Blog

  • The Original Merch Drop: Kabuki x Kimono in Edo Japan

    Long before fashion week collaborations and limited-edition celebrity merchandise, Japan’s Edo period (1615–1868) was already fusing fame and fabric in brilliant ways. Kabuki actors, the superstars of their time, captivated audiences not only with their performances but also with their bold stage costumes, sparking real-world fashion trends among a growing urban population. One striking example… Read more

  • Why Did I Go to Japan? Discussing Kimono on Japanese TV

    It just recently occured to me that I never talked about my appearance on TV Tokyo’s well-known show Why Did YOU Come to Japan? (YOUは何しに日本へ？) on this blog. I’m not quite sure what kept me from writing about it before, but here is me aiming to change that. This article is 720 words long.🕒 Estimated… Read more

  • Ukiyo-e (浮世絵) Woodblock Prints: Urban Pleasures in Edo Japan

    Woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e (浮世絵, “pictures of the floating world”) offer a vivid glimpse into the everyday pleasures and cultural life of Edo-period Japan. Far from being elite art, these prints reflected the tastes and pastimes of the emerging merchant class; urban dwellers who, despite their low social status, became the driving force behind… Read more

  • An Introduction to Kimono Styles of Japan‘s Taisho Period (1912-26): The Taisho Roman Style of Female Students

    At the intersection of East and West, tradition and innovation, the Taishō period (1912–1926) saw the emergence of bold new kimono styles that reflected Japan’s rapidly changing society. Known as Taishō Roman, this aesthetic blended romantic ideals, Western influences, and a playful reinterpretation of traditional dress. In this article, I revisit a demonstration I co-hosted… Read more

  • Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series: ‘Kimono (and) Fashion in Japan’

    This online public lecture titled ‘Kimono (and) Fashion in Japan’ is part of the Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series which aims to explore and understand aspects of language learning for those studying Japanese language and culture at Cardiff University, as well as various learners, teachers and researchers with an interest in Japan. The event is funded by… Read more

  • PhD Dissertation: ‘Negotiating Gendered Identities Through Dress: Kimono at the Coming-of-age Day in Contemporary Japan’

    My PhD dissertation is now available online! Please refer to the details below for more information: Becke, Carolin (2022) Negotiating Gendered Identities Through Dress: Kimono at the Coming-of-age Day in Contemporary Japan. PhD thesis, University of Sheffield. This thesis is a study of kimono in contemporary Japan. It builds on and extends the literature on… Read more