What Is The Bag On The Back Of A Kimono For?

Japanese Women - What Is The Bag On The Back Of A Kimono For?

Actually it is not a bag, but the knot of the sash. Back in the Momoyama Era(1582~1600), Toyotomi Hideyoshi actively promoted overseas trading which has attracted many missionaries to travel across the oceans to this far east island country. The Japanese at that time were interested in the robes worn by the missionaries which was tied by a rope-like belt, and they were later influenced by the broad sash of the traditional Korean costume, so that they created the obi with a bag-like knot which we see on a kimono today.

At first the knot on the obi is like the belts for men all over the world, which was tied on the front and small. However, the purpose of tying a knot was to attract attention, therefore the knot got bigger and bigger which soon became big enough to enable people to see their toes, and it looked like bearing a belly when walking.

Because people were embarrassed by this obi, so in the early Edo period, the Japanese women made a unprecedented fashion rebellion by moving the knot to the back and changed the accessories such as necklace and brooch which the western women find indispensible into rope belts or other decorations on the front or back of the obi.

Therefore never overlook that “bag” on the obi as it can tell many things. If by close inspection, people can find out whether you are from a good family or obscurity. What’s more, people usually can’t wear sparkling jewelry when wearing a kimono, not even a watch.

Tags: designer handbags, japanese, kimono