Have you ever tried Kanzashi?
These days, there are modern fashionable Kanzashi stores in tourist city!
Kanzashi confines a women’s hair and very popular traditionally.
Basically, it’s a rule not to let women’s hair hang down to the neck part, so kanzashi is a necessary thing for Kimono.
Today, we’ll show you more details about Kanzashi!
The History of Kanzashi
Kanzashi is really fun to choose because we can change hair arranges by them.
Normally, it’s easy to roll up women’s hair into a ball and accessorize with Kanzashi.
With little arranges we can change more.
In these modern times, we don’t have an especially rule but in the past days’ ornament hanging kanzashi wear on front hair and simple Kanzashi wear on back hair.
For the formal scene, it’s one of the manners to wear Kanzashi.
In Jomon period, people started to use a stick as a charm against evil influence.
After the Heian period, let hair down style became popular and Kanzashi was rarely used.
In the later Edo period, women started to wear Kanzashi and were in fashion.
Craftsmen made “Hirauchi Kanzashi”, “Tama Kanzashi”, “Hana Kanzashi” and “Birabira Kanzashi”.
In the Meiji period, western style hair-do became popular and Japanese style one was on the decline.
But in this modern life, Kanzashi revaluated and reexamined by its beauty and utility.
There are many varieties of materials and shapes.
The Spindle of Kanzashi
The base of spindles is one type and two types.
One Spindle
This is one spindle type and it is orthodox.
We can wear roll our hair up to ball and just wear to hold easily.
Two Spindle Type
This kanzashi’s spindles are separated into two.
This types is a little bit weak and wear to accessorize.
This one fixes hair style and seldom fall.
Variety of Kanzashi
Tama Kanzashi（Ball Kanzashi）
Ornament ball is on the tip of the spindle.
This is representative of kanzashi.
We can enjoy lots of varieties with Kimono.
Popular Tama Kanzashi is glass made with beadwork.
These transparent Kanzashi fit perfectly to summer Kimono.
Hirauti Kanzashi（Flat Kanzashi）
This has plane ornaments on the tip of the spindle.
Materials are Japanese lacquer, tortoiseshell, woods and metals.
You’ll be surprised by its detailed decorations.
Yuremono Kanzashi（Swinging Kanzashi）
This is swinging ornament Kanzashi.
Ornaments appeal its existence and very attractive!
In the Edo period, unmarried women wore Birabira Kanzashi which has many metal chains with birds and butterfly ornaments.
Musubi Kanzashi（Knot Kanzashi）
This is knot ornament Kanzashi and has beautiful patterns.
Tsumami Zaiku（Knob Crafted Kanzashi)
Tsumami zaiku made of tiny little cloth and fold up.
Then take them with hands and gather to make flower figures.
It also called Flower Kanzashi.
Each of the decorations like birds and flowers is colorful.
It’s mainly used by Maiko and coordinate with Yukata and child’s Kimono.
Bati Figure Kanzashi（Plectrum Kanzashi）
This is the plectrum figure of Shamisen and mainly spindles are separated into two.
There are beautiful latticework and Japanese lacquer ornaments.
Expensive one can be used for the formal scene.
Decoration Kusi・Hair Comb
Decoration Kusi used not only comb women’s hair but also tie women’s chignon.
The difference between Japanese comb and Western comb is the width.
Japanese style has tooth only in the middle of the comb.
We can coordinate with Furisode and bride’s Kimono.
This hair comb is a long stick type and separated into two.
This Kougai rolls hair and makes chignon.
Mainly used with hair comb.
Summary
These Kanzashi can be very fashionable for the casual and formal scene.
We can choose simple, basic, traditional,unique types.
Probably you’ll see special Kanzashi for western dress.
If you interested in Kanzashi, let’s try one!