Foreign Friday - Guest Post

Last week, Sheila N. shared her kimono dressing experience. This week features her husband, Doug. For more information about their recent trip to Japan, check last week's post.

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for your nice comments about last Friday's kimono wear! I am glad you enjoyed participating in this experience. Today we have photos of our friend Tamami who lives in Tokyo. Doug and I met her when she was a student here at Central Wyoming College.

One of Sheila's hosts, Tamami arranged the
kimono dressing adventure. She chose to wear
 a green kimono which belongs to her mother.
Note the pink clip at the nape which the teacher
used to measure and to temporarily secure items.

This bin contains the under kimono garments for Tamami.
 See last week's post for more detail.

Tamami's kimono and obi

Tamami's obi has an intricate carriage design.

Tamami fully dressed in her kimono and obi.

Now, it's Doug's turn to get dressed. He begins with the tabi and the
under garments. Note the tatami mats on the floor.

My husband-Doug was a good sport to also wear a kimono. I don't know what men are supposed to wear before the women dress them, but fortunately he had a white T-shirt and some white slacks, so that's what he wore, and they put only two layers on top of that. He held still for a much longer time than what it usually takes him to get dressed. First he put on socks like those described last week.

Doug's kimono under garments.

He wore a white undergarment with a black collar, and over that the dark brown kimono, then a narrow greyish belt, tied a certain way. I think this is also called an "obi."

Adjusting Doug's kimono and belt. 

Note how different Doug's obi is tied.

Doug's kimono had beads in the front, most likely for decoration.

The men's obi's are always narrower than the women's. Instead of a very thick, long, decorative obi, the men get to wear the beads-- pretty, aren't they? They have to be adjusted a certain way. The last item is the light brown "jacket." Then he put on his special ordered geta (extra large size, compared to most Japanese men's small feet). 

Doug N. and kimono dressing teacher.

Sheila and Doug N. from Wyoming and Tamami from Japan
are ready for the next adventure.  

Tamami said we all looked so nice that we should go for a walk outside. We didn't know where we were going, but about a block away was a nice little photographer's studio. It was fun to pose for pictures--haven't done that since high school graduation, ha ha. 

Since we don't know any Japanese, the photographer had to keep coming up to us and physically tilting our heads, straightening our feet, adjusting our collars, and moving our arms.

Doug and Sheila N.
Japan
April 2012

As we left, she went out to play with her dog, a Shiba Inu, a very common breed "made in Japan." I pointed to the dog and my camera, and she understood that I wanted her to pose for me this time. You can see how cute she and the dog are.

We exchanged gifts with the kimono teacher. People in Japan always exchange gifts whenever they are a guest in someone's house, or whenever someone does something for them. I think I gave her some postcards and a pin from Wyoming, and she gave us some fancy paper napkins that look like silk.

Thanks again for your comments and questions. Thank you, Nancy!

Sincerely,
Sheila N.   ~  Wyoming

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Sheila has promised to share more photos and experiences in future Foreign Fridays.