A survey and experimental study were performed in young women to examine wearing comfort of modern kimono. The survey consisted of questioners about the part of kimono which elicited pressure or exhaustive sensation in 333 women. Pressure sensation was most frequently noted at the part of obi, while exhaustive sensation in the whole upper part of the body, especially in the shoulder and back. Secondly, clothing pressure of kimono was measured in 9 subjects wearing furisode, komon, hakama or yukata. As a result, the clothing pressure was high at the upper edge of obi, especially in the axially region. A three-way layout ANOVA revealed a significant correlation between the kind of kimono and clothing pressure at measuring points with the risk of 0.01.

The species of plants painted on the outer garment as designs have been reflected the backgrounds such as the society, culture, or people’s interest. We studied species of plant pictures on the outer garments in different periods. At first they were found from Heian period. The total number of plants increased from Azuchi-momoyama period, especially in late Edo period. The plants with the largest number were Chrysanthemum, following Pinus, Prunus mume, Prunus sp. (Cherry blossoms), Phyllostachys sp., Acer, and Paeonia suffruticosa. The number of plants were little in Heian period, as Phyllostachys sp. and Paulownia tomentosa. In Kamakura period, the Chrysanthemum, Prunus sp., Salix babylonica, Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus and Patrinia scabiosaefolia appeared for first time. In Muromachi periods, Acer, Paeonia suffruticosa, Lespedeza sp., Camellia japonica, Taraxacum platycarcum, Viola mandshurica, Equisetum arvense var. arvense, Eupatorium fortunei, and Gentiana scabra var. buergeri were begun to use. In general the species of plants used as designs tended to change at each periods. Especially, Camellia japonica much increased number of species in Azuchimomoyama period, but decreased the number from Edo period. We discussed the reason of the fact from the viewpoint of social background or other’s reasons.