Student Faces Criticism For Wearing Kimono For Japanese Culture Presentation

"A few people said it was cultural appropriation"

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• January 13, 2024

In today's globalized world, understanding and respecting different cultures is both a valuable skill and a sensitive issue. It's common for schools to encourage students to explore various cultures, aiming to foster a sense of global awareness and respect.

However, this often leads to complex situations where the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation becomes blurred. In a similar vein, a student at a school faced a challenging situation.

The assignment was to pick a country and delve deeply into its culture. Enthusiastically, the student chose Japan, drawn to its unique lifestyle and rich history.

To show their dedication and interest, they decided to wear a purple kimono on the project presentation day, embracing the opportunity to dress up and honor the country they researched.

However, the day didn't go as expected. Amidst the presentations and cultural displays, a few voices rose, labeling the student's choice of wearing a kimono as cultural appropriation. This feedback left the student in a whirlwind of emotions, primarily feeling guilty and confused.

They wondered if their attempt to show admiration for Japanese culture was misinterpreted or misinformed. Was the student's choice to wear a kimono an innocent act of admiration, or did it unintentionally cross into appropriation?

For a research project in school, OP chose Japan because they were fascinated by its lifestyle.

On the project day, OP wore a purple kimono to show support for a country of their choice, but some individuals criticized it as cultural appropriation.

Wearing a kimono is cultural appreciation, not appropriation.

People just want to make others feel bad without reason.

Wearing a kimono is fine unless it has special cultural significance like a wedding or funeral kimono.

Japanese appreciate when non-Japanese individuals show interest in Japanese culture.

The people who claim otherwise don't understand Japanese culture.

Wearing a kimono with respect is a form of appreciation, not appropriation.

People seem to be causing unnecessary issues.

OP should stay confident.

Based on OP's academic research on Japan and respectful kimono-wearing, OP shouldn't be considered wrong.

Many who raise "cultural appropriation" concerns seek to keep races separate with distinct cultures, resembling disguised white nationalism.

Wearing a kimono is like showing respect and interest in Japanese culture, not taking something without permission. Some people might make others feel bad about it for no reason.

It's generally okay to wear a kimono unless it's for something super special like a wedding or a funeral in Japan. Japanese folks usually like it when people from other countries want to learn about their culture. But some people might not understand that and say it's bad.

Wearing a kimono with good intentions and respect is a way to show that you like Japanese culture, not that you're trying to steal it or make fun of it. Some folks seem to be causing trouble when it's not necessary.

OP wore the kimono for their project and should feel good about it because they did their research and wanted to learn. They're not doing anything wrong.

Damjan