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haori

Apparel
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A traditional Japanese hip- or thigh-length jacket worn over a kimono, adding formality and warmth, often with a family crest, appearing in poetry as a mark of ceremony and masculine elegance.

Detailed Definition
The haori is a jacket-like outer garment that, when worn with a kimono, elevates the formality of the outfit. In poetry, it often appears in scenes of special occasions—New Year's visits, weddings, or tea ceremonies. Its shorter length distinguishes it from the full-length kimono, and its collar and the way it is worn (sometimes left unbuttoned) provide visual variety. In haiku and tanka, the haori might be mentioned to indicate the coolness of autumn or the warmth of a gathering. For men, the haori often bears a family crest (mon), signifying lineage and social standing. In love poetry, a woman might adjust her husband's haori collar as a gesture of care. The haori's layered nature also invites metaphors of hidden depths and the interplay of inner and outer selves.
Example
Example in poetry:
"The haori's crest marked him as a man of lineage and duty"; "She adjusted his haori collar, a gesture older than any word between them"; "The haori's silk lining was the color of a winter plum"; "He wore his haori to the ceremony, its sleeves brushing the tatami"; "The haori, passed down from his father, still held the scent of cedar"; "She folded his haori with the precision of a woman who had done it a thousand times"
Additional Notes
The haori is a jacket-like outer garment that, when worn with a kimono, elevates the formality of the outfit. In poetry, it often appears in scenes of special occasions—New Year's visits, weddings, or tea ceremonies. Its shorter length distinguishes it from the full-length kimono, and its collar and the way it is worn (sometimes left unbuttoned) provide visual variety for poets. In haiku and tanka, the haori might be mentioned to indicate the coolness of autumn or the warmth of a gathering. For men, the haori often bears a family crest (mon), signifying lineage and social standing. In love poetry, a woman might adjust her husband's haori collar as a gesture of care. The haori's layered nature also invites metaphors of hidden depths and the interplay of inner and outer selves. Related terms include kimono, jacket, and coat. Students should note the haori's role in signaling formality and its seasonal associations in Japanese poetry.
Also Known As
Japanese jacket short kimono coat formal over-robe
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