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Kimono - Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)

The attire in the Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) series would undoubtedly be a key aspect that would set it apart from other anime released in the same story timeline so far. The vibrant colors and elegant designs of each character's kimono throughout the series leave its fans eager for the next entry of characters with beautiful kimono designs.

Brief History (Kimono vs Yukata)

The kimono is often confused with the lightweight, casual version called the yukata (浴衣, loosely translated as "bath clothes"). The yukata is primarily worn during the summer season due to its thin cotton fabric. Thus, it is worn to enter hot springs (温泉, onsen) and any activity performed in hot and humid weather, and also as pajamas due to its thin and comfortable fabric. In contrast, the kimono is made of silk, which makes it heavy to wear. Therefore, it is primarily worn in winter, autumn, and spring to protect the body from the cold and temperatures. It can also be worn in summer depending on the occasion: festivals and traditional performances.

In Western terminology, a kimono can be considered a piece of outerwear, and a yukata can be considered a hooded ensemble. Both yukata and kimono have patterns and designs sold in different colors. They also require additional pieces such as a belt (帯, obi) and an undergarment (長襦袢, nagajuban).

However, kimonos feature embroidered patterns and designs, unlike yukatas with simple prints. Kimono patterns have specific meanings, emphasizing social status, birthplace, personal values (pattern meanings), and also family crests called kamon (家紋). Finally, due to the fabric and materials used, yukatas are less expensive than kimonos.

Haori

A haori (羽織) is considered a cardigan or light jacket by Western standards and is worn over a kimono. It is primarily worn from autumn to spring, but except for fashion and formal occasions, it can be worn in summer. It is normally made with drawstrings that connect the lapels to close it and create a jacket effect, or it is held open to reveal the kimono.

Tanjiro Kamado , Zenitsu Agatsuma , and the members of the Demon Slayer Corps all wear haori rather than kimono in the series. The main character who wears a kimono is Nezuko Kamado due to the kimono being fastened with an obi belt.

Character Specific Haori/Kimono

The protagonist Tanjiro Kamado's kimono is a black and green checkered pattern. The checkered pattern worn by all members of his family on their kimonos—except for Nezuko when she becomes a demon—is said to symbolize prosperity and successful relationships. In this regard, Tanjiro has a generous personality and always enjoys his encounters.

When Nezuko becomes a demon, she wears a predominantly pink kimono with black hemp leaf patterns, a white and red checkered obi with an orange obi strap, a light green sash matching the color of her bamboo mouthpiece, and a faded black haori. Since ancient times, the hemp leaf has represented the hope for prosperous health and protection from evil. In Japanese history, the end of the Taisho era and the beginning of the Meiji era were infamous for their high infant mortality rate. It was customary to wrap a newborn in a kimono made from hemp leaves to ward off evil spirits and grant them a healthy and prosperous life.

Zenitsu wears a haori in shades of orange and yellow with Japanese-style fish scales, which are spaced further apart than traditional fish scale patterns, making it a unique design. This Edo-era design depicted a snake and a spider shedding their skin to symbolize deliverance from evil spirits.

Kimono items

Following the release of the anime television series in April 2019, cosplay and fashion apparel from the series began selling worldwide. The most popular item was the main character, Tanjiro's haori and his unique rising sun earrings.

Outfits for Tanjiro and other characters can be found at popular online cosplay stores. Prices vary depending on the characters' popularity, with the top five being Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Giyuu Tomioka, and Inosuke. Tanjiro's outfit starts at around $40 (shipping tax not included). Nezuko's outfit starts at around $50. Zenitsu's costs around $50 or $60.

Inosuke, while he doesn't usually wear a shirt throughout the series, his unique boar head and boots can be quite expensive. The starting price to complete the Inosuke cosplay is $30.

Finally, a popular supporting character, Giyu Tomioka, has a unique design consisting of a half-brown, half-patterned haori. The pattern is said to represent a turtle shell, which ancient fortune tellers believe represents "God's will" and longevity. Giyuu cosplay starts at $40.

It's easy to avoid pirated versions of character haori and kimono in physical stores because you can inspect them. Online stores can be tricky because the images sometimes don't match the actual product. To avoid purchasing pirated kimono and haori, fans are advised to use a trusted online store and pay attention to the details of the image and product description.