Why Did Samurai Wear Skirts?

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I’m Shogo, a Kyoto born & Hiroshima raised Japanese, that grew up in Michigan USA for 6 years, and studied Mandarin in Beijing university for a year!
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#hakama #samurai #kimono #howtowearhakama #howtotieahakama

[@LetsaskShogo]

Are there anything else you would like to know about how samurais look?

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

I have seen some samurai armor which had masks shaped like faces. Was there any meaning to how this mask was designed, or did a samurai just try to get the scariest looking mask they could find?

[@Nymphatica]

Yes. And what about the meaning of two folds in the back?

[@joshgellis3292]

How did the different class levels of samurai look? The high class, the middle class and low class?

[@JediasHertz]

Why to use the Obi and put the sword on it if you can put the sword on hakama's 'belt'?

[@JLoC.2479]

Please mines @SHOGO under comments oh never mind can I wear edo and ko katana instead of wakazashii and katana? I can and I do even have tanto but what was labelled wakazashii came w identical hilt as edo katana( 2hands ) ans and both have single edge

[@drybones2282]

Hakama's look really cool

[@adrien4038]

And feels good too, i'm practicing kendo and i wear it.

[@ruster1836]

@@adrien4038 astolfo practicing kendo, incredible

[@trentdevlaminck9927]

Comfortable too

[@From_The_Abyss]

They are elegant, just like katana.

[@luqmanrashid1651]

then you should try the scottish kilts or the malaysian "sarong"..😂

[@documentmedic9385]

According to my Aikido sensei, the hakama also functioned like chaps did for cowboys. It protected their legs as they walked through brush or rode horses.

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you very much for teaching me!

[@hollistantang9469]

I only knew about hiding the footwork thing... Thanks to aikido training in the past... Thanks Shogo!! And I always believe hakama is a loose end trousers instead of a skirt... It may look like a skirt but it is actually trousers..

[@anayah395]

Hakama represents... Benevolence... ✍️ Justice... ✍️ Courtesy... ✍️ Wisdom... ✍️ Sincerity... ✍️

[@LetsaskShogo]

The virtues of Bushido!

[@r1pbuck]

My understanding was that early samurai were mainly mounted warriors, so naturally a divided lower garment was necessary for riding [and fighting] on horseback. In this way the hakama became identified with the samurai class, and later restricted [more or less] to it.

[@ac7268]

Congrats on the 10k subscribers, i mean, 1.45 million subs 🎉

[@gopikakrishna2910]

My brother always asks about this to me. Thanks for making a vedio.

[@Eric-em9kp]

Your absolutely amazing and doing a great service to share the knowledge of Japanese Culture as well as everything surrounding it! I found you randomly 3 days ago and have started watching every episode you have put out to learn so much of what I love....Japanese Culture! So thank you!

[@dacholoidutau5442]

Just discovered your channel and love your videos!! I bought a hakama about 2 years ago at a convention and had help putting it on--it was probably the comfiest thing I've ever worn 🥺

[@kdefensemartialarts8097]

Thank you for your videos.

[@sheilavil3244]

I love illustration of each your explanation of your video ! They are so cute and fun !

[@mateusarrobas5247]

Great video!!

[@DannyJCash]

Also, the five bushido virtues come from Confucianism's "five constants" (wuchang). Great work, very informative videos! :)

[@johnclarke7626]

Thank you, Shogo. I'm learning so much from your excellent videos. I am starting to train in iaido and love the way the traditional uniforms look.

[@bigbrowntau]

Yep, covering the footwork...unless you're training in naginata, when you have to wear suneate (shin guards). Still, hakama are beautifully comfortable, and I feel my focus improve when in gi and hakama.

[@joshgellis3292]

I just subscribed a few minutes ago. Excellent channel! PBS could LEARN how to make good videos from *_you!_* XD

[@The_Dutch_Samurai]

Domo arigato gosai mas Shogo, for this useful and interesting informationI like your videos. Domo arigato 🙇🏻‍♂️

[@alexpereira665]

Thank you! I learned one more thing about Japanese culture.

[@siyacer]

because awesome

[@bastip.807]

Let's not forget the real reason: Hakama are just damn comfortable to wear!

