No. ymi_cloth4a03
Unit IV: The Japanese and Kimono
Activity 3 Activity ideas related to kimono
Date: Country: Author(copyright): Themes:
2003/1 Canada Yazawa Michiko 矢澤理子
Alberta Learning (Ministry of Learning, Alberta)
Clothing and Fashion
Overview:
Ideas for eight extension activities related to kimono.

n/a

(1) Interview Japanese people about when and how often they dress in kimono. Also ask them to list the pros and cons of wearing a kimono.

(2) Research project using the Internet #1. Go to the web site below and investigate how kimono are structured, their history, and the occasions on which they are worn.

http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/kimono/top.html

(3) Research project using the Internet #2. Study the differences between kimono for men, women, and children.

http://web.mit.edu/jpnet/kimono/index.html

(4) Research project using the Internet #3. Study the history of kimono and compare the style of each era with your own culture's costume of the same period.

http://www.rindo.com/105/kimono/data/history/history.html

(5) Hold a kimono design contest. The web site below provides tips on how to design kimono. You can hold a contest in class, at school, or even participate in the contest introduced on the website.

http://www.sensho.or.jp/

(6) Vote for your favorite kimono fabric pattern among those posted on the website below. Organize the poll outcome and the best three patterns on a poster and present it in class.

http://www.rindo.com/105/kimono/index.html

(7) Have the students compare traditional sports outfits like those for Kendo, Judo, Karate, and Kyudo (if there is a picture available, show the outfit for Ninja as well, though this is not a sport), to the kamishimo, the very formal style of men's kimono. Draw the students' attention to the length and width of sleeves, and to the hakama, a skirt-like outfit.

(8) If the class has some students with ethnic backgrounds that include the concept of a national costume, ask them to introduce their costumes to the class. Examples from other cultures will broaden the students' horizons in terms of cultural diversity.

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