How to Tie a Casual Nagoya Obi by Yourself // How to Tie an O-Taiko

[@abbysmommy1205]

Fun story time! last year I was rummaging through a pile of clothes at a yard sale and to my surprise i spotted a Nagoya obi. I'm an unrepentant weeb so i knew what it was the second i saw it. It was obviously well loved but not well taken care of so it was very threadbare and the silk was starting to deteriorate. I took it to an antiquarian and they estimated it was over 120 years old! Needless to say I was very excited. The town I grew up in has a Japanese immersion school so I donated the obi to them for display with their other kimono that are too fragile to wear.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Oh, thanks for sharing this story!!!

[@stuffedninja1337]

I love hearing this since I found both of my funeral kimono (summer weight and winter weight, luckily) pretty much this way. The first one was being sold for $15 as a costume. >

[@YaoiHoshi]

Today I wore a kimono for the first time! Took me about two hours from start to finish and my obi fell apart three times before I made it, but I did it! I’m so happy, I finally got to go to my tea ceremony lessons wearing kimono. It’s all thanks to your videos ❤️

[@theEumenides]

This video (and channel) are an absolute godsend. Tying a o-taiko has always been the most difficult part of dressing in kimono, so I only wore kimono on special (tea) occasions, partially because there was always someone there to help. I saw this video, and you made it look so easy, which gave me the confidence to try wearing a kimono more often. I just got a new kimono and obi for Christmas, and I was able to tie my obi on my own within a 10 minutes (and without bursting into tears)!

[@ElanorNandaroe]

Danke! Die Methode muss ich nachher gleich ausprobieren. Ich habe immer Schwierigkeiten, die untere Kante der Taiko ordentlich hinzubekommen. So ein schöner Obi!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Hast du es schon ausprobiert? Wie fandest du es? Ja, die taresaki braucht definitv Übung.

[@MoanaYoko]

Nice video! I do tie my obi in front and am interested in watching you tie the Otaiko in front too. Thank you so much❣️

[@edytakosowska]

Thank you very much for learning how to tie o-taiko. Finally, I managed to dress in a kimono and tie an obi

[@lilyjanuary8435]

Halfway through this tutorial I realized my obi was way longer than Billy's, but after some improvising and double-folding I finally managed my first o-taiko! This tutorial was easy to follow even though I have a lot of trouble with directions so I kept messing up with the left and right.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

When your obi was much longer, it’s probably because it’s not a casual obi. I’ve also a tutorial for formal (longer) obi. That o-taiko is tied differently.

[@Tapiokapuddin]

O taiko should be an olympic sport because u explained it so slowly and i was still like, WHAT

[@kira_zpt]

It's wonderful I just tie a Nagoya Obi for doll✨ it's so beautiful with her🌸👘

[@acekidatelier]

This technique looks much easier than what I've seen so far! I'll try it next time I wear a kimono (it's already too hot for all the kimonos I have in France)

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Hope you send me picture after you've tried! :)

[@Kawayoporu]

+@@BillyMatsunaga Hi, do you cover your back neck with an eri from rain or cold wind like children's or men eri do for not being a sexy person like I am not also when I don't like showing off my tummy when having no one piece swimsuit for example, I am not a fan of two piece bathing suit and I'll not be a fan to not cover my back neck with the eri? Do korean women clothes or chinese women clothes have their own chinese or korean eri not cover their back necks too?

[@KSParks01]

This was fascinating! Thank you so much for your expertise and sharing!

[@miu.c.c.]

Your explainations are super easy to understand. I always use your video as a help when I do otaiko musubi with Nagoya obi. Thank you so much for this manual!

[@isabell3462]

Your videos are all amazing and adorable! I'd love to see a tutorial on how to take off a kimono (not in a weird way!) there are so many parts, especially around the obi, I just wonder if there's a best way to take it all off.

[@Amateras101]

Thank you so much! I really struggle with the tying obi as I have difficulty visualising them behind me, so this is so helpful! :-)

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Oh yes, it's really hard to visualize it!! I remember having troubles with that, too. Glad that my video helps!

[@WardaDelphinia]

I usually tie a knot in front. For me it's the easyest way. But I've always wanted to try doing it in back, so when I turn the obi around it won't mess the kimono. Thanks for the tutorial! Love the obi, definitaly want a similar one in my collection *__*

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Yes, tying it on the front definitely helps to get a nicer shape sooner with less practice. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Don't you think?

