Lesson 2: Komono (accessories)
Today I received my shipment of the most recent bunch of kitsuke (kimono dressing) accessories I ordered, and now have enough to merit a dedicated post.
The accessories below are numbered in approximately the order they’re worn, so the numbers jump around a bit.
(Click for a larger image.)
1. Tabi - white socks, which should be put on first, before the kimono.
2. Koshihimo - mine are white and pink muslin, you can see the two sets. Koshihimo also come in silk, but so far I’m quite happy with muslin, as it’s very sturdy and “grabs” silk well. These sashes are used to tie the juban (underkimono) and kimono, but aren’t visible when finished. They can also be used as temporary sashes when folding an obi musubi.
3. Erishin - collar stiffener, put in the han eri (nagajuban collar) to better keep its shape. Can also be put in the kimono collar.
4. Datejime - two are photographed. The checkered yellow and reddish-orange one is a thick, strong silk weave, whereas the bottom pink one is lightweight polyester with a stiffener in the middle. I got the polyester one as part of a set - normally I’d rather have silk datejime, as they’re stronger and breathe much better. The silk one here is of a style I’ve never seen elsewhere, but that I like very much. Its silk cords at the ends make it easy to tie. (Perhaps it’s an older style?)
5. Kohlin belts (two again). A recent addition to kimono dressing, these elastic contraptions hold the nagajuban and kimono collars at the proper angle. With some skill, koshihimo can replace them, but it takes practice to learn how and be comfortable with it.
6. Obi ita, also called mae ita. Obi stiffeners made of fabric-covered cardboard, they’re placed in the obi to help keep its shape. The longer one is for reinforcing the front of an obi when worn, whereas the shorter one is most often used to support the back obi musubi.
7. Obi makura - literally “obi pillow”, a firm “pillow” that supports obi knots. This size is typical of the one used for otaiko musubi, the most common type of knot.
8. Another obi makura, this one is for fancy obi musubi such as tateya and fukura suzume, but can also be used to tie an otaiko.
9. Minibelt - apparently this felt-covered strip of rubber (which is twice as long as it looks here) is used to temporarily hold the folds in obi musubi.
10. Sanjyuu obi himo - literally “three-ply obi cord.” This is a wonderful belt with a middle made up of three layers of elastic, which you can see on its left. Why is it wonderful? Because with this belt, tyeing complicated obi musubi is much easier! Many fancier bows have successive layers of folds, which this belt’s elastic layers can hold together.
I didn’t start out meaning to do kitsuke “lessons”, but am liking the idea now. Most Japanese-language books call them just that - “lessons”, using the English pronunciation, written in katakana - so it’s kind of a “play on a play on words”, me being a beginner who needs her own kitsuke lessons.
Next Lesson! (there I go playing around again) will be on just that: Japanese kitsuke books. They can be hard to find for those of us with little knowledge of the Japanese language, so I’ll recommend my favorites and where you can buy them.
January 16th, 2004 at 16:47:01
I have a komono my friend brought back to me after her trip to Japan and I am wanting to hang it on my wall in my office, but I’m not sure how to hang it properly and tie Obi. Could you give me some tips on this, I can find any info on it. Thank you Vicki
January 16th, 2004 at 20:01:26
Careful, “komono” looks a lot like “kimono” in English, but they’re two different words :) “Komono” literally means “small things” and refers to accessories like the ones described in this post. “Kimono” are the robe-like garments, which is what you mean, I think. You’ll want to take care hanging up kimono since the seams can pull due to its weight, and dust gathers on the top. Many kimono sellers market “kimono hangers”, which are basically telescoping poles.
June 8th, 2004 at 17:38:31
Could someone please e-mail me a reply to this question: do you need both Obi itas? The one for the front and the one for the back? I just bought a kimono and I now need a few of the accessories that were not inclued with my sale (i have the obi and obi jime and probably 2 koshi-himos)
June 9th, 2004 at 09:20:43
It’s a good idea to have both, that way you can tie more variations. However if you’re only going to tie otaiko musubi for a while, you can get away with just the longer front obi ita.
January 11th, 2005 at 18:48:32
Hey Anna, you have quite an assembly of accsessories to wear kimono with, most of which is avalable online - but for quite a price! Do you know anywhere cheap to buy them short of going to japan (can’t afford it =ToT=)? I have a few essentials but mostly I just improvise, which is alright to a certain extent but some things are more nessescary than others.
Thanks, from Flock
January 16th, 2005 at 15:27:49
I don’t know where you’re looking, but the sellers listed in my links offer pretty much the lowest prices for accessories that you can find, and they’re *in* Japan, so… no, I don’t know where you can find cheaper.
Keep in mind that hakata datejime are made of thick silk and last forever, so their price is really quite reasonable. The same goes for obi ita - they’re expensive, but when taken well care of, they’ll last you for years - decades even, if you don’t wear kimono that often.
March 8th, 2005 at 00:43:39
Hi Anna!
The other day, I was looking through my tourist library book about kimono, and I noticed that the young lady demonstrating how to wear kimono had an older style datejime with the cords on the end. I distinctly remember reading that you had never seen the likes of it before…so I just wanted to let you know.
I hope you are doing well!
Naomi~
March 9th, 2005 at 08:57:46
Yes, I noticed that too :) As I mention in my post, it seems to be an older style. I wish it would come back into fashion, they’re so easy to tie!
August 13th, 2005 at 15:41:47
i have a komono.my one special it is a happy.it is more like a robe than a komono.it is pink with gasha girls on it.
May 13th, 2006 at 02:01:53
Hello, I just got my frist Komono and my obi today (happy happy).. Where can i buy and find the rest of the stuff u have pictured? Thanks
August 23rd, 2006 at 02:20:48
Hi, I actually have a men’s kimono, but since there are almost no references for men’s kimono, and since my question probably is applicable to women’s kimono anyway, I’d figure I’d ask here.
I just got a kimono set from www.yamatoku.jp/classic/ and I had to purchase haori tie cords elsewhere. I now have the tie cords, but I have no idea how I’m supposed to attach them to the haori. Can you help?
May 20th, 2007 at 13:29:14
Hi, can you one please give me some information on the kimono? What i is it used for ? Is it just traditional dress or does it have some other signifcant purpose?