Translation:
Worried about using the toilet. For what reason?

The important thing, that I have not written in this book now, but will get into is using the bathroom, special attention needs to be paid to the differences in toilets you will be using.
Hotels have larger, clean toilets, the toilets are usually spacious, and do not cause a problem, however in restaurants require particular attention. Cheap, and even good restaurants and shops, and in Chinese style taverns, the toilet is often narrow.
Furisode, their sleeves and obi, will cross the top of the obi, you want to keep the hem from falling at the waist. Kimono underwear when I have a rather shallow lowrise is good. While stooping down, I insert both a handkerchief and fan into the obi, and kanzashi, so watch out! I, I have had to use it several times out of fear.
Before leaving the bathroom, fix the hem and sleeves back to their original dances, please remember to check the back end of the Otaiko musubi.

I'll translate the little pictures tomorrow, but this should be a decent start. My translation skills are not fantastic - but I'm pretty positive it's fairly close.

From the book 着物と暮らす (Kimono and Everyday Living)

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Love me.  At this moment we
Are the happiest
People in the world.  -Marichiko  <3

Hee, reminds me of the magazine showing how to have sex in kimono... posted somewhere.
But this is really helpful [sarcasm]especially when I'm looking to get uber high wasted panties to hold padding in place[/sarcasm]

No peeing for me!

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It's funny, but really useful!

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Oh yeah, this totally gets moved to the Knowledge Bank.

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We're so feral.

Haha! I was going to put it there... and then I had second thoughts. Thanks for the fix!

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Love me.  At this moment we
Are the happiest
People in the world.  -Marichiko  <3

Hilarious. The men's kimono book I just received from Amazon jp has a section on this as well (and it also involves tucking).

...This is my book. Kimono and everyday living...!
WHY... I'M FEELING...

I MUST HAVE IT. HOW DO I ORDER OFF THAT SILLY SITE YOU CALL AMAZON JAP-IN.

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Most updated pictures and daily life stories.

You'll have to alter them panties and make them open-crotch (masaka, second person on IG to say the word?) just like in those adult's shop glossaries...

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If it doesn't make sense, it's probably stage wear.

OMG thank you so much! this has been a mystery for me since the longest I've worn a kimono was while trying to put it on

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KIMONO OBSESSION: The Kimono Collection and Adventures of Polina

Aah I can imagine it now, like the fly to a pair of jeans... but no zippers. Just buttons.
Man, you'd have to probably reinforce the whole [omitted word]-area with cotton or something. Helloooo chastity belt.

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I have a copy of this book, and it is the MOST useful! Filled with lots of little tips and helpful hints. Lots of illustrations; I can't read Japanese that well - more like being able to pick out words and phrases, and it is very useful book just from the illustrations.

You're...you can't be serious!! Though now I admit to being the tiniest but curious...

Anyway, this book looks really useful overall. I'm totally adding it to my wish list now. But thanks for the translation of those pages, Kotone, my Japanese is pretty pathetic at the moment so it really helps.

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A Japanese person once told me that women's kimono have open sleeves so that you can easily access their breasts during quick sex. It's entirely possible that they were having me on, but then the person is quite knowledgeable about kimono, so do with that what you will.

Yeah... I've seen the method in a few manga... it's certainly an idea that's been aorund for a while, at any point.


as for the pic i was thinking of, I'm pretty sure it was actually a spread from a mag on j-list but I can't find it anymore. Meh.

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Oh, my. I LOL'ed.

I'm not sure I believe it, though - considering that so much of the sleeve openings are covered by the obi anyway, it seems unlikely! Then again obi haven't always been so wide or so stiff.

Now I'm rather curious about the magazine (it just sounds so crazy!) Then again, most shunga kind of deal with that subject, too

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(Planescape: Torment)

I know geisha from Kanazawa, 100 years ago, sometimes had to do a quick trick nicknamed "konbu-maki-ne" because they wouldn't take their kimono off and would feel all squeezed and rolled up like a maki-zushi.

Not that I'm interested to get extra kimono money that way, but I would still like to know the method, personally. Please?

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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln

THIS, I want to see! Please post a link!

Although, I really don't think it is that complicated.

About the open underarm holes, I am pretty sure it is just to make the kimono fit better to a woman's body, but certainly it makes the breasts readily accessible to those in the know.

I have not found going to the bathroom that difficult in kimono. I just pull up backwards all my skirts, much like the diagram in the book, but pin them to my sides with my arms instead of tying them up. It is easier if you are just wearing a hadajuban or susoyoke under your nagajuban instead of Western underwear.