[@siby913]

Excellente vidéo👏👏😊!! Thank you so much👍😉!!

[@amaz6884]

I am not using tout technique to tie an otaiko musubi, thanks to you I know an other way now ! Your obi is really beautiful.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Yes, there are maaaany ways to tie it. I think even I know about 5 of them and I usual change them due to the condition of the obi or what items I have by hand. It's definitely helpful to know more than one way. :)

[@lisacudd9501]

Your collars look amazing! Wow goals!!!

[@EagleandTurtle]

Thank you! I've been wanting to learn how to tie the otaiko in the back instead of in the front.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

I totally prefer the back... what do you think?

[@expedited_healer]

I received a nagoya obi in a grab bag and I haven't been able to wear it since I didn't have any of the pieces. I recently got them and this tutorial made so much sense! Unfortunately, I can't reach behind me all that well so the first attempt was falling apart by the end of it. Maybe I'll follow along but in the front next time!

[@leelasamaroo6736]

Awesome video! I tie my obi the same way. Though with the shorter obi I have to take shortcuts to make it look the same

[@szz22]

Dear Billy, if you are still checking comments to this video (which I’ve watched over 30 times because it is the BEST tutorial for otaiko tie) could you please show us also how to tie otaiko on the front? Thank you.

[@dylan8736]

Thanks for the tutorial, ma'am!

[@claudiawilliams]

Thanks for the helpful video! Could you make a video on how to tie the more formal otaiko as well? Until I watched your last video I hadn’t known there were two ways to tie otaiko, and I don’t think I’ve seen any other videos on how to tie the formal musubi. Also, I suggest making a video (or video series) on the variations of kitsuke tools (like showing and talking about the different types of datejime, obi ita, etc.). That way, when we are looking to buy them, we’ll know which type would suit us best. As always, thank you so much for the videos! I always look forward to watching!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

hi! I'm pretty sure that I'll make a video about nijutaiko one day. I can plan it for summer. :) And thanks for the idea. I've probably thinking about making such a video pretty much since this channel exists. Haha! I really should make that one! :D

[@tookiecookie2266]

WOW your videos are helpful!!!!! This one is a bit tricky!!!!!!!!

[@anaj503]

Thank you again for sharing. I really enjoy your videos. Very well explained ❤️

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you so much for watching!💛

[@ebethlouise2201]

Thanks so much!

[@ОльгаСуворова-к7м]

Excellent!!!!!

[@emilybragg987]

Thank you for this video! I really want to learn to tie otaiko musubi in the back :) I love the beautiful watercolor/tie die color of your kimono! xo

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you! Hope you've fun practicing. :) And thanks! That kimono is one of the lucky thrift finds 💛

[@RevyMorelia]

I'll have to try this soon, I accidentally bought an obi that is pre-folded and I only knew how to tie the bow 😅 This looks more complicated, I wish I had known I needed some extra equipment for it, I don't know if I have access to the extras in my homecountry...

[@steffi2922]

Love the video, but it would be so great, f you could also show us, how to tie it in the front *-* Thank you so much for your wonderful videos!

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Thank you!! Ok, I'll set it on my list. I love cozy obi musubi videos, they're so fun to film. :) So I'll definitely make it!

[@iloveragdollcats]

Thank you for this great video! I love that obi! ❤️

[@liannereinhart7353]

Hey Billy! Can you show us how to tie a nagoya obi in the front, and swing it around to the back?

[@liannereinhart7216]

Can you tie it the same way using a fukuro obi?

[@ivonk.4075]

Hello, Your videos are soooooo inspirative and informative, I even made my own cotton kimono with your videos, I combined informations from both (traditional and easy) ways and kimono is perfect :) (And I also made few hanhaba and nagoya obi with informations from your videos about sizes, because it is just for fun and it is quite difficult to find anything kimono-related in Slovakia) :) Buuut, I finally tried to tie o-taiko with nagoya obi ( up to now I only tied hanhaba obi, they are easy) and I have this problem, I am sooo tiny, I had to put hanhaba obi 3 times around instead of 2 to tie most hanhaba obi knots I tried :D Is there any clue, how to tie normal o-taiko (or ginza musubi, I guess there would be the same problem) with too long nagoya obi? It is normal size, 360 cm, but too long for me :D Sorry fot such long comment and thank you and I am looking forward another video :)

[@RealMelodyBlue]

I would imagine that lengths would be different for larger people, I'm a US 5x, which is pretty large.

