Kim-Oh-No! Kim Kardashian's 'Kimono' Shapewear Gets Backlashed In Japan And Yes, It's A Bummer!
Kim Oh No! There's another bum-mer for Kim Kardashian and she has managed to pi** off a lot of people this time.
American television star Kim Kardashian has sparked debate in Japan by naming her new line of shapewear Kimono, prompting some to accuse her of disrespecting the traditional outfit.
The pop culture icon unveiled the new Kimono line on Twitter, revealing she had been working for a year on the underwear to offer "solutions for women that actually work."
Introducing Kimono Solutionwear? for every body. Coming Soon in sizes XXS - 4XL in 9 shades. @kimonobody #KimonoBody
¡ª Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 25, 2019
Introducing Kimono Solutionwear? for every body. Coming Soon in sizes XXS - 4XL in 9 shades. @kimonobody #KimonoBody
¡ª Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 25, 2019But the announcement garnered mixed reaction both at home and in Japan, with some offering their criticism on Twitter using the hashtag #KimOhNo.
"She's been to Japan many times. I'm shocked. She has no respect," tweeted one user in Japanese. "I like Kim Kardashian, but please pick a name other than kimono if it's underwear," wrote another.
"The Japanese government should file a protest against Kardashian," wrote a third.
And not everyone was opposed to the name, with some users arguing it could offer a chance to promote a traditional outfit that is declining in popularity even in Japan. Read the tweets here:
Kimono is not underwear.
¡ª ¤Ì¤¨ (@yosinotennin) June 26, 2019
It is Japanese traditional outfit.#kimono #KimOhNo pic.twitter.com/kdfbMr9geB
Nice underwear, but as a Japanese woman who loves to wear our traditional dress,? kimono, I find the naming of your products baffling (since it has no resemblance to kimono), if not outright culturally offensive, especially if it¡¯s merely a word play on your name. Pls reconsider
¡ª Yuko Kato (@yukokato1701) June 26, 2019
This is my kimono.
¡ª Sheila Cliffe (@kimonosheila) June 26, 2019
Not your underwear.#kimonosheila#KimOhNo#kimono@KimKardashian pic.twitter.com/nOr2Sj0iIW
Unbearably handsome in kimono. This is what kimono looks like. (The right side is yukata, a type of kimono in light summerly fabric)#KimOhNo pic.twitter.com/ToZmHQeIdQ
¡ª ¶Éß„È~ (@YoWatShiinaEsq) June 25, 2019
This is #kimono I wore to my wedding. I'd like Kim to imagine how she'd feel if someone treated her wedding, prom or baptism dresses as lingerie.
¡ª Misako Oi (@misakohi) June 26, 2019
"Kimono" are not just clothes but are a symbol that evokes precious memories and important life events. #KimOhNo pic.twitter.com/gD2KrTzsLR
Dear @KimKardashian This is #Kimono
¡ª ¥ß¥µ¥?¥á¥ó¥¿¥ë¥Ø¥ë¥¹¥Ö¥í¥¬©` (@misakitokyo) June 26, 2019
Please respect our culture. #KimOhNo pic.twitter.com/atrS63E8eU
Absolutely tasteless and awful. You have ZERO respect to the Japanese culture, do you. What's wrong with you.
¡ª TrinityNYC (@TrinityNYC) June 25, 2019
I'm from Japan. For us, Kimono represents the beauty & elegance of the country's tradition. Your spandex underwear brand has nothing to do with it. I'm offended.
Kimono: has a centuries long rich history and is deeply embedded in the traditions and culture of a country.
¡ª Kyla Hsia (@kylahsia) June 26, 2019
Kim Kardashian: OMg It hAs mY nAmE iN iT!#Kimohno
Or these. These are kimono. Kimono is a traditional Japanese robe. @KimKardashian #KimOhNo
¡ª ¶Éß„È~ (@YoWatShiinaEsq) June 25, 2019
Your line of shapewear is great. But you don't have to misappropriate someone else's culture. pic.twitter.com/caCbnTBqmh
One is KIMONO. One is Kim shamelessly selling a line of shapewear. Which y¡¯all don¡¯t need. #kimono pic.twitter.com/6mP0oDqPvn
¡ª Tamlyn Tomita (@thetamlyntomita) June 25, 2019
These are my grandmother's kimonos. Some of these are dyed and embroidered by herself. When I was child, I loved watching she embroidered on kimono cloth. My grandmother who makes beautiful embroidery is also beautiful and I always felt it magical. #KimOhNo pic.twitter.com/29v3pzCGDn
¡ª Ginji_GoldFish (@Ginji_GoldFish) June 26, 2019
Or these. These are kimono. Kimono is a traditional Japanese robe. @KimKardashian #KimOhNo
¡ª ¶Éß„È~ (@YoWatShiinaEsq) June 25, 2019
Your line of shapewear is great. But you don't have to misappropriate someone else's culture. pic.twitter.com/caCbnTBqmh
Once a standard of the Japanese wardrobe, the kimono is now often reserved for special occasions, such as weddings and coming-of-age ceremonies, and is mostly worn by women. And while the elaborate outfits might appear to have little in common with the snug garb being offered by Kardashian, kimonos are not only often hugely expensive but known for being hard to wear.
A lot of women frequently hire experts to dress them in kimono because it's hassle-free and requires seemingly endless nipping, tucking and strapping.