About Hakama - IWATA online shop

＞About HAKAMA	＞Product Comparison Table
＞About the front and back belts	＞Custom HAKAMA belt
＞About the size	＞All cotton HAKAMA are made-to-order
＞Washing the HAKAMA	＞Special orders and Repairs
＞How to fold a HAKAMA

About

Iwata’s HAKAMA are not only re-purposed Kendo.
We listened to the voices of our customers and created a HAKAMA that is durable and designed to meet the specific needs of the Aikido practitioner.
※The back belt has seven lines of stitching. The koshiita is made of rubber.
Standard Hakama, the Backside sits about 1.9cm higher than the front(the backside is about 1.9cm longer than the front to accommodate this).
There are two types of HAKAMA, cotton and polyester, and three variants of each.
We also take custom orders.

Product Comparison Table(Polyester Hakama)

	PolyesterA	PolyesterB thin	PolyesterB thick
color	black / blue ....	black / blue	black / blue
thickness	medium	thin	thick
weight	950g	860g	1000g
materials	polyester65％ rayon35％	polyester85％ Linen15％	polyester100％
price	●	●●	●●
comment	・standard model ・recommended for beginners (to advanced) ・easy maintenance	・breathble and quick drying ・light weight ・recommended for summer (available for all seasons)	・resistant to friction ・high durability ・silky and luxurious

thickness and weight are based on polyester A size 25

About the front and back belts

Standard belt lengths are 400cm for the front belt and 180cm for the back belt.
If the waist size does not exceed 85cm, a 400cm front belt will comfortably wrap around 4 times※.

Please note: Depending on the method used to tie, 400cm may not be long enough for those with waist sizes of 85cm or less.

※How to wrap 4 times around your body※
Start by placing the HAKAMA on your belly.
1. Wrap the front belt behind you and cross in the back.
2. Return to the front and cross in the front.
3. Wrap to the back again, crossing one more time.
4. Return to the front and tie.
This is counted as "4 times".
If you tie the belt 4 times like this, the length needed is calculated as "(Girth x 4) + 80～100cm".
Even if the girth is over 85cm, those who will not wrap the belt 4 times around the body may use a 400cm front belt.

Custom HAKAMA belt

Custom HAKAMA belt lengths are available. (Additional fee required)
Extra manufacturing and delivery time required. Please ask when ordering.
Extra fee for lengthen of the front belt

length	401〜450cm	451〜500cm	501cm〜
Fee	￥3,300	￥4,400	￥5,500

Please select the required length in "options"

Shortening of the front or back belt are available : ￥2,200 (for any length)
Lengthen of the back belt are available : ￥2,200 (for any length)
We can customize our HAKAMA in many ways (eg: Side slit depth, length, etc.).
Click here

About the size

Please note:
Iwata Shokai hakama sizes indicate the length from the bottom of the front hakama belt to the hem, the Japanese "shaku" scale. (approx. 38 cm).
This differs from the U.S. "foot", EU "meter".
(i.e., 1 shaku is appx. 38 cm. Size 28 is 2 shaku + 8 sun. which is appx. 106 cm)
On the website, we have a size list corresponding to height and gender.
Please check size list

Sizes will differ based on the method of tying. If you prefer a precise measurement, please come to the shop.

All cotton HAKAMA are made-to-order

We do not keep any in stock. Order to delivery time differs depending on the season.
(usually, manufacturing takes 2 to 4 weeks)
Also, indigo dyed HAKAMA look purple at first
But by soaking in water several times, it will become an indigo tone.
Sweat and moisture might cause color transfer from HAKAMA to Dogi so please wash immediately when it occurs
Caution) Indigo dyed products cause a lot of discoloration.
Please do not forget to rinse it by water before use

Indigo-dyed hakama gradually change color due to use and washing.
Usually, the initial deep purple color lightens and brightens to blue.
After wearing or washing, please refold the pleats to maintain them.
Although Indigo dyed Hakama requires more time to produce, they have a unique texture and quality that other hakama do not possess.
Iwata Shokai's cotton hakama are made by a single craftsman who handles the entire process from cloth cutting to completion, carefully finishing each item one by one.
The process of Indigo Dying, "Aizome" is unique to Japan and has a history of over 800 years.
We hope that you will enjoy your hakama over time.

