Archaeological finds in the Japanese archipelago confirms the thesis that the ancient Japanese wore a simple hemp clothes at the end of an era Jomon. In the beginning of the 1st Millennium N. X., under the influence of continental fashion in Japan and got cotton silk suits Korean-Manchurian type. 6-8 century the inhabitants of the Islands were under the influence of Chinese culture, which is reflected in the clothing, which was an exact copy of the outfit Chinese counterparts. In the Heian period (794-1185) the Japanese first moved away from the continental Canon, creating the prototype of today's kimono. From the 13th to the 15th century formed the principal types of unique Japanese outfits for different social groups. Evolution of the Japanese costume of the Edo period (1603-1867) was affected by simplification of the construction and enrichment of the decor, which led to the emergence of the modern kimono.
A revolution in Japanese clothing caused westernbased reform of the Meiji era in the second half of the 19th century. European fashion began to displace traditional Japanese costume. This process was gradual surface until 1945, touching only the guiding layers of the society. However, the democratization of the "Americanization" of the way of life of the ordinary Japanese has led to the fact that the Japanese kimono was pushed out of daily life.
Today, the Japanese traditional costume used basically only during the holidays and formal events.