[@grimthehaunter1330]

Also these skirts look really badass

[@gyakuto7775]

The martial arts author and historian and Shinkage Ryu author Dave Lowry says in his book ‘In the Dojo’ (1st Edition, page 70) that the 5 pleats representing the 5 virtues of the samurai is spurious.

[@luxstellaelunae]

I've worn my first hakama as I reached 2nd kyu level in Aikido years ago. Now I only occasionally do.

[@aazukiart]

Cheers lad!

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you so much!!

[@thomasrobson6370]

short and sweet 😁

[@ichigonojuusan]

Your videos are very informal and easy to understand. とてもすごいビデオです。どうもありがとうございました

[@LetsaskShogo]

I’m very glad you say so!

[@FunkyBukkyo]

Five? I thought there were seven pleats, five upfront and two in the back, and it represents seven virtues of bushido? 義・礼・勇・名誉・仁・真・忠義

[@patrickgorman2070]

Arrigato gozaimashita!!!

[@vasilkaraganov]

Hi Shogo san. Greetings from Bulgaria. I've been following your channel from some time now and your videos on the Samurai culture and Japanese traditions and food/drinks are rather interesting and well appreciated. If I may, I would like to ask you a question regarding Hakama and Gi for practicing martial arts? I started taking lessons on Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū and I am fascinated with this martial art. May you advice on Hakama and Gi brand from Japan and more importantly, whether I should buy a single layer Gi or double layer for indoor training. The weather in Bulgaria can be very similar to Japan. Since the customs fees are high and the release procedure is cumbersome and the shipment fee can be high, I am planning on ordering all year round Gi for at least 2-3 seasons of training.

[@bharadwajkrishnan2860]

Hiding the foot work sounds logical And I agree with it , despite the other reasons you explained

[@KasumiRINA]

Yeah, first time I seen a hakama was on jiujutsu and aikido practitioners, who throw you anywhere in the room without you seeing how they move. Figures it goes way back to hiding your footwork in samurai times.

[@hollistantang9469]

Yes that is also what my aikido instructor told me... And we might have noticed that hakama is more like a wide end trousers than a skirt, despite them looking like a skirt...

[@derpenstein713]

So I realized something after watching the video and this is a slight digression from the main topic. I noticed that in fiction, some swordsman wore kimono rather than hakama. As a westerner, I feel like this was nuanced enough in these stories that I never took real notice of this detail especially not knowing the history behind it. But now that I have thought about it, do you think this would be to show they were no longer samurai and or no longer upheld the virtues of Bushido?

[@MrProfGenius]

Miko also weared hakama in red color. Please make video about Miko in Kyoto ❤️

[@LetsaskShogo]

It’s on my list of videos I want to make!😊

[@notAme_Yomi]

Does anyone know where to go to learn/ask about traditional japanese clothing (besides hakama, kimono, yukata, etc).?

[@devinuzumaki9032]

Hakama are dope because they serve a functional purpose of leg room for footwork

[@keithtorgersen9664]

Hakama make me think of the traditional Scottish kilt by way of both were worn by warriors.

[@aidfrombosna]

hey I was wondering where u got your Hakama from? :) is there a online shop where one can buy these (europe)?

[@kronoscamron7412]

They are very comfortable tbh.

[@LetsaskShogo]

They really are😊

[@feritales5756]

Thanks for the introduction, Shodo-san! I have long been wondering what the spoiler at the back is for. Is that called "Koshi-ita / 腰板" ? Mine is made of rubber, but I doubt this part of the Hakama from the Heian to the Edo period was made of rubber. What was this originally made of, and most importantly: what's the purpose?

[@LetsaskShogo]

The plate on the back, is for you to maintain a good posture!

[@CJ33669]

🐉

[@tyladron8836]

And man do I find my Hakama comfortable

[@JustinHill-dr5pl]

I would love you to train me one-day

[@anaideviveiros6597]

Very interesting! But I have a question: Do you know the anime Bleach? There, the shinigami wear what I thought were black hakamas, but they actually call it "shihakusho". What is the difference? 🤔

[@tykep1009]

It's just a fictional "cool" name for their black hakama uniform made up by the author.

