Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (2024)

What is a fundoshi?

A very ooh la la piece of clothing! A fundoshi(褌 or ふんどし), meaning loincloth in Japanese,is the traditional type of underwear, mainlyfor men. It’s a long strip ofcotton tied and rolled into a kind of knotted tanga.

UntilWorld War II, fundoshi were the normal undergarment for most Japanese men and women, as can be seen in old woodblock prints, from carpenters and fishers to craftsmen, merchants and samurai. But they fell out of favor when more comfy, stretchy boxers, briefs and panties were introduced from the West—which were also quicker to put on than tying your panties out of a piece of cloth every morning.

Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (1)

Different types of fundoshi

There are different styles–both traditional and modern. Themokko-fundoshiis tied like a tanga (half way between a thong and a bikini), while the etchu-fundoshi leaves a Tarzan-style front panel. Thekuro-neko fundoshi is tied similarly to themore common mokko-fundoshi, but twists the fabric into a thong—leaving us wondering how comfortable it is…

Fundoshi are usually made from white linen or cotton. Silk crepe is also sometimes used, as it offers more grip than too-slinky plain silk. There are also thicker, comfy winter versions. Undone, a fundoshi is traditionally five feet long. However, some of the more modern versions that can be bought nowadays might be colorful, shorter, and of a slightly different shape to allow for faster and easier tying.

Where can I see men in fundoshi?

While there are also—rarely—a few women prancing around in fundoshi, you got a good chance of seeing men of all ages sporting this rather revealing item in Japan.

These days, they are mainly worn for traditional Japanese festivals by the mikoshi (portable shrine) carriers. A good one to check out is the Hadaka (meaning “nude”) Festival. Every February, an impressive number of nearly 10,000 men will gather atSaidaiji TempleinOkayama Prefecturewearing nothing but fundoshi. A sight not to be missed.

A good option in Tokyo is the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa. One of the biggest in Japan, it is also famous for having tattoo-sporting yakuza among the loincloth-clad shrine bearers, so bonus points for that.

There are dozens more matsuri (festivals) all across Japan and Tokyo throughout the year that might involve some fundoshi action. A good indicator are shrine festivals that involve a mikoshi (portable shrine) parade.

You won’t see any fundoshi in sumo by the way. The loincloth worn by the wrestlers is called a mawashi (廻し). The cloth is much longer than a fundoshi, over 9 meters when unwrapped and weighs 3.5kg to 5kg. Not your everyday underwear choice as it is also decorated with matching silk fronds in the front.

Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (2)

Where can I buy one—for men and women?

The Japanese Fundoshi Association (isn’t it amazing what causes can be championed?) has their own fundoshi brand—unfortunately the link is in Japanese only (but you can make do with Google Translate). This online shop also sells the traditional type and has a comparison of the three different ways to knot it, as we described above.

If you ever visit Nagasaki, this specialty shop is worth checking out. For those in Tokyo, head to Don Quixote, Tokyu Hands, or Loft to get your hands on some original Japanese loin cloth.

Finally, eBay, Amazon, and Rakuten all have fundoshi on offer—and they’re affordable too. Try both spellings(褌 or ふんどし) to see what you can find.

And fundoshi are by no means only for men. In the last 10 years or so, several Japanese lingerie firms have started to make them for women, which have proven popular as night and homewear. They come in different colours, patterns and fabric options and are often a bit different in design compared to the men’s version. Think a shorter cloth version that can be tied into lose bikini pants.

Japanese underwear vending machines

Nope. Unfortunately there aren’t any fundoshi underwear vending machines. While Japanese vending machines selling school-girl panties have not lost their notoriety overseas, they actually became illegal in Japan in the early 2000s, so you won’t find those anymore either.

Tutorial on how to tie a fundoshi

Now to the fun part—turning your piece of cloth into wearable underwear.

  • You start by draping the cloth across your shoulder, with the longest part hanging in front of your body, all the way to the floor.
  • Pull the bottom part through your legs and, from behind, wrap it around your waist.
  • Fasten it by twisting the fabric and fix it with a knot on the side.
  • Once done, let go of the upper piece you wrapped around your shoulder and let it fall down to cover your front, Tarzan style.
  • Lastly, pull that piece through your legs and twist it in with the rest of the fabric and tuck in the end at the side.

There are some good tutorials on this online, but this anonymous man donning a fundoshi step-by-step is our favorite. Disclaimer: The video features an adult male demonstrating how to wear a traditional loincloth. While it’s not sexual in any way, it’s probably NSFW.

Ask our local experts about Tokyo

Get our Tokyo Cheapo Hacks direct to your inbox

Watch this next

Related Posts

Popular Posts From Tokyo Cheapo

All Time |This Month |Cheapo Picks

  1. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (22)

    Which Japan Rail Pass To Choose

  2. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (23)

    Go-Karting in Tokyo: Everything You Need to Know

  3. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (24)

    Your Prepaid SIM Card Options for Travel in Japan

  4. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (25)

    Renting a Pocket Wifi Router in Japan: Best Options

  5. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (26)

    Everything You Need to Know about teamLab Planets

  6. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (27)

    Top 25 Easy Day Trips From Tokyo

Popular Posts From The Cheapo Network

All Time |This Month |Cheapo Picks

  1. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (28)

    Go-Karting in Tokyo: Everything You Need to Know

  2. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (29)

    Spicy Rice Noodles: Is this the Most Popular Cheap Eat in Hong Kong?

