Would someone please get that wan little thing a cheeseburger?
It is a belt worn with traditional clothing., Both men and women wear them because they literally hod together the traditional clothing of kimono.
But even more importantly one must understand that the traditional exercise of "manners" or reido invests all of Japanese interaction, even in private , intimate sexual matters.
The obi used in traditional Japanese wedding ceremony has a very important spiritual meaning, a tie that binds both virginity and passion within the brocade wedding dress of a Japanese women. The Obi being undoing by a bride for her groom is a sacred symbol of a woman offering her body to a man for the first time, in innocence , and purity.
So if you see someone trampling an obi, it is a profound cultural insult to both men and women and the mannerly way, likely a mistake by a professional Western photographer.It would be far worse than the reverse cultural faux pas often made by Japanese box stores, of putting life size Santa dolls onto crucifixes for Christmas window displays.
Women's Obis are truly magically wonderful displays of color and weaving as well, often using gold thread.They will always be deeply connected to the idea of offering one's body whether for marriage or traditional seppeku.
Uchikake formal wedding over robe
Geisha Obi over Uchikake, seductively half tied:
Perhaps we can understand the Kiko faux pas a little better.
well it is good to see how a culture defends and tries to maintain it’s roots. There is a place I know of who used to have certain guidlines of ethics and morality... but that is all disappearing without any push back at all...
New fashion? The white dress is 1968. The jacket and jeans are, maybe 1990. These “designer’s” have an easy job.
Having her naked and soaping up inside an o-furo (Japanese Bath) would be more Italian advertising style.
There’s a lot of anger towards Japan these days because they refuse to be a ‘team player’ with regard the world (such as allowing their culture to be destroyed by 3rd World refugees), so stunts like this are some of the responses.
Misha Janette, a Tokyo-based fashion critic and blogger, said she was shocked at the images. “As soon as I saw the pictures, I got the impression that the creative team behind the shoot just really failed to understand,” ... . “I regularly work on photo shoots and I’m constantly talking with the assistants just to make sure that what we are doing is appropriate and acceptable.”
Where do I get a job as the final decider and arbitor of what is appropriate and acceptable.
Sounds like an easy part time gig that pays a six figure ++ salary
Oh, Tokyo
They got some saki and sashimi
And some clean sheets
Oh, Kimono, Kimono
I’m pretty sure there is no “uproar”. This is the first I’ve heard of the pop culture “news”.
