How the Kimono represented Japanese tradition and national identity Outline

How the Kimono represented Japanese tradition and national identity and How it has changed overtime - Outline Example As a result, wearing traditional garments such as the Kimono are largely restricted to certain festive or special occasions. Chambers (2007, p. 64) says that Japanese national identity can be established through two primary dimensions: Cultural identities and the distinction between traditional and modern practices. Although worn by men, women and children, the Kimono has always been the marked attire worn by Geishas (traditional dancers) and is also worn by women during their coming-of-age ceremony (held around the age of 20). The goal of characterizing the Kimono as feminine attire can be traced to the cultural renaissance initiated during the Tokugawa era (17th-mid 19th centuries). This persisted among the Japanese elite up until the Meiji period (during the turn of the 20th century) (Mathers, 2005, p. 42). As a result, the role of women in contemporary Japanese society is not dependent on individual choice, but has been built on broad national consensus. Women are looked upon to uphold the family and tradition (as a good mother and wife), unlike men who are supposed to be the decision makers and engage with the external world. Thus, while men prefer western outfits, women are encouraged to adorn the Kimono since its wrapping around the female is a direct representation of national identity. In other words, the wearing the Kimono is widely seen as the differentiating element between Japanese tradition and western cultures. â€Å"In our culture today, a clothes is a part of identity. It is a fashion statement of who we are. This is because we want to be seen in certain ways. Wearing clothes is a practice of showing our subjectivity.† (McRobbie, 1994, p. 128) Nevertheless, the use of Kimono has waned over the decades primarily due to western influences and the high level of maintenance required to clean and preserve the garment. Efforts are often underway to revive the tradition and increase the use of the Kimono