Analysis of the thought process for choosing a suitable kimono for a customer by an expert

Abstract

Currently in Japan the opportunities for wearing a kimono have decreased, e.g., for graduation, weddings and other special days.. One of the major causes for this is that there are strict kimono rules. Among the established rules for a kimono we need, first of all, to choose one that is appropriate for the occasion.. Additionally, such things as the “season,” “texture of the material” and “color” must also be considered. Still further, it is necessary to pair a kimono with a suitable obi (sash). At present, when kimonos are no longer worn on a daily basis, it is difficult to determine what constitutes a “suitable kimono.” Together with complex rules, it is difficult to choose a kimono and obi. In this research, we first surveyed the thinking of consumers about kimonos in order to clarify why they no longer wear kimonos. A further objective was to have experts in “kimono wearing” clarify their thought process when selecting a suitable kimono.