Kimono Manners

How you carry yourself with manners is the key to make the kimono look more beautiful. Also, it would help preventing from getting dirt and extra wrinkles.

HOW TO WALK
Walk pigeon - toed, and narrow stride. Small step each. Don't drag your shoes or make loud noises, and walk straight.

HOW TO SIT DOWN
Slightly pull your right leg back and use your right hand to lift the upper front slightly. With your left hand, press the area around your upper thigh and lower your hips.
Kneel on both knees with a fist-sized gap between the knees, and pull the kimono behind the knees to the left and right to make it look neat. Sit down so that your hips fit between your legs, lift your knees slightly, straighten the top and front hem with your right hand, and then sit back down.

HOW TO STAND UP
Raise your heels and place your buttocks on them. Stand up from your right foot while pressing your upper front.

HOW TO SIT ON A CHAIR
Sit shallowly without leaning back in order not to crush the obi with the back of the chair. Tuck the kimono slightly behind the knee so that the back hem does not touch the ground.

HOW TO GET INTO A CAR
Sit on the seat so that you can enter from the buttocks. Hold the sleeve with one hand and hold the upper front with the other hand while rotating your body and inserting your legs. (too much work already to me!)
In the car, sit shallowly to prevent from crushing the obi. Do reverse procedure when getting out of the car. Be careful not to get the hem dirty when getting on and off the car.

STAIRS
Hold the upper front on the right and climb up with your hips down. As soon as the raised leg touches the ground, the remaining leg should be lifted so that the ankle is barely visible.

WHEN YOU NEED YOUR HAND
When picking up something on the table, hold your sleeve with one hand so that your sleeve does not rub against the tabletop and cause it to get dirty or knock things over.

—- Information provided by Kyoto Prefecture