[@JLoC.2479]

@SHOGO , trained basic Iaido w oversized edo katana , what I want to kno is a daisho only a wakazashii abd edo katana? Or like me can u wear two katana made in a set w identical hilts but one oversized edo katana one oversized ko katana the difference is single edge double hand grip but I wanted an exact pair and I can wear them like daisho on in two intertwined leather sleeves that hold saya outside belt w thin strap holds both saya crossed at my side , taught w one katana and tanto so adding 3rd blade is perfect I have both katana and tanto

[@Guven9000]

May you tell me, Is hakama skirt or trousers ? Thank you!

[@kazunori8565]

Low key I wear it with my yukata, even when I'm not practicing iaido

[@treysanders2839]

Where do I find a hakama and a kendogi

[@smithiegramps6326]

I never bothered asking why they wearing skirts in the place. They are unique

[@GatekeeperGuardian-wv3cd]

Honestly I'd always heard hakama described as "samurai pants" rather than as skirts.

[@chief_7999]

Why do some hakamas like mine have a 6th fold under the 3rd one? I own 4 and Half of them has a 6th fold

[@roninsurvivor4640]

はじめまして. Shogo san. I was under the impression there are 7 virtues of bushido. Justice, courage, benevolence politeness, sincerity, honor and loyalty. Please comment and thank you for your attention. ありがとございます。

[@EdmondStreetzz]

Where can I buy affordable Hakama set for laido, wanted to use in a photoshoot I have a katana too

[@LetsaskShogo]

tozandoshop.com/ Please check this website out for me! I’ve got almost all of my items I use for my training here😊

[@wemrich3405]

Terra in kingdom hearts birth by sleep wears a hakama

[@SatsumaTengu14]

Also, hakama are not technically skirts as traditionally there are two separate pant legs. Obviously they are very large pant legs though, lol. Today many rental hakama, say wedding rental ones are actual skirts though.

[@KaoMinerva]

I can't find any that are large leg trousers

[@yerber5884]

Can foreigners where this, for exemple: For like a larp event. Would that be okay?

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you so much for your question! Feel free to wear it anywhere anytime you like! But you might need a little bit of practice though...

[@LittlePixieBot]

Of course you can. I own a pair of martial arts-quality hakama. I actually wore them once to a karate class to entertain the young students and to educate them about hakama. Because mine contains real indigo dye, I have them dry-cleaned with printed instructions on how to pleat them.

[@OmikronZeta]

The rules regarding cultural appropriation are very ill-defined. Wearing a national costume when training in a martial art of that culture seems to be regarded as acceptable; likewise when cosplaying as a fictional character who wears that garment, if you are at a convention. But conversely, wearing the same garment as a Halloween costume is considered problematic.

[@hollistantang9469]

Of course you can, but wearing hakama is rather complicated... Especially tying those knots. So far, I've only seen my old aikido instructors wearing them. In aikido, hakama was also something to show the "status" of the wearer... Only from the first "dan" people could wear it, and that also means they are qualified to be instructors or sensei

[@MikeGill87]

Just guess which part of starting with iaido am I dreading the most... :-)

[@1070_ace]

question, is a samurai hakama dresses?

[@michaelshort2388]

they are pants, just very very large baggy pants which make them look like a skirt.

[@mr.nob0dy712]

I have a question, can a villager become a samurai that time?

[@LetsaskShogo]

During the Sengoku war period(1467~1615) it was possible! There are many famous samurai who became powerful warlords that were originally peasants!

[@luxstellaelunae]

@@LetsaskShogo like Toyotomi Hideyoshi, right?

[@grzyruth9205]

I like hakama, but goodness they are annoying to fold and take care of.

[@Ne0spartan]

Shogo I think that the word hakama is singular and plural in English, I have. never heard/read hakamas only hakama

[@readjordan2257]

Like so many cultures had or still have something the uninitiated call "skirts" That i feel its kind of discriminatory or at least ignorant to think of this style of dress as feminine. Again, in most if not all of these cultures theres still use for them today. Even high heel shoes use to be a man thing until the permanent switch, although there have recently been other ways a man can at least marginally increase his height. Going back to the "skirts"..even in cuktures that don't have them, wearing flowing wardrobes (like "dresses" or "onsie hoodies") seems to permeate all cultures. So.. yeah. Idk seems like we all have the same needs even if for slightly different reasons sometimes.

