1.
padded sleeping kimono; large kimono-shaped bedcover
A traditional Japanese oversized, thickly padded garment shaped like a kimono, used as a bedcover or sleeping wrap. Historically used before modern futons and blankets became standard.
People in the old days slept with a padded sleeping kimono draped over the futon.
An item of traditional Japanese bedding. The 夜着 looks like an extremely large, heavily padded kimono with wide sleeves and is worn over or placed on top of the body while sleeping. It predates the modern 掛け布団 (comforter) and was especially common in the Edo period through early Showa era.
In modern Japanese, the word is mostly encountered in historical literature, folk museums, and traditional craft contexts. Some modern products styled after the traditional 夜着 are sold as novelty sleepwear.
Common collocations
- 夜着を掛ける: to drape a sleeping kimono over oneself
- 綿入れの夜着: cotton-padded sleeping kimono
- 夜着に包まる: to wrap oneself in a sleeping kimono