Japanese Kimono: a traditional and stylish clothing?

Last month a friend of mine came to Japan and the first thing he asked me was where he could find and dress a kimono, a traditional japanese clothing. He was very interested on it, specially after seeing this picture of mine.

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The day I took this picture, went with some friends to a temple where some old ladies taught us how to make a pretty ikebono (japanese flower arrangement) and then helped each of us to dress the kimono and take pictures around the temple. I never imagined would be so difficult to wear a kimono, two old ladies had to wear it on me!
Anyway, was a nice experience. I think every foreigner who comes to Japan wants to wear it and feel like a real japanese. But what surprised me that summer day was seeing not just old people interested in kimono, but also young people. 
I was really surprised because normally young peop are not interested in traditional things. In Japan most of them don't like enka (old japanese songs), for example. But, kimono seems to be the exception of the rule.
I spoke to some of those young people and they told me they usually wear yukata (a kind of "cheap and simple kimono") for the summer and kimono for special occasions like the Coming of Age Day. This date, young women who have just turned 20 years old celebrate their majority wearing very nice kimono. Some of them take a long time (like months) to choose the prettiest one.

During the Coming of Age Day, japanese women dress kimono and japanese men dress suit, They can also drink alcohol for the first time (yeah, right, for the first time). 

So, maybe kimono is not just a traditional thing anymore, but also a stylish thing. And when traditional things become stylish, they become more expensive. The proof of that is the big money I paid only to wear that kimono for third minutes.
It's the same as watching a concert of Bossa Nova in Brazil, Tango in Argentina or Fado in Portugal, for example. They are traditional music styles which became very famous worldwide and some chic places can charge a high price for a presentation, reason why I could not watch Tango when I was in Argentina.
So, if you come to Japan someday, I suggest you to wear kimono just like my friend and I did. But, remember there are other traditional things you can do as drinking sake and listening to enka? Have you never heard it before? So, check this video with my favorite enka song.

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Hanabi: meet how a typical japanese firework festival is!

Fireworks are very common in many places in the world, but it can vary according to the celebration. In Brazil and some other Western countries everyone watches fireworks during New Year. But, in Japan normally they occur during the summer and this is not the only difference. 
Another difference is the duration. Before going to hanabi (that's how japaneses call fireworks), I was surprised when a friend said it takes about one hour while in my country it must take mere 15 minutes. 
This same friend invited me to my first hanabi when summer had just begun in Japan. I had to meet her near to the place where it would be held. I was very afraid of getting lost, but was easy to find the place because many people dressing yukata was going there. Yukata is a typical japanese clothing (similar to kimono, but a little more simple) and many people use it to attend summer festivals. And, of course, I was not an exception.

Although the fireworks were scheduled to start at 7pm, we got there much earlier, about 4 hours before to get a good spot near to the lake. We took a picnic towel to mark the spot in case we need to leave to buy food, drink or something. Everybody did the same and some people used adhesive tape to write their names on it.

By the way, it's important to buy foods and drinks in advance to avoid long lines in the tents and very long lines in the convenient stores near to the event. As we need to stay there for hours until the hanabi starts, nothing better than enjoying this time with friends having some snacks.
When you realize, the time has passed and the show has started. Yes, we could call it a show because, during the fireworks, japanese and international songs are played on the background which makes the spectacle more beautiful.

When it was done, we decided to take the way back right away and it was a big mistake because many people decided to do the same and that's when we realized how crowded the place was. Everybody had to walk slowly until the nearest station and wait a little more than usual to take the train. So, a good recommendation is staying more in your spot until everybody leaves and the streets get more empty.
This is how a typical firework event occurs in Japan. What about your country? Which kind of firework festivals happen in there? Leave a comment and tell more details. If you took pictures, upload them in Taptrip and share with the whole world!

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JAPAN: 3 tips to enjoy the summer fireworks!

Hanabi is the japanese fireworks festival held every year during summer. Normally the presentation takes about one hour, but the event’s duration can be much larger than this. Here you can find some tips to enjoy it.

1) Arrive early. As everybody wants to watch the fireworks much closer as they can, it’s important to get there early to find a good spot. Up till 3 hours before the fireworks should be fine.  And remember to take a towel to mark it.

2) Take foods and drinks. Families, friends and couples usually go together to see the hanabi. As they need to get there early, drinking, eating and talking is a good way to pass the time while fireworks do not start. Like a picnic. 

3) Get dressed for this occasion. Many japanese use yukata which looks like a kimono, but it’s more comfortable, casual and cheap. There are models for men, women and kids. It’s ok if you do not have it, but it’s a good opportunity to wear japanese traditional clothes.

And when the event is over, wait a little before going back home. Many people leave right after the fireworks end which makes the train get really crowded. Hanabi’s purpose is having fun! So, instead of leaving right away, stay a little more and have fun until the end. And do not forget to post the pictures in Taptrip and share with friends around the world.  

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