Product Comparison Chart（HAKAMA Cotton）

	HAKAMA Cotton Black	HAKAMA #8800 blue indigo （Bushu-Sho-Aizome）	HAKAMA #11000 blue indigo （Bushu-Sho-Aizome）
Color	black	indigo blue	indigo blue
Thickness	●●	●	●●●
Weight	1.2kg	1.1kg	1.2kg
Faded color	No	Yes	Yes
Fabric material	100% cotton	100% cotton	100% cotton
Shrinkage (length)	1%	7%	8%
Shrinkage(width)	1%	5%	2%
Price	●●	●●	●●●
Comment	Thick and shiny fabric Durable and ideal for intense practice	Recommended for those who enjoy aging. Durable and breathable Lighter and easier to handle than HAKAMA #11000 blue indigo	Recommended for those who enjoy aging. Stronger and heavier than HAKAMA #8800 blue indigo The highest quality fabric of Bushu indigo dyeing with dignity

Thickness and weight are based on black cotton size 25.
* Indigo hakama shrink when exposed to moisture (e.g., washing, etc.) We allow for this when manufacturing. The hakama will be slightly longer than the label size because of this.

About the sizes of indigo dyed HAKAMA
Indigo dyed HAKAMA (#6000 #10000) will shrink after the washing before use.
So, we suggest that you order half to one size larger than the size chart or your polyester IWATA)HAKAMA that you already own.
However, the size after shrinking depends on the situations such as water temperature, water quality, and how to wash, so please consider this as a rough estimate.

Washing the HAKAMA

・Hand washing
Soak in water containing, fold into a manageable size and wash gently by pressing down on the garment repeatedly.
Rinse in clear water, repeating two or three times.
After washing, do not wring strongly.
Line up the two cords on either side of the back stay clip in place with clothespins and hang to dry in the shade.
Fold and align the front and back belts of the hakama, and fasten them in place with clothespins. Air dry but not in direct sunlight.
・Machine Washing
Place the garment in a large clothing net, wash at “gentle” or “delicate” setting without using the spin cycle.
After washing, do not wring strongly.
Line up the two cords on either side of the back stay clip in place with clothespins and hang to dry in the shade.
*NOTE*
Never use a dryer, because HAKAMA will shrink.
・Dry Cleaning
Select a professional dry-cleaner. Be sure to inform the establishment that natural rubber is used in the KOSHIITA and keep pleats in shape.
Polyester and cotton black HAKAMA are made to not discolor But if you keep these in wet condition for a long time, sometimes the dye bleeds out.
Please be careful.

How to wash an indigo HAKAMA(before use)
We strongly recommend hand washing indigo hakama.

Soak in clear water, fold into a manageable size and wash gently by pressing down on the garment repeatedly.
Repeat this washing several times while changing water Do not scrub.
After washing, do not wring strongly.
Line up the two cords on either side of the back stay clip in place with clothespins, and hang to dry completely in the shade
Fold and align the front and back belts of the hakama, and fasten them in place with clothespins. Air dry but not in direct sunlight.

Repeat several times of methods mentioned above
The number of times required depends on the method of washing and　other factors. Please carefully monitor the appearance and level of discoloration when washing.

【Attention】
Soak in clean water.
Do not use any detergent.
Do not scrub or wring. (It will cause uneven discoloration)
Do not use a dryer after washing.

CAUTION!
Indigo dyed fabrics will continue to bleed and fade over time. Even after washing initially.
Please exercise caution when using in dojo and with partners. The color will rub off on surfaces.

Special orders and Repairs

Iwata Shokai also accepts custom orders in addition to our standard products.
We also can repair Iwata Shokai manufactured Hakama.
If you require this service please see the page "Special orders and Repairs."

This Blue Indigo Hakamas are made of Bushu-Sho-Aizome cloth that is certified as a traditional handcraft of Saitama Prefecture.

How to fold a HAKAMA