you with a few questions.

WOW! I was so happy to have found a book which explains a lot of the vocabulary and concepts involved in describing the Japanese cultural icon - kimono. A very good book about how to wear these garments, how and where they are made, and a little bit of history. Addresses mostly women, but also men and children. If you want to know about kimono - start here. If you want to know about Japanese culture, again, start here - the clothes reflect the culture. Enjoy the book, I do.

The DVD of Memoirs of a Geisha contains two fascinating chapters on the creation of kimono and Geisha Bootcamp, in which the actresses learned to wear kimono properly. But it left many unanswered questions: why do many geisha need the help of a professional dresser? Exactly how many layers does a geisha wear under her kimono? How many variations are there in how to finish tying an obi? This book answers all these questions and many more that, before reading it, I didn't know enough to ask. The author designed many helpful devices to allow a modern woman to don a kimono without assistance, including padding. He also wrote an entire chapter on the proper way to move, bow, open a door, sit on a western style chair and get into a car without wrinkling your kimono. The color photographs are splendid and the drawings as detailed as I could wish for. Having read this book in conjunction with Liz Dalby's Geisha, I found that the last chapter of her book about wearing kimono illuminated his.

A very nice and easy book to understand the basics of kimono wear,and traditions.Excellent reference book.However,there are very few colored pictures.It would have been nice to have had several old kimono,obis and Uchikake pictures to compare, and understand more.There are black and white pictures,but for a school of such stature,a few more pictures would have been appreciated and not very hard to get.

This book is great for anyone who is interested in not just kimono but also all sorts of japanese clothing. I collect kimono and haori, and it will teach you everything about how to take care of your kimono, how to wear it, to fold it properly and store it. It also gives historical info.

What is a geisha without her kimono?

For those interested in the history of Kimono or thinking of wearing them, this book is a must have. A good bit of history as well as a guide on the wearing of the Kimono.

Well written and very well illustrated.