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Popular Culture Review
attract large and appreciative audiences. In addition to the resurgence of
interest in Japan, many non-Japanese, especially in the West, have
become interested in and wear kimono.
Both before and after World War II, most Americans were aware
of the kimono primarily as the inspiration for the front-wrap bathrobe,
the exotic attire of a “shady lady” or a beautiful and novel gift from a
friend or family member returning from deployment or travel in East
Asia. However, in some American, Australian and European subcultures
there is a growing interest in the kimono, both as attire and as a source of
inspiration for art, fashion and decoration. These developments are
evident in a number of contemporary subcultures including: collectors,
cosplayers and reenactors; street fashion (the latter two examples are
both closely related to anime, manga and the J Pop-Japanese popular
culture-phenomenon); high fashion and students of Japanese traditional
arts such as chado (the tea ceremony), martial arts and dance. In addition
to these groups many artists and designers have been strongly influenced
by the kimono or other forms of traditional Japanese attire.
Although these groups have widely diverse interests and foci,
there are certain common threads in American kimono culture. Many
modem kimono display a whimsical blend of traditional Japanese and
pop culture elements such as Walt Disney, Star Wars and Hello Kitty.
Kimono wearers do not seem to be determined by age, as kimono and
related items are worn by men and women of all ages. While many
kimono are worn by individuals involved in cos play activities, others
wear kimono as an expression of cultural or ethnic identity, such as
Japanese immigrants or the descendents of earlier Japanese immigrants.
The internet and the rise of social media has greatly facilitated many of
these developments and it is now possible to find groups like the East
Coast Kimono Club and Western Geisha on Facebook. In addition, many
people regularly publish blogs documenting their kimono experiences.
For many collectors, reactors and devotees of traditional arts,
some of knowledge of the history of the kimono is vital to their activities.
The literal meaning of the word, kimono, is “thing to wear.”'* The
inspiration for the earliest kimono probably came from China. Wrapfront garments with rectangular sleeves had been worn by the Chinese
since the Han Dynasty (200 B.C.E. - 200 C.E.). Since the period of the
Sui and Tang dynasties was a fertile period of cultural transmission
between China and the rest of East Asia, it is thought that the prototype
for the kimono was borrowed from China along with innovations in
writing, poetry and art.^ The wide sleeves and wrap-around design may