My male drinking buddies have acquired new interest in kimono, after I told them underwear is not worn. They also seem to be rather perplexed about where my breasts go, as they seem to disappear when wearing a kimono bra. I haven't explained, I just let them think about that one.

I also don't think there is anything more sexy than a kimono. Its like a giant Christmas present that just needs the obi bow untied. One of the reasons I wear a very beautiful (and expensive) cotton crepe hadajuban, what a disappointment it would be, to unwrap down to prosaic underwear.

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ooo! scandalous

XD I love you guys. This thread is making me die laughing at work, and I'm reeeeaally curious to see the "sex in kimono" instructions now.

As for going to the bathroom, I've always just kind of pulled everything up and folded it over my obi, and held it in place.

The one time I was drunk and in kimono, I just pulled open the front and sat facing the tank of the toilet ;P

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Don't forget: if you get the spanx high wasted panties, they have an opening at the crotch (***snicker***) so you can still go pee!

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Read up lady!

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Okay, here's the bonus question: How do you use the toilet while wearing divided hakama?

...Gentlemen? Anyone?

Oh god, there's a question I think we all need answered!

I suspect they need to be removed.

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Well, I suppose it really depends on what equipment you have and what you need to do.

For a man, for a quick trip to the bathroom it's possible to simply lift up the bottom of the hakama and tuck the extra fabric under your arms (if you've tucked your kimono already in preparation for wearing the hakama, so much the easier).

Anything else (or if the wearer is female) would require a lot of undressing, especially if you were using a Japanese-style toilet. At the very least you would have to untie the front knot and rear himo and unhook the koshi-ita, at which point you may as well just remove the entire thing, since it will be trailing on the floor and be pretty hard to deal with.

All things considered, not a very user-friendly garment, although if it's true that hakama started out basically as chaps (ie: to protect the kimono and legs when riding horses) then everything about them begins to make a little more sense.

That seems pretty unfortunate, especially if you consider back when women did wear divided hakama.

...man, I don't even want to think about trying to use the toilet in a juuni hitoe!

Maybe...if you put both of your legs in one pant leg, and then rolled it all up, and then --

Well... if you're a gent you simply aim very carefully

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If it doesn't make sense, it's probably stage wear.

You put your both legs together in one pant leg, just like azusa said. Then lift the hakama up

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Hmm... toward the end of "The Hidden Blade", the old Chief Retainer needs to go to the bathroom and one of his assistants helps him: kneeling behind the Chief, lifting up one leg of the hakama and holding it up while...
Not very pleasant.

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This Japanese toilets article might help answer several questions - found it while I was Googling for Yayoi era ceramics images...!

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Oh dear my tummy.... About the divided hakama and bathroom.. I've been trying to get my senpais and one sensei to try putting both legs into the same leg of the hakama without opening the garment.They didn't agree on trying it and said it's not possible. (Yes, I was trying to satisfy my own curiosity about this )

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Lumikettu both legs in one is the way I was told to do it.


Using a western style toilet could be tricky
(found on Miyajima Island)

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Godzilla Kimono Club – Alles über Wafuku und Kitsuke – / Godzilla Kimono Club at Etsy

I once received some zôri in a former yôfuku shoebox, on which figure the instructions on how to wear wafuku shoes...

I would still be interested in those "Sex In Kimono" info!
I have no partner at this time, or I would try it myself, and maybe make a tutorial - for the kitsuke part .
(I doubt it would be appropriate to include pictures, though..)

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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln

Tahanala, for some reason, I've never thought of having sex while in kimono as anything too challenging... The difficulty would be in how to look not obviously laid afterwards, ne ^v~ And of course, in avoiding the fuss of having to completely reconstruct the outfit after a deed of such nature.

As for the question, you could roll up your hems and with some extra care, and none too acrobatic tricks (the party wearing the more intricate wear should be able to retain a steady, easy position in interests of preserving the dresswork), it should work quite fine ^.^ but then, of course, I've never tried XD

If my theory holds true, it'll be found that the most challenging thing in practising intimate relations in kimono is finding a partner who is not too interested in the pectorial lady section... I daresay there aren't many romance killers as potent as a hissy fit, right in the middle of a cosy moment of canoodling, which discusses the topic of "DON'T YOU MESS UP MY COLLARS, YOU"... ne ^w~

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If it doesn't make sense, it's probably stage wear.

