Affluent Japanese Family (2005)


Figure 1.-- Here we have a fascinating portrait of a modern Japanese family. We have no details about the family, but it looks to be a very affluent family. There are several interesting aspects to the image. The children are dressed in traditional clothing, but not the adults.

Here we have a fascinating portrait of a modern Japanese family. We have no details about the family, but it looks to be a very affluent family. There are several interesting aspects to the image. The children are dressed in traditional clothing, but not the adults. I think earlier traditional dress was very common for women. Here it seems the traditional clothing is seen as appropriate for children. I'm not sure how common this is in Japan, but suspect it reflects a general trend. Unfortunately I do not know enough about Japanese traditionl clothing to describe the garments. Not do I know where these outfits would be worn beyond formal portraits. Body language is interesting in these portraits. Note that none of the individuals here are holding hands. Even the mother is not holding the little girl's hand. Strangely the parents have chosen a background that provides an overall cold feeling.

The Family

Here we have a fascinating portrait of a modern Japanese family. We have no details about the family, but it looks to be a very affluent family. Body language is interesting in these portraits. Note that none of the individuals here are holding hands. Even the mother is not holding the little girl's hand. Strangely the parents have chosen a background that provides an overall cold feeling. I'm not sure if this is a common convention in Japanese portraits.

Occassion

There are several interesting aspects to the image. The portrait was probably taken around the time of the shichi-go-san festival. This is a traditional Shinto festival held in late October/early November so the image may have been from last year or earlier. The festival is held in honor of girls aged 7 and 3 and boys aged 5. (Shichi go san literally means 7-5-3). Little girls of 3 and 7 are dressed up in elaborate kimono (traditional Japanese dress). In the past, 5 year old boys were decked out in dressy Western style clothes (typically a short pants suit) but in the last couple of decades, boys have followed their sisters in eschewing Western-origin clothes for traditional Japanese clothes. So you now see 5 year boys in traditional elaborate wear at the time of shichi-go-san.

Traditional Clothing

The children are dressed in traditional clothing, but not the adults. I think earlier traditional dress was very common for women. Here it seems the traditional clothing is seen as appropriate for children. I'm not sure how common this is in Japan, but suspect it reflects a general trend. Unfortunately I do not know enough about Japanese traditionl clothing to describe the garments. Not do I know where these outfits would be worn beyond formal portraits. A Japanese reader provides some helpful insights, "You wonder whether children are now wearing traditional clothes more than adults. No. Because it is the shichi-go-san festival, the focus is on the children. But that is virtually the only occasion when children would be dressed like that. Young (unmarried) women will often have (or rent) kimonos for special occasions: weddings, the coming of age ceremony that honors people turning 20, and New Years holidays. Until recently this was only young women. Young men have in recent years also started wearing traditional clothes for New Years. The last time older men will typically wear formal traditional dress is at their wedding, although you do see some men now and again experimenting with kimono as street dress. Most older women will have a more subdued kimono and wear it for weddings, funerals, and at New Years."

Portraits

My guess is that the family had a five year old boy and a three year old girl. It is customary to take the kids to a photographers studio for a formal portrait at the time of shichi-go-san. Since in this family both children were elaborately dressed, the parents also put on their best (Western) clothes. The background is obviously something provided by the studio. Japanese formal studio portraits tend to be very formal and stiff.






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Created: 5:57 PM 10/13/2005
Last updated: 4:23 PM 10/16/2005