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Obi (sash)

 
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Obi (?, ??) is a Japanese
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
 word referring to several different types of sash
Sash

A sash is a cloth belt used to hold a robe together, and is usually tied about the waist. The Japanese equivalent of a sash, obi , serves to hold a kimono or yukata together....
es worn with kimono
Kimono

The is the national costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment....
 and keikogi
Keikogi

or dogi is a uniform for training, used in martial arts derived from Japan, or budo. . In English language, the term keikogi is sometimes referred to simply as the gi, which would be an incorrect use of the word in Japanese....
 by both men and women.

are the top-most sash worn with various styles of Japanese clothing; several other sashes may be worn under the obi to secure the clothing in place and/or to enhance the shape of the body or of the uppermost sash.

Kimono
Kimono
Kimono

The is the national costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment....
 are full-length robes traditionally worn by both men and women in Japan.






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Obi (?, ??) is a Japanese
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
 word referring to several different types of sash
Sash

A sash is a cloth belt used to hold a robe together, and is usually tied about the waist. The Japanese equivalent of a sash, obi , serves to hold a kimono or yukata together....
es worn with kimono
Kimono

The is the national costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment....
 and keikogi
Keikogi

or dogi is a uniform for training, used in martial arts derived from Japan, or budo. . In English language, the term keikogi is sometimes referred to simply as the gi, which would be an incorrect use of the word in Japanese....
 by both men and women.

Obi and traditional Japanese clothing

Obi are the top-most sash worn with various styles of Japanese clothing; several other sashes may be worn under the obi to secure the clothing in place and/or to enhance the shape of the body or of the uppermost sash.

Kimono


Kimono
Kimono

The is the national costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment....
 are full-length robes traditionally worn by both men and women in Japan. Though there are many different types of kimono, obi are worn with all of them, and function both to keep the robe closed and in place on the body, and as decoration. Obi were traditionally made of silk, and silk is still the most traditional and formal material for obi.

Men's kimono obi are rectangular, usually about five or six centimetres wide and two metres or more in length. They are usually seen in dark colours such as black and blue, and typically have little decoration, though decorative stitching in a contrasting colour, often white, is common. Men's obi are wrapped one or more times around the waist and are tied slightly off-centre at the back, most commonly in the style of knot called kai no kuchi, literally "clam's mouth", though there are other knots as well. Men's obi are normally worn quite low on the waist, somewhat below the stomach.

Women's kimono obi are twice as wide as men's or more, and considerably longer. They are frequently very decorative and colourful, though this will depend on the age of the wearer, the type and style of kimono, the season, and the occasion for which it is being worn.

Women's obi are also wrapped one or more times around the waist, and are tied much higher up, generally with the top just under the breasts. Women also use various styles of knots, including the kai no kuchi, but more typically women's obi are tied in a taiko
Taiko

means "drum" in Japanese language . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming ....
 or drum knot, a large roll at the back, usually enhanced and shaped with padding called makura, literally "pillows." Unlike men, women tie the knot at the centre of the back.

Hakama

Obi are also worn under hakama
Hakama

Hakama are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. They were originally worn only by men, but today they are worn by both men and women. Hakama are tied at the waist and fall approximately to the ankles....
, a type of divided skirt traditionally worn by men with kimono, but now occasionally worn by women as well. Men wear a normal kimono obi under hakama, tied in a special knot that provides support for the stiff board at the back of the garment.

Yukata

Yukata
Yukata

is a Japanese summer garment. People wearing yukata are a common sight at fireworks displays, bon-odori festivals, and other summer events. The yukata is a casual form of kimono that is also frequently worn after bathing at Ryokan ....
 are light summer kimono worn by both men and women. Yukata obi are frequently more colourful and may be made of a variety of fabrics. Some men's yukata obi are similar to or the same as kimono obi, while others feature decorative tassels or are made of very wide strips of cotton which are gathered at the ends and are tied loosely around the waist and secured with a bow at the back.

Women often tie yukata obi in various decorative knots, most popularly a large bow.

Obi and martial arts


Obi are worn with several martial arts uniforms. They are typically thick cotton, about five centimetres (two inches) wide, often corresponding by colour to the wearer's rank in his or her school or sport. The usual range is from white belt for beginners to black for experienced practitioners. The highest ranks in some styles will wear a gold obi, or one with alternating red and white sections. They are tied one or more times around the waist and secured in a knot in the back or front.

See also


  • Obi strip
    Obi strip

    An Obi strip is traditionally a strip of paper looped around the left side or folded over the top of Japanese LP albums. Obi strips are also found folded over the left side of music CDs, video games, DVDs and even on the covers of books when they are sold new....
  • Traditional Japanese clothing