No68

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.68. Today, we are writing about `Hakama' pants. We have seen on the news that there are many men enjoy wearing skirt recently and there are `men's skirt corner' in the men's clothing store too in Europe. (Does anyone can tell us whether it is true or not?) Hakama is one of the unique and inevitable items of Japanese clothing. Basically there are three kinds of hakama: 1)Umanori bakama(hakama)--Horse back riding hakama(uma is horse and nori means to ride)/ These are divided type. 2)Andon bakama(hakama)--Andon is a tubular shaped light and these are skirt type hakama. 3)Other hakama --Nobakama, Karusanbakama and Tattsukebakama. They are not a formal type with no pleats or folding line. *Women also wear hakama mostly for Japanese traditional sports as Kendo or Kyudo(archery) and also some people wear a colorful kimono + hakama for graduation ceremonies. Hakama can be considered to be like a kind of pants and to wear a hakama, you will need a kimono first. We are sorry but a haori alone will not do with a hakama. So, the combination is: kimono + hakama or kimono + hakama + haori The divided type of hakama are said to be suitable for activities. Hakama has a hard panel at the back side which support the back and naturally it makes the wearer's back becomes straight. There is a celebration called `Shichi-go-san'(Seven-five-three gala day), and when a boy becomes 5 years old, they dressed the boy with hakama for the first time, so the celebration used to be called `hakamagi'(wearing a hakama) to celebrate that the boy became old enough to wear a hakama. At the engagement, the exchange of betrothal gifts are done and the betrothal money from a bride to a bridegroom is called `hakama ryo'(hakama cost), while the money from a bridegroom to a bride is called `obiji ryo'(obi fabric cost). **********************************************************************
It is difficult to figure out the matching size hakama. Hakama length is the point to find the correct size hakama--for waist size is considered to be free size. It may be hard to see but the both sides of hakama are open at the waist part and always the ties are attached to hakama and so no obi is worn over a hakama. To find the matching length for your size, this formula is useful: your height - 25cm(9.8") x 0.6 **We are so sorry to say but to find a taller size hakama(If you are taller than 170cm(67"), it is very difficult to find a matching size hakama among old and vintage items. On our website and regarding the hakama we list on ebay auctions, the length in the description is the length measured at the front-from right down of the belt part to the bottom, so the back panel part is not included. The hakama with narrow striped crisp silk are usually worn with a black formal kimono and hakama. The silver gray with black stripe is the most popular type. There are also solid color omeshi, woven silk, wool kimono but the colors are mostly subdued color as brown or gray just as men's kimono. There are more colorful hakama with patterns using metallic thread--they are used for stage as dancing or for playing music. Fortunately, we could find rather taller size new hakama and they are on sale now on our website:http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=1021 The tall size as for 181cm-71.3in height is available too. Hakama style makes men look very dignified and keeps regal posture. They are suitable for active occasions also, but the Best part of hakama style is, they do not show the length of your legs. Hakama makes men's legs look longer than actual length.
Today we have listed many silk bolts and some kimono. We are very happy if you could check them.http://www.ichiroya.com/item/search.php?md=1101 Thank you for reading to the end. It is November here already! Some of you might have quite cold weather already. Some of you might be enjoying a flowery season. We wish you well and have a great month! Ichiro & Yuka Wada Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA" http://www.ichiroya.com e-mail: info@ichiroya.com address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301 1841-1 Nishi 1 chome Wakamatsu cho Tondabayashi city Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446