I guess it is the logistics aspect that might require practise.
And, of course, the thorax issues: "Oh, what do we have here, hmm? a soft, firm ... datejime?"

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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln

I have often, often wondered about this. I can't wear a junihitoe until I figure this one out. TT_TT And somehow, I doubt that there's a Pillow Book chapter on that topic...

Um, do those of you who have worn junihitoe for long amounts of time before happen to know how bathroom visits are managed? I've always assumed that perhaps the hitoe and above layers are lifted up and the back of the nagabakama lowered, but I'm not sure...

I really would like to know. TT_TT

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"Carpe diem! Seize the carp!!" >:D ...wait, that's not what that means?
Stiiilllllll working on that kasane page... ganbatte!

On the topic of divided hakama, those that are not made for martial arts tend to be divided quite low, near the bottom hem, rather than high up, so slipping both legs into one side would not be that hard.

As for junihitoe and all those court costumes, remember those people had armies of servants. More than likely there were specific maids responsible for taking care of their ladies' bodily hygiene.

... There must have been a lady-in-waitimg specifically for the purpose of dressing the empress up and down for the toilet business... or? Man, the Europeans used their noblefolk at a point for the purpose XD

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If it doesn't make sense, it's probably stage wear.

James thank you! that was really a helpful piece of information of the difference in the construction of the hakama.

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I tried it!
They easiest way to do it is to be on top and your kitsuke will be fine

The only tip I can give everyone who wants to try it, always use a condom to keep away certain liquids from your kimono!

You're my hero. XD

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Ladies and gentleman, after reading through this thread, I must say that I love you all

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"Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!"

I know Egg magazine had an article a few years back about sex in yukata. I'll see if I can find it anywhere.

I like the duality of this thread.

Well, you can have sex in a bathroom...

I still agree it might be a good solution to split the thread once we'll have more bedrock (in one word, hehehe) material. Is there any chance of you digging the magazine up?

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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln

Well, I don't get the magazine...the article was featured on the "Japanorama" episode where Jonathan Ross is talking about gyaru. I'm going to scour the internet and see if I can find it somehow, or find a back issue. But you can see some of the pictures from the article in this completely NSFW video around 3:30 minutes in, though briefly (I suppose you can pause it and figure it out that way, lol). It looks like it's a similar process to going to the bathroom; you have to pull it up over the wait to the point where it won't be getting...um...dirtied.

And apparently, you both have to keep your underwear on... Of course, I understand why the pictures were taken that way.

It doesn't seem to be specific kimono-undies she's wearing.
(Hmm, I thing I remember some of those can be unbuttoned at the crotch. It might keep things tidier and easier?)

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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln

*SNRK*

I think the article had yukata in mind more than a full kimono ensemble, though since it's for a fashion magazine they also probably thought it would be "uncool" to have those gigantic kimono panties. I bet kimono undies would definitely make it easier, considering you wouldn't have to worry about pulling anything down or to the side (though they're possibly even less sexy than a girdle).

Regarding using the toilet in high-divided hakama without taking them off at all...it can be done.

For martial arts, I wear iaido-style hakama over underpants, bra, T-shirt, traditional gi pants (i.e., a long, partially-covered drawstring arrangement instead of elastic), traditional gi-top jacket, and martial-arts-style obi. At JapanFest, Murphy's law dictates that no matter how little I drink over the course of the day or how I time the last restroom visit before donning the hakama, I will suddenly, desperately need to go nine minutes before we're supposed to be onstage. This is how the universe is rigged. Anyway, here goes:

1. Get into the largest available facility, preferably one with something you can hold onto for balance. (A handicapped-accessible stall is perfect.)

2. Put your hands into the open sides of the hakama and flip up the front of the gi jacket.

3. Untie the strings of the pants and pull them down as far as they'll go. Ditto underpants.

4. Grab the outside cuff of one leg of the hakama. Pull it as far up as it will go without tugging on the dividing part.

5. Crouch, bend, whatever.

6. Center the cuff opening--which is as big around as the hem of an ordinary skirt, after all--over your bum. If you slide the pants etc. far enough toward your knee, it should expose what you might call the critical regions.

7. Gather up excess material (mostly what's behind you) so that you can keep it out of the way with one hand. You'll need the other hand for balance and, well, paper. Aim carefully.

You'll need to do quite a bit of rearranging the inner layers afterwards, of course, but you won't have to put the hakama on again, and you will never, ever look down to see you've dragged (or, worse yet, dunked) your himo into something...unpleasant. It's also much, much faster than the alternative.

