Japanese Clothing

In modern Japan clothing is typically divided into western clothing (洋服 yōfuku), and Japanese clothing (和服 wafuku). While the various traditional ethnic garments of Japan are still in use, they are mainly worn for ceremonies and special occasions like weddings, funerals, coming-of-age ceremonies (seijin shiki), and festivals. Western clothing is worn more often in day to day life. Both men and women favor "western-style" clothing in their daily lives due to the comparative convenience as well as the influx of global fashion. While the westernization of fashions has continued at a rapid pace the kimono is dying, but it will remain part of the Japanese way of life for a good many years to come. Both girls and boys can wear kimono.

The Japanese clothing consisted entirely of a great variety of kimono. The first of which appeared in the Jomon period, with no distinction between male and female. After Japan opened up for trading with the outside world, other options started to come in. Officers and men of some units of the shogunal army and navy were among the first to adopt western clothing, fashioned after the style of those worn by English marines stationed at Yokohama. The style only grew from there, moving out from just the military to other forms of life as well. students of public colleges and universities were ordered to wear western-style uniforms and businessmen, teachers, doctors, bankers, and other leaders of the new society wore suits to work and at large social functions. Although western-style dress was becoming more popular for the work place, schools, and streets it was still not worn by everybody. Since WWII most areas of Japanese life have been taken over by western clothing.