Tea in Kimono's

Konichiwa!! (Hello)

A Kimono is a traditional Japanese garment. I recently had the opportunity to have a fitting for my very own Kimono and attend a tea ceremony.

Living in Japan, you'd think getting and wearing a kimono would be a easy thing and everyday find, but in reality there is a art to wrapping and dressing yourself in a kimono that women here study and practice. It involves multiple ties around the waist, tucking, pulling, cardboard pieces being inserted into the front inside and ropes to finish it off in the front outside! That being said, you rarely see American's in kimono's unless they have been wrapped by a fellow Japanese friend who has practiced this art! (For more info on wrapping of a kimono this is a good pictorial How to Dress in a Kimono)

Fun Fact: Kimono's are really made to fit Japanese who are much smaller on average then American's, therefore, when we try to wear them, they are tight!! There is much less material to pull up for the back, and front area of it. After about an hour, I was ready for some relief and to be able to breathe again!

I also attended a tea ceremony that was a very unique opportunity to participate in this tradition. You are served a sweet jelly like square, and green tea. First, you eat the sweet and then sip your tea three times after having turned your cup three times.

We are entering our last year in Japan and really taking every moment to soak up the Asian culture and our time we have left here.