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Thing to wear
The kimono is the famous garment  worn in Japan. 
Today, kimonos are mostly worn by women on special occasions. But in the past, both men and women wore them. 
Kimono means 'thing to wear' - ki (wear), mono (thing).
A kimono is an intricate robe cut from a single piece of material.  It is wrapped around the body. The left side  folds over the right. 
It is worn with special split-toed socks called tabi. The clogs worn with them are called geta. 
The fabric belt worn with a kimono is known as an obi. It is very hard to  learn how to tie it.
From China
Although Japan is famous for the kimono,  the original concept came from China. 
In the eighth century, the Japanese began to borrow many things from China,  including fashion.  
Back then, the kimono did not look like the modern kimono.  By around 1400, it had become a robe.  The kimono styles worn today  were first created in the 1600s.
People  stopped wearing the kimono as everyday clothing during the reign of  Emperor Meiji.  
Meiji came to the throne in 1867.  He told government staff to stop wearing kimonos to work.
By the time he died in 1912, Japan had become the most modern country in Asia.
Made by hand
If you want a kimono of your own, beware: they are not cheap. They are often handmade. Even  when a machine is used for  stitching, some  of it still has to be done by hand. You can expect  to  pay  about HK$80,000.
This creates problems for some  parents in Japan. When their daughters reach 19,  they will wear a special kimono for a coming-of-age ceremony. 
The whole  outfit - shoes, socks and ornamental belt -  can cost as much as HK$160,000. Some families choose to rent one. But even renting  can cost  up to HK$8,000.
In the news
The Japan Times reports that the Kyoto city government is opening a casual kimono store in Tokyo on Sunday. 
Some are worried that  fewer people are buying kimonos and hope that by opening a store in Tokyo, women will start  wearing them again.  
The casual kimonos will have modern designs. They will also be cheaper than traditional kimonos, costing between HK$8,000 and  HK$20,000.
now do this
1 Kimonos in Japan were first influenced by fashions in ...
 a. China 
 b. Kyoto 
 c. Tokyo 
2 Young Japanese women have to wear a coming-of-age kimono when they are ...
 a. 19 
 b. 18 
 c. 21 
 3 The special belt worn with a kimono is called a ...
 a. geta 
 b. tabi 
 c. obi 



The kimono