I’m often asked what to prepare for kimono classes. Here is an overview over all the important items you need to get started in you kimono journey. Just keep in mind: The items you need to prepare for a kimono dressing (kitsuke, 着付け) class will differ from class to class. First of all, you should know what kind of different items are out there.

Kimono and Juban

Of course, the items that are essential to begin with are kimono and juban (襦袢).

Juban is the “under-kimono” and you can see its collar peeking out from under the kimono. You cannot wear a kimono without a juban, so this is a must-have. There are 2-piece and 1-piece juban, either of those is fine. Lastly, you should know that a juban is not worn directly on skin. Usually a hadagi (肌着) or hadajuban (肌襦袢) is worn underneath. If you don’t have any, you can replace it with a slip dress or leggings and tank top to create the base for your juban.

Ties

These ties (紐, himo) are made of textile and are long enough to fit twice your hip circumference leaving enough length to tie it in the front. They are also often referred to as “koshihimo (腰紐, hip tie)”.

They are the core element of kimono dressing, since these are in the end holding the kimono up. You will need several of them for undergarments, kimono and obi. I recommend having at least 5-6, if you want to progress in your kimono dressing.

Elastic Ties

The ties mentioned above can be replaced with elastic ties. The most popular elastic tie is called “korin belt (コーリンベルト)”.

kourin belt (コーリンベルト) — コーリンベルト (korin belt)

It is an elastic with 1 clip on each end and looks very much like a suspender for trousers. The clips can be clipped onto the collar of juban and kimono.

Another type of elastic belt is the so-called “waist belt (ウェストベルト)” or “koshihimo belt (腰紐ベルト)”.

ウェストベルト (waist belt) or 腰紐ベルト (koshihimo belt)

This belt is one long elastic that has to have the length of your doubled hip circumference and closes on the front with a hook or a butterfly clip. It will replace the tie around your hip. I do especially recommend this item for tall people.

Collar Stiffener and Haneri

The collar stiffener (erishin, 衿芯) is a long piece of plastic that stiffens the collar of the juban.

To fulfill its purpose, you need to sew a second shorter collar onto the juban, if there isn’t one already attached to it. This collar is called “haneri (半衿)”.

The collar stiffener is then inserted into the haneri.

You can start taking kimono classes without having a collar stiffener or haneri, but please prepare them as soon as possible.

Emonnuki

An emonnuki (衣紋抜き) is a loop one the back of you juban that will help you to keep the back collar lowered.

簡単衣紋抜き (kantan emonnuki) is my preferred shape of emonnuki.

I prefer working with this item especially in combination with a kourin belt, because it will help you to avoid the most common mistakes that beginner dressers tend to do.

Items to prepare for “Beginner Kitsuke: Only Kimono” classes

kimono (in the right size, read more here)
juban with haneri (optional: with emonnuki)
undergarment (hadagi or slip dress etc.)
erishin
3 ties
optional: 2 kourin belts, 1 waist belt

When you start to progress to a new level of classes, there will be more items needed to tie an obi (帯, kimono belt). If you want to find out more about all the different items for kitsuke, please watch this video.

What items do I need to start kimono classes?