Kimono is the national dress of the Japanese and has retained the same basic style for hundreds of years. Professor Gunji will discuss how kimono embodies the unique characteristics of Japanese traditional art—rigidity and flexibility. This will be followed by a demonstration of the dressing method of an elaborate young lady’s kimono, a man’s formal kimono and children’s kimonos.

Hakubi Mai (Hakubi dance) is an original dance created by the Hakubi Kyoto Sogogakuin in Tokyo, Japan. It is a special dance in which one dresses herself in kimono to music within three minutes. Hakubi mai not only expresses the beauty of the kimono, but also emphasizes the elegance and artistry of the process of dressing oneself in a kimono.

It normally is a lengthy process to dress oneself in kimono. However, through Hakubi mai, one learns to master efficiency in kimono dressing rhythmically to music. Hakubi mai offers an enjoyable and magical method of wearing a kimono and gives joy to everyone all over the world.