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The Daily Insight

What is a hakama used for?

Author

John Thompson

Published Apr 11, 2026

What is a hakama used for?

Originally, the hakama was worn as an outer garment to protect the samurai warriors’ legs as they rode their horses, like a cowboy’s leather leggings called chaps. As the samurai used horses less, they continued the practice of wearing hakama as a kind of identifying uniform.

What is Japanese hakama?

Hakama are a type of traditional Japanese clothing resembling a wide, pleated skirt. Material: Cotton 100%. It’s made from cotton fabric.

What is the difference between a kimono and a hakama?

Haori is a light coat worn over kimono, and hakama is a pant-like kimono.

What do you wear under a hakama?

Traditionally a kimono is worn under the hakama but I think this is when it is being worn ceremonially. According to Wikepedia the spoon shaped plate hanging at the back of the hakama is called the hera and slots into the obi, keeping the hakama in place.

Who can wear hakama?

While hakama used to be a required part of men’s wear, nowadays typical Japanese men usually wear hakama only on extremely formal occasions and at tea ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. Japanese Hakama are also regularly worn by practitioners of a variety of martial arts, such as Kendo, Iaido, Taido, Aikido, Jodo,Ryu- …

Where do you wear hakama?

Hakama are a traditional Japanese garment that are worn over kimono. They are tied around the waist and extend down to the ankles….Common reasons to wear hakama include:

  • Weddings.
  • Graduation Ceremony.
  • Kyudo.
  • Kendo.
  • Aikido.
  • Coming Of Age Day.
  • Priests and Miko.
  • Tea Ceremony.

Is it inappropriate to wear a kimono?

Since Japanese people started to wear western clothes for daily purposes, kimono have become uncommon, that cost a lot, and are supposed to be worn only on special occasions. But this shouldn’t be so. As a result, most Japanese today do not have the opportunity to learn how to put on a kimono properly.

What do the 7 pleats in a hakama mean?

The five-pleat version generally reflects the five virtues “gotoku” of Japanese traditional society. The seven-pleat hakama represents the Warrior’s Code, or bushido. Wearing the hakama symbolizes the traditions passed down from one generation of warriors to the next.

Who wears hakama in Aikido?

Origin of the Hakama The Hakama are traditional Japanese pants, originally worn over a kimono by members of the higher classes of society. Its origins may be found in the Heian era (794-1185), when women of the imperial court used to wear culottes as base layer of their kimono that looked similar to a Hakama .

Can I wear a hakama?

While men’s hakama can be worn on both formal and informal occasions, women rarely wear hakama, except at graduation ceremonies and for traditional Japanese sports such as kyūdō, some branches of aikido and kendo. Women do not wear hakama at tea ceremony.

What is a hakama and who wears it?

The type worn by today’s martial artists – with “legs” – is called a joba hakama, (roughly, horseriding thing into which one steps). A hakama that was kind of like a tube skirt – no legs – another and the third was a very long version of the second.

What kind of hakama is used in aikido?

One saw hakama of all sorts, all colors and all qualities, from kendo hakama, to the striped hakama used in Japanese dance, to the costly silk hakama called sendai-hira.

How is a sashinuki different from a normal hakama?

Sashinuki are a type of hakama that are meant to be worn blousing over the leg and exposing the foot. To accomplish this, they are somewhat longer than normal hakama, and a cord is run through the hem and drawn tight, creating a “ballooning” effect. To allow for the body required, more formal sashinuki were six-panel hakama rather than four panels.

What are the seven virtues of the hakama?

“They symbolize the seven virtues of budo,” O Sensei said. “These are jin (benevolence), gi (honor or justice), rei (courtesy and etiquette), chi (wisdom, intelligence), shin (sincerity), chu (loyalty), and koh (piety). We find these qualities in the distinguished samurai of the past.

What do/Should I wear under the hakama?

Apparently, a lot of people wear their gi pants or cut-off gi pants . Some wear cycling shorts or ordinary shorts . Traditionally a kimono is worn under the hakama but I think this is when it is being worn ceremonially.

Currently, the hakama is worn by Japanese men to special events like weddings, grandiose celebrations, and funerals. University professors, as well as Shinto priests usually do it. Women also wear it, however less often.

What are the different types of aikido hakama?

The Sixteen Styles of Aikido Aikikai. The largest aikido organisation, and is led by the family of the founder. Yoshinkan. Founded by Gozo Shioda, this branch has a reputation for being the most rigidly precise. Yoseikan. Shodokan Aikido. Ki Society. Iwama Ryu. Shin’ei Taido. Yoshokai. Tendoryu Aikido. Shin Budo Kai.

What does hakama mean?

Hakama (袴) are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Trousers were used by the Chinese imperial court in the Sui and Tang dynasties , and this style was adopted by the Japanese in the form of hakama beginning in the sixth century. Hakama are tied at the waist and fall approximately to the ankles.