| Hakama are a type of traditional Japanese | | | | wear hakama in the context of their sport, are, |
| clothing. They were originally worn only by men, | | | | however, required to wear traditional Japanese |
| but today they are worn by both men and | | | | dress whenever they appear in public. As hakama |
| women. Hakama are tied at the waist and fall | | | | are one of the most important parts of traditional |
| approximately to the ankles. Hakama are worn | | | | male formal dress, sumo wrestlers are often |
| over a kimono (Hakamashita). safety | | | | seen wearing hakama when attending |
| webbingThere are two types of hakama, divided | | | | appropriately formal functions. In addition to |
| and undivided . The umanori type have divided | | | | martial artists, hakama are also part of the |
| legs, similar to trousers. Both these types appear | | | | every-day wear of Shinto kannushi, priests who |
| similar. A "mountain" or "field" type of umanori | | | | maintain and perform services at shrines. Hakama |
| hakama, were traditionally worn by field or forest | | | | traditionally formed part of a complete outfit |
| workers. They are looser in the waist and | | | | called a kamishimo . Worn by samurai and |
| narrower in the leg. Hakama are secured by four | | | | courtiers during the Edo era, the outfit included a |
| straps (himo); two longer himo attached on either | | | | formal kimono, hakama, and a sleeveless jacket |
| side of the front of the garment, and two | | | | with exaggerated shoulders called a kataginu |
| shorter himo attached on either side of the rear. | | | | (pictured). Samurai visiting the shogun and other |
| The rear of the garment has a rigid board-like | | | | high-ranking daimyo at court were sometimes |
| section, called koshi-ate, below that is a | | | | required to wear very long hakama called |
| hakama-dome (a spoon shaped component) which | | | | naga-bakama (long hakama). These resemble |
| is tucked into the obi or himo at the rear, and | | | | normal hakama in every way except their |
| helps to keep the hakama in place. Hakama have | | | | remarkable length in both the back and front, |
| seven deep pleats, two on the back and five on | | | | forming a train one or two feet long and impeding |
| the front. The pleats are said to represent the | | | | the ability to walk normally, thus helping to |
| seven virtues of bushido, considered essential the | | | | prevent a surprise attack or assassination |
| samurai way. Although they appear balanced, the | | | | attempt (see image here). Naga-bakama are now |
| arrangement of the front pleats, (three to the | | | | only worn in theatrical performances, particularly |
| right, two to the left) is asymmetrical, and as | | | | noh plays, and Shinto rituals. Some hakama during |
| such is an interesting example of asymmetry in | | | | the Sengoku period had the hems made narrower |
| Japanese aesthetics. The most formal type of | | | | than the body in imitation of the ballooning |
| men's hakama are made of stiff, striped silk, | | | | trousers worn by the Portuguese. This style |
| usually black and white, or black and navy blue. | | | | carried on into the Edo period and became called |
| These are worn with black montsuki kimono | | | | karusan-bakama. In addition to the taper, they |
| (kimono with one, three, or five family crests on | | | | had a secured band of cloth looking rather like a |
| the back, chest, and shoulders), white tabi | | | | pants cuff sewn around each leghem, so the |
| (divided-toe socks), white naga-juban | | | | ballooning fabric would not open out like regular |
| (under-kimono) and various types of footwear. In | | | | hakama. Sashinuki are a type of hakama that are |
| cooler weather, a montsuki haori (long jacket) | | | | meant to be worn blousing over the leg and |
| with a white haori-himo (haori-fastener) completes | | | | exposing the foot. To accomplish this, they are |
| the outfit. Hakama can be worn with any type of | | | | somewhat longer than normal hakama, and a cord |
| kimono except yukata (light cotton summer | | | | is run through the hem and drawn tight, creating a |
| kimono generally worn for relaxing, for sleeping, | | | | "ballooning" effect . To allow for the body |
| or at festivals or summer outings). While striped | | | | required, more formal sashinuki were six-panel |
| hakama are usually worn with formal kimono, | | | | hakama rather than four panels. Technically, this |
| stripes in colours other than black, grey and white | | | | cord around the ankle makes sashinuki a type of |
| may be worn with less formal wear. Solid and | | | | kukuri- (tied) hakama. The earliest form of |
| gradated colours are also common. While hakama | | | | sashinuki were cut like normal hakama (albeit a bit |
| used to be a required part of men's wear, | | | | longer) and have a cord running through the hem |
| nowadays typical Japanese men usually wear | | | | of each leg. These cords were pulled tight and |
| hakama only on extremely formal occasions and | | | | tied off at the ankle. This was the form |
| at tea ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. | | | | commonly worn during the Heian period. Sashinuki |
| Hakama are also regularly worn by practitioners | | | | were worn by court nobles with various types of |
| of a variety of martial arts, such as kendo, iaido, | | | | leisure or semi-formal wear. |
| aikido, and kyudo. Sumo wrestlers, who do not | | | | |