Thekimono(着物?)[1]isaJapanesetraditionalgarmentwornbywomen,menandchildren.Theword"kimono",whichliterallymeansa"thingtowear"(ki"wear"andmono"thing"),[2]hascometodenotethesefull-lengthrobes.ThestandardpluralofthewordkimonoinEnglishiskimonos,[3]buttheunmarkedJapanesepluralkimonoisalsosometimesused.
KimonosareT-shaped,straight-linedrobeswornsothatthehemfallstotheankle,withattachedcollarsandlong,widesleeves.Kimonosarewrappedaroundthebody,alwayswiththeleftsideovertheright(exceptwhendressingthedeadforburial),[4]andsecuredbyasashcalledanobi,whichistiedattheback.Kimonosaregenerallywornwithtraditionalfootwear(especiallyzōriorgeta)andsplit-toesocks(tabi).[5]
Today,kimonosaremostoftenwornbywomen,andonspecialoccasions.Traditionally,unmarriedwomenworeastyleofkimonocalledfurisode,[5]withalmostfloor-lengthsleeves,onspecialoccasions.Afewolderwomenandevenfewermenstillwearthekimonoonadailybasis.Menwearthekimonomostoftenatweddings,teaceremonies,andotherveryspecialorveryformaloccasions.ProfessionalsumowrestlersareoftenseeninthekimonobecausetheyarerequiredtoweartraditionalJapanesedresswheneverappearinginpublic