Why Your Kimono is Messy #nambaaruki

You might want to try a kimono when you come to Japan.
However, wearing it and walking for 5 minutes, you might notice it getting messy.
There is a chance the kimono rental shop didn’t do a good job, but there is one more possibility.
You’re not doing the… Nanba walk!
Nowadays, because Western-style clothing has become more common in Japan, people walk in a Western way.
However, in ancient Japan, the "namba walk," in which the outgoing foot and the outgoing hand are the same, was the norm.
If you train in Budo, I’m sure you’d know, but when you punch with the right hand you have your right foot forward.
Because your right hand is on top of the handle, you generally swing it with your right foot forward.
Kimonos are designed to be walked with a namba walk, so if you walk twisting your body, it makes the kimono messy.
Please keep this in mind when you have a chance to wear a kimono.
#kimono #kimonolife #howtowear #jpaneseculture #jpaneseculture #cosplay #samuraiculture #martialarts #budo #kimonostyle

[Prismaticmind]

Worth mentioning modern Western footwear advances changed how historically Westerners walked (toe pads first) because of thinner leather-sole footwear caused more cautious steps.

[XiTheta]

Also, especially for ladies, a gait of little steps pulls on the kimono less than a stride. Source: have worn kimono, got told off for walking

[lastnamefirstname]

very interesting! thanks for teaching us this, shogo!

[henryhyde]

This is super helpful! I obtained my late brother's Kimono sometime last year, and I haven't had a chance to wear it, but I'm hoping to go to a New Year festival this year. I didn't even know this could be a problem, so thank you for the advice!

[feral_shade]

That's a great tip!! I'll have to keep this in mind!! ❤

[TheBabayga]

Japan is the *one* culture on Earth slightly *more* obsessive compulsive than I am!
ちくしょう！！

[Textile_Courtesan]

Interesting! I've never heard this before but it makes sense! I've been wearing kimono for almost two decades and never noticed this. I'm going to ask my friend who just got back from Japan because she just got her kimono dressing certificate.

[RdmMarvelFan]

That is very helpful! I own a kimono and wasn't sure if it was my body shape/weight that was causing it or what. I have been managing to wear mine by wearing my corset on the outside of it to give a nice firm close, but I will try changing my walk next time. (I found that an old fashioned corset helps my back with the extra support, but it needs some tlc so I am currently only wearing it under clothes, thus I sadly haven't been able to wear my kimono lately)

[stephenbendig]

Shoot, forget while wearing kimono, I will now and forever be thinking of this when I

[mokoronashi]

Whenever I watch shogo I gotta start taking notes like I’m back in high school again

[emmaleeaman]

Do the “kimono shuffle” with small steps also helps

[erizamisorafujoshi]

Absolutely saving this information when I use one 😊😊😊

[natie]

Does this also happen if you don’t move the upper body?

[Gaia_Seraphina]

But the western walk is the natural ( biological ) walk. I'd go crazy, if I had to go against it and literally watch my steps.😅

[Tea_laBlue]

As someone who wears kimono walking around conventions… kimono get messy? 😳

Granted, I wear mine with a crinoline skirt, so there’s more room for my legs to move

[LaDivinaLover]

Today I learned I walk different than everyone else 😂

[dianesheldon]

I cant bear march even when I try and would have a messy kimono.

[adorabell]

Also, everyday kimono would get messy. There are photos of people farming or doing tides and the kimono are a lot looser and more casual. There is one photo where a woman’s breast is almost falling out because she had just been wrangling a bunch of kids.

[jorqlip]

Does the namba walk have any relation to namba Osaka ?

[ninjamaster]

People don't walk the western way because of western clothing.
The way we walk is the human body's natural way of walking.
Sorry, but the 'Namba' walk is the unnatural way of walking.
You can easily prove this by walking around naked and see how your body natually walks.