How to Tie an Obi: The Basic Taiko Musubi Knot, Step by Step
At a rental shop, someone else ties your obi for you, so you don't strictly need to know how it's done. But a lot of guests get curious once they see the finished knot in the mirror — it looks complicated, and it is, a little. Here's what's actually happening behind that neat drum shape […]
What Is a Hanhaba Obi? Pairing It with Yukata and Kimono, Types, Length, and Knots
The hanhaba obi is a slim, casual obi worn with yukata and everyday kimono. It's easier to manage than a Nagoya obi or a fukuro obi, and it opens the door to a whole range of playful tying styles — bunko, kai-no-kuchi, ya-no-ji, ribbon-return, and more. If you're choosing one for the first time, it's […]
What Is a Heko Obi? A Soft, Casual Obi That Works for Adults Too
A heko obi is a soft, casual obi that wraps around the body and ties into shape rather than being folded into a structured drum knot. Some people picture it as an obi for children or men, but plenty of heko obi made for adult women are on the market now too, with crinkled texture, […]
What Is a Fukuro Nagoya Obi (Hassun Nagoya Obi)? How It Differs from a Kyuusun Obi
A fukuro Nagoya obi — more commonly called a hassun Nagoya obi — is a Nagoya obi tailored without an interlining. Its pre-tailoring width is about eight sun, so the tailor simply works with the woven fabric's own width and whip-stitches the raw edges of the taiko section. Despite having "fukuro" (bag/pouch) in the name, […]
What Is a Nagoya Obi? Kyuusun vs. Hassun, Tailoring Styles, and What to Pair It With
The Nagoya obi is shorter than a fukuro obi and easy to tie in a single-fold taiko knot. It runs the range from everyday komon and tsumugi kimono up to somewhat dressier iromuji or tsukesage, depending on the obi's material and pattern. It's not accurate to say "any Nagoya obi works with anything," though. When […]
Types of Kimono Obi: Fukuro, Nagoya, Hanhaba, and Maru Obi Explained
Kimono obi come in several distinct types, and the ones you'll run into most often are fukuro obi, Nagoya obi, hanhaba obi, and maru obi. The single most useful thing to remember as a beginner: fukuro obi for weddings and formal ceremonies, Nagoya obi for everyday and casual outings, and hanhaba obi for yukata or […]
Choosing Earrings That Actually Suit a Yukata
People put real thought into their yukata's pattern and obi, but earrings tend to be an afterthought — even though the classic yukata hairstyle is an updo, which puts your ears and the line of your neck right on display. A little care in choosing your earrings makes a real difference to how the whole […]
Can You Wear an Obidome With a Yukata? Yes, Here's How
Short answer first: yes, it's perfectly fine to wear an "obidome" — a decorative clasp threaded onto the obijime cord — with a yukata. It's easy to assume obidome are strictly formal kimono accessories, but they fit right into the more casual world of yukata too. Here's how to think about when they work, and […]
Everything That Goes Into a Proper Furisode Dressing
A furisode — the long-sleeved, elaborately patterned kimono worn by young unmarried women at Coming-of-Age Day ceremonies and other formal events — isn't worn on its own. Behind that polished silhouette is a whole system of small accessories, each doing a specific job to hold the outfit together and shape it properly. If you're renting […]
Haori vs. Michiyuki Coat vs. Michiyuki-gi: Kimono Outerwear Explained
Layer something over a kimono for warmth or style, and you'll run into three main options: haori, michiyuki coats, and michiyuki-gi. They can look similar at a glance, but the key distinction is that haori functions more like a jacket or cardigan — something you might even keep on indoors — while michiyuki coats and […]