An Approach to Implement Wearing of the Yukata in Classes to Promote the Understanding of Traditional Japanese Culture

[出版社版]This is a report on class lessons that were conducted to deepen understanding for the “kimono” culture where students learnt about the wearing of the Yukata through assembling of miniature kimonos, prior practice to tie the obi end and pair learning. We analyzed the results that were investigated during class and examined the results of the questionnaire that were given to the students to describe their impressions on wearing the Yukata and what they thought was the superior points of the Yukata. From the results to the questionnaire, there were many favorable impressions on wearing the kimono, but we also noticed that they felt a little restricted by the whole experience of the Yukata. It was recognized that those who expressed a higher degree of understanding and interest had the tendency to indicate a positive attitude for future participation. We found that the students experienced feelings of elation, newness, and satisfaction through the learning practice and that pair learning was effective in learning to share, help and recognize each other. When asked to describe the superior points of the Yukata through the question, “How would you convey it to a foreign person or a person who have never worn a kimono,” many described it based on their wearing experience of the Yukata and the class contents. We found the wearing practice of the Yukata was very effective in recognizing the superior points of the Yukata and in trying to convey the concept to others