  3. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (30)

    Which Japan Rail Pass To Choose

  4. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (31)

    Finding the Right Travel Insurance for Japan

  5. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (32)

    The Best Way to Transfer Money to Japan

  6. Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (33)

    Everything You Need to Know about teamLab Planets

Fundoshi: All About the Traditional Japanese Loincloth and Where to Buy | Tokyo Cheapo (2024)

FAQs

Do Japanese men still wear fundoshi? ›

Fundoshi are often worn with a hanten or happi (a short cotton jacket with straight sleeves) during summer festivals by men and women who carry mikoshi (portable shrines) in Shinto processions.

What is the difference between mawashi and fundoshi? ›

The loincloth worn by the wrestlers is called a mawashi (廻し). The cloth is much longer than a fundoshi, over 9 meters when unwrapped and weighs 3.5 kg to 5 kg. Not your everyday underwear choice as it is also decorated with matching silk fronds in the front.

What material is a fundoshi made of? ›

Fundoshi is the traditional Japanese undergarment for adult males, made from a length of cotton.

Is fundoshi comfortable? ›

People like it because it does not use rubber waistbands that constrict the waist and cause rashes, has excellent breathability, and feels gentle and comfortable to wear. Do try it out for yourself. In the Edo period, it was mainly worn by doctors and literati who were not involved in manual labor.

Can guys wear skirts in Japan? ›

In Japan there are two types of the hakama for men to wear, the divided umanori (馬乗り, "horse-riding hakama") and the undivided andon hakama (行灯袴, "lantern hakama"). The umanori type has divided legs, similar to diverted skirts and pantskirts.

Do you wear anything under a mawashi? ›

Grand sumo rikishi, in all divisions, wear nothing under the mawashi. Not shorts, not a G-string, not anything. The only exception is bandaging and taping for injuries. The white mawashi sekitori wear usually have their shikona written on them in large, clear kanji, courtesy of the heya's gyoji, if there is one.

Do mawashi ever fall off? ›

If a wrestler's mawashi comes off during a tournament bout, he is automatically disqualified. This is extremely rare, but did occur in May 2000, when sandanme wrestler Asanokiri's mawashi came off during a match with Chiyohakuhō.

Do sumos wash their mawashi? ›

The mawashi (loincloths) that sumo wrestlers wear are never washed. Instead, they are usually just hung up to dry, for two reasons. One is for good luck, and the other is because washing weakens the fabric.

Where did fundoshi come from? ›

Originating in the city of Toyama in Japan, the one that was also known as the pants or undergarment of the samurai became very common in the early 20ᵉ century. The fundoshi is the most common form of fundoshi.

What do Japanese wear under kimono? ›

There is an undergarment, the nagajuban (often just called a 'juban') that is worn beneath your kimono. It is kimono-shaped but shorter, and features a crisp white collar where you can optionally see other colored collars for fashion, or a separate white collar which is easier to detach and wash.

What are Japanese traditional female undergarments? ›

The traditional undergarments worn with a kimono are called "hadajuban" or "juban." These undergarments are a type of slip or robe-like garment that is worn directly against the skin.

Why do Japanese dress so well? ›

On average, Japanese are fashionable as fashion is a common way for an individual to distinguish themselves in hom*ogenous societies. High-conformist Societies like Japan are often seen as more fashionable as greater attention is placed on fashion to express an individual's personality.

What is the best costume of Japan? ›

One of the most iconic aspects of Japan's rich culture and history is its traditional clothing. Generally called 'kimono', which translates to 'a thing to wear', these garments come in different styles and forms, with all of them having their own backgrounds, meanings, and purposes.

What are samurai clothes called? ›

Hakama traditionally formed part of a complete outfit called a kamishimo (上下/裃). Worn by samurai and courtiers during the Edo period, the outfit included a formal kimono, hakama, and a sleeveless jacket with exaggerated shoulders called a kataginu.

Do Japanese people still wear traditional clothing? ›

As such, traditional garments are now mainly worn for ceremonies and special events, with the most common time for someone to wear traditional clothes being to summer festivals, when the yukata is most appropriate; outside of this, the main groups of people most likely to wear traditional clothes are geisha, maiko and ...

What do Japanese men wear instead of a kimono? ›

The most common type of men's kimono you'll see is the montsuki (紋付). It's a typically black, often silk-made kimono worn over traditional Japanese clothing known as hakama. It's actually more common to see men in a yukata than a kimono.

Do men wear sarashi? ›

More than a binding aesthetic, sarashi was used as our modern bra = to support more than to constrict. Pregnant women also use sarashi as a belly support ;) For men too, sarashi was a tummy undergarment.

Do Japanese men also wear kimonos? ›

Men wear kimono most often at weddings and tea ceremony. Kimono are also worn by both men and women in certain sports, such as kendo. There is a large number of kimono hobbyists in Japan, where it is possible to take classes on wearing kimono.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 5918

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.