Before 794 AD, the word kimono simply meant clothing. Simple trousers, shirts and skirts, as well as some one piece garments all fell under this general description of kimono. The grandeur of the Heian period, changed all that however. Gone were the simple styles of dress and precursors of the modern kimono, long, flowing colorful robes, took their place.

Opulence and beauty replaced practicality and women of the Heian court begin to adorn themselves in colorful robes, sometimes layering up to 20 robes! Because women of the Heian court were rarely seen in public the colors and arrangements of these luxurious robes became important. “…as sleeves and skirts peeping from behind carriage doors quietly proclaimed to the public the owner’s social persona, court rank, even character and beauty.” (Okinawa Living, May 2003)

Surprisingly, the modern kimono did not grow out of these flowing outer robes, but rather the kosode, the smaller robe worn as an undergarment during that time. It went through some modifications, but as the sleeves got smaller and the fabrics got more beautiful the kosode became the modern kimono we know today.

How much did you spend on your wedding? Here are some average figures for a Japanese wedding, according to Okinawa Magazine.

3 Million yen – Ceremony

2 Million yen – living accommodations

1.5 Million yen – engagement

Grand total 8 million yen (that’s roughly $80,000!)

Couples offset these expenses a bit, though. Depending on the relationship to the couple wedding guests give the happy couple ceremonial envelopes containing anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 yen.

As June wraps up, so does the most popular wedding month in Japan. Here’s an interesting fact – it is estimated that up to 20% of marriages in Japan are arranged. While the western idea of arranged marriage is fairly negative, there are many positive aspects of arranged marriage in Japan.

Anciently, an arranged marriage was a way to merge two families. Love and happiness were ideal, but hardly a requirement.

Today an arranged marriage is mix of Japanese and Western traditions. It’s actually a way for men and women to meet. They are introduced through an intermediary. Their backgrounds, personal histories, even pictures are shared before they meet for the first time. Then unlike the arranged marriages of old, both parties decide if they are interested, a face-to-face meeting is the next step.