[@jarilahdesluoma8028]

What historical facts is your idea of hiding feet based on? In my understanding that is quite modern idea and doesn't really make any sense in practical terms either. It seems that even in you look the movie industry which is quite resent history comparing the age of the samurai hakama lengt have seem to change from short to longer.

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you very much for a comment! It’s something that I have learned through my training with my martial art masters, and I think they’re referring to the time form the Edo period, when the Japanese martial arts today started to be commonly trained by samurai too😊

[@jarilahdesluoma8028]

Yes it kenjutsu schools did bloom in Edo period and and obviously clothing too as they didn't practice in full armour anymore which obviously led to different tactics in sword fighting too and the bloom of huge amount of different ryuha. In any case I am a bit sceptical for the hamaka part hiding the feet for tactical purposes, I think that is most probably more modern idea. Someone would need to do some research about the matter to get that sorted, otherwise is just a speculation:-)@@LetsaskShogo

[@Saturday4378]

Scottish men wore kilts *shrugs*

[@dogpoop85]

Didn't they keep dust and dirt off the kimono on horseback?

[@fredricclack7137]

Y subtitles- in English -when speaking English: Distracting!

[@hanoh2904]

Is it a skirt or very wide pants?

[@sebthi7890]

ok you can hide your steps, but couldn't one trip over the hem of the hakama? I guess it needs practice to move fluently. IfIf the hakama doesn't fit properly, it could slip?

[@cubisticplace4911]

They aren’t skirts, they are pants lol

[@NieroshaiTheSable]

I was under the impression that they were really baggy pleated pants. Video games did not help this.

[@KonjikiNoYami666]

I wear them cuz wearing normal skirt attract peoples eyes and thats uncomfortable

[@cheezyfro144]

Shogo: Hakama Bon Clay: Okama?

[@LetsaskShogo]

😂😂😂

[@ArisandBeth]

At first I thought it was skirt...

[@matthewrooke819]

How do you ride a horse in that?

[@Judara]

They are pants not skirts. So you can also ride a horse

[@brandonbentley5453]

Comfortable and free moving clothes and necessary in combat!

[@rudichong3869]

There is something that u are missing shogo hakama is actually a follow up of chinese hanfu during the han chinese period example we chinese wear ruquan hanfu which is the original version of the samurai hakama only difference is that the hakama is actually a trousers that look like shirt but the ruquan hanfu is a skirt that clearly represents a true chinese traditional Clothes in other words hakamas actually evolved from chinese hanfu and the heian period Japan is actually a copycat version of the han period

[@MarcPiery]

Why? Eating too much soy. They needed to eat more meat and animal based protein. It was partially addressed during the American occupation with the introduction of eggs, as the Japanese seemed so unhealthy that the American health officials worried that they needed protein that was very easy to digest. So, they brought shiploads of leghorn chickens for egg production. And they encouraged the Japanese to drink more milk. Which in popular media seems popular after spa baths. Unfortunately, today it seems that Japan’s men are becoming “herbivores.” Though that actually seems to be a problem everywhere these days.

[@hamzahaidar2084]

Comparing hakama to skirt is like telling roman tunics were frocks

[@mr.cebuano2843]

In china they are clothing Named Yishang/衣裳 and belongs to the Han Chinese traditional clothis hanfu/漢服 but the difference is that the yishang is more like ''rock'' than trousers .and to yishang you can wear the traditional "jacket" named Dachang/大氅.

[@teddybearisms2505]

They are not skirts. Any more than kilts were.

[@user-bf8bt2wf7d]

no no no🤣 those were not skirts ---- those were more like a scottish kilt .. it looks to me more like a scottish kilt.. haha i would not dare tell a samurai that his kilt looked like a skirt xd it would be seppuku to do so.. and that's purse is called a sagemono -- often contains tobacco rolling papers weed and god knows what else peyote too probably .. and hashish (now keep in mind that in ancient times; having these articles was daijyoubu as entheogens and hallucinogens were somewhat the norm.. drug laws were probably nonexistent then) .. out of curiosity though i did google on ebay a sagemono and you would be shocked at the price 🤑🤑🤑🤑

[@user-bf8bt2wf7d]

i would wear it

[@georgekenshin]

Hiding your footwork....No it's not true.