Try-on-Yukata workshop in China for the transmission of Kimono culture to foreign countries

(Purpose) Try-on-Yukata workshop was held as a pilot educational program to transmit Kimono culture, one part of the traditional cultures of Japan, to China (Shanghai) with about 40 young Chinese people in September, 2010 in cooperation with the Japanese consulate. <BR>(Method) At the beginning, we had a lecture about the Kimono culture with a local interpreter. The participants tried, with our help, to put on Yukata after watching a DVD showing how to put them on. We carried out a survey about (1) interest in modern and traditional Japanese culture before the workshop, (2) evaluation of DVD after watching, and (3) the feeling of wearing Yukata after the workshop.<BR> (Result) Things from modern Japanese culture, comics, animation, novels, music, and game were popular, among other things. They knew them from television and Internet. About traditional culture, judo, the tea ceremony, flower arrangement and Kimono were popular. They knew them from television, Internet, and books. School did not contribute so much. Through an analysis of their ability to put on the Yukata, they felt that they did not have enough skill though they felt a good understanding and interest about it. About the feeling of wearing, they felt happy, tight and formal. <BR> As mentioned above, it is expected that the try-on-Yukata workshop can raise awareness among Chinese people, and the interest in Kimono can create more understanding towards such culture in Japan and it can contribute to the international exchange and to transmit traditional culture to the world.