--Bai "what the heck do I put in quotes for this one?" Mianxi

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Bai Mianxi that's really helpful... but I guess it needs a little practise before mastering the... how should I say this nicely.... pulling aside the hakama and, well, aiming

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I'll say one thing for Johnathan Ross: his Japanese is really good.

This comes in very handy for me!

First of all, i'm entirely new. c:
Anyway, I have a gala tonight ( i'm going in my first- ever - kimono ; furisode ).
We're going to have a meal there, but since i'm diabetic, i was a bit worried of how to inject my insuline.

This way i cant easily inject insulin into my leg andnot be worried at all, I can't wait for tonight!

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I'm definitely digging up an old thread, but has anyone been able to dig up the magazines?

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"Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson..."

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"It's less a 'Chubby Sparrow' than it is a 'Morbidly Obese Falcon'," - Oni

for kendo, I always just untied the hakama (which lets down the back) pull down my shorts, sit, do the biznaz, and put back the back part...never had any problems cos Kendo gi-tops are pretty short

...i imagine that if you're wearing a kimono under your hakama it would pose more of a problem though

invaluable...

i should print some off and hand it to people when they ask how i can go to the toilet in a kimono...

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Another way might be to lean on a counter of sorts..and lift the back like you would in going to the bathroom Just make sure they don't eff with your musubi

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"Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in." - DaVinci

A very good tip I got was to secure my juban with 2 safety pins. One at each end of the collar but high enough that I could lift the juban. At the end everything fell in place as before.

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Lol This is a great thread!

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My blog that I occasionally forget to write in...

To the little advice proved by Bai Mianxi-san, I did a little test try at home the other night with a divided hakama. Yes, you CAN use the bathroom with a divided hakama by pulling one leg of the hakama up and lovering your pants underneath. It's not the easiest way of using the toilet, but it's possible.

(yes, I'm digging this old thread up again.... )

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I have some advice on both ends....

I've worn both modern Hakama (most women compliment me on my awesome "skirt" XD that I've paired with a fitted blouse to balance the voluminous bottom) and yukata AND kimono to work and college. First and foremost - I recommend wearing pj pants and low-rise bottoms. I use a fake collar to get the nagajuban look - no kimono police are going to come look under my kimono to make sure I'm dressed modestly and appropriately. XD Second - the obi is supposed to be at your hips, right? Slide your arms OUT of the 'hand holes" so to speak, through the back of the sleeves and then I just say "flip it!" and flip my entire kimono up OVER my obi and sleeves and shoulders and .. well.. squat... XD god this is making me giggle.
The hakama lift amazingly well up. And if you have a kimono on, the way you tie it is actually to tuck the hem of it into the hip tie, folding it up. Then you put your excess hakama ties into the "pocket" you've made with your kimono, so that takes care of them. Next, with the managed layers, scrunch it all up and pull necessary things down. ^-^;; If I can manage this in a tiny university bathroom, any handicap bathroom can provide the same for newbies.

On the second point.... having a hubby who exactly likes the "present" idea... the more clothes on, the more anticipation... But... have any of you thought of a countertop? ~.^ Or standing... It's not as hard as it sounds... other methods have been listed do work! ^=^ Also... if you're tiny like a japanese woman... you can wriggle out of the top by rolling your shoulders and sliding your arms in. Take your time with it, though, you look like a horse trying to gallop out of a net if you hurry. Besides... one should take their time with these sorts of things.

simple answer to the junihitoe
they used to have drop toilets that you squatted over right so just head over it like you parking a car nose first make shore the smaller skirts are out ogf the way, squat ballance and go. (or you could use a camping toilet (bin with liner ))

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Nearly snotted myself in laughter back there...

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Maybe if you're wearing divided hakama, it might be better to forego the Western panties- which were never meant for hakama anyway- and wear a susoyoke/koshimaki instead? Faux susoyoke are pretty easy to make- just buy 3 yards of cheap fabric and wrap it around, then roll the top over itself... I can't imagine wrestling with Western undergarments AND divided hakama... :S Either one is hard enough on its own in kimono... >_> It seems like so much trouble to go through just to wear a certain type of underwear... I wouldn't go commando beneath a normal kimono, but for divided hakama, I'd at least consider it...

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Stiiilllllll working on that kasane page... ganbatte!

Wow.
Could you imagine seeing those out of context? What would you think?

I don't think I could ever go commando.

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Thank god this tutorial excists 0.o I was already scared that i had to take the whole kitsuke off, use the bathroom and put it all on again 0.o