[@alderankorym]

Could you please do a video about tying fukuro obi? You only have nagoya and hanhaba musubi. :/ Fukuro obi are one of the most easy to find on international sale and often the most beautiful as well. I got two (one zentsu!) but I can't find ways to tie them, especially easier and maybe less formal ways. Also I can't achieve that musubi. The obi is too stiff to open up at the back and I can't manage to center it. I'm getting sore shoulders just trying... Musubi is hard. T_T Edit: finally managed to do all the steps right after the 4th try... only to see the obi is wayyy to long. I got the taresaki peaking more than a meter out. T_T

[@KitsuneNoMaboroshi]

On topic post this time. Do you know how to do the heart musubi that tayuu wear?

[@BillyMatsunaga]

I’m not quite sure what a “heart Musubi” would be? But I can only do geiko/Maiko Kitsuke everything beyond that wasn’t taught in my school. Anyway, when I participated in an Oiran dōchū the obi was in fact a tsuke obi (believe me, I was disappointed....)

[@KitsuneNoMaboroshi]

That's so cool. I'd love to be able to try something like that. This is just a picture of what I was talking about pin.it/3fMx3xX

[@joscelynperez3889]

Hi Billy, can you tell us the dimensions of your obi please?

[@jessicaalterauge2054]

I'm confused. Just at the start of actually tying the knot (3:10), suddenly there is an underbeldt already attached (the light pink one)- so please, what kind of belt is this and where do I have to look to find out how to tie up that?

[@BillyMatsunaga]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWOvqmOIpcaGjpo

[@jessicaalterauge2054]

@@BillyMatsunaga thanksalot

[@arlenewatkins6668]

I want to know how to tie it in front of

[@leinaridout6841]

I always really love your obi musubi tutorials; they're really clear and easy to follow. Would you ever consider a tutorial for that bunko musubi you tied for the furisode kimono in your last video because it looked a bit simpler than the fukura suzume. I recently bought a new furisode, but I'm struggling to find musubi that I can tie on myself! 😂

[@claudiawilliams]

I second that suggestion, I also have a furisode but I don’t know how to tie any of the fancier musubi on myself (or at least I haven’t seen any instructions that don’t involve special tools).

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Videos like that are definitely on the list. Especially buko, because you can tie it without using any special items :)

[@leinaridout6841]

@@BillyMatsunaga I'm looking forward to it!!

[@Nariasan]

Thank you for another awesome video, Billy! I have a question about the obijime. Do you tie it the way you do because it is too short? Or is it a special kind of obijime (I ask because I have one that's waaaaay too short for me).

[@claudiawilliams]

I think the one Billy is wearing is a sanbuhimo, which is a special kind of obijime for wearing obidome. They’re a lot thinner and usually shorter than normal obijime and also don’t typically have long tassels on the ends since the knot will be hidden in the obi anyway. Maybe the one you have is also a sanbuhimo? Otherwise it might just be a particularly short obijime.

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Hi my dear! Yes, it's a sambuhimo. I've talked about them in my obijime video. ;)

[@StarPrincess144]

I would love a front tie video! I have a lot of Nagoya obi, but it’s been really difficult to learn 😅 Also, do you have any tips for if the obi is too short for you? All my Nagoya obi are vintage, so a bit too small for my American frame haha Thank you so so much for making these videos, they are an amazing resource! When I was living in Japan I couldn’t find a Kitsuke teacher, especially one who could explain things so clearly in English! I appreciate you so much! 🥰

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Here is the video about how to deal with too short nagoya obi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqm2dHitqcmia7M

[@Kim-fq2td]

OMG .....I need wear somehow

[@miraja8298]

There’s got to be an easier way 😊

[@KitsuneNoMaboroshi]

Sorry to comment on this one, but your new video is private. Sorry if this has already been mentioned. 🙇‍♀️❤

[@BillyMatsunaga]

Hi! My new video isn’t private. You can watch it on my channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIiQdK1vfceep6M

[@KitsuneNoMaboroshi]

That was so weird! I'm able to see it, now. 🙂

[@BillyMatsunaga]

It’s not! I had to re-upload it, so it has a new URL 🙈🙈🙈🙈

[@matchamoments]

Too complicated. 😢