Abstract

Many Westerners still picture Japan as a land of geisha, samurai, Mount Fuji, and cherry blossoms. The kimono is considered exotic and erotic. From a Japanese perspective, however, these representations are somewhat lopsided. How did these perceptions come about? Using photographs, magazines, museum exhibits, and souvenirs as clues, this book explores the kimono’s journey overseas from the end of the Tokugawa period to the present day.

Author’s Information

Professor Emeritus at Hokkaido University; Distinguished Visiting Professor at Notre Dame Seishin University