Tradition meets Pop Culture: Exploring the Fascinating Connection Between Samue and Anime

When we talk about traditional Japanese culture, certain images come to mind: samurai, ninja, sushi, green tea, sumo, judo, origami, and more. These elements have always fascinated us, and many of us enjoy watching samurai sword fights, witnessing ninja tricks, and savoring sushi with a cup of refreshing green tea or sake.

On the other hand, modern Japan is renowned for its technological advancements, high-quality products like Honda and Toyota luxury cars, captivating Nintendo video games, and iconic characters like Hello Kitty. Japanese brands have built a reputation for their commitment to excellence, and chances are you own at least one Japan-made product yourself.

Japanese history is characterized by the blending of various cultures, adapting them to fit our unique lifestyle. Throughout the ages, the Japanese people have strived to blend the old with the new, enriching our lives through innovative creation incorperating traditional techniques and skills.

Today, I want to explore a captivating example of tradition meeting modern culture: the fascinating connection between samue and anime. Anime is an integral part of Japanese pop culture, and you might be familiar with the renowned Studio Ghibli animations.

©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable

But have you heard of "Kimetsu no Yaiba," also known as "Demon Slayer"? This anime has gained massive popularity, to the point where it now has a video game adaptation for Nintendo Switch. The movie even achieved tremendous success worldwide, generating blockbuster sales at the box office.

In the anime, the characters, particularly the swordsmiths, wear kimono-like garments called "samue." While you might be familiar with the term "kimono," "samue" might be new to you. Perhaps you've had the chance to see or wear a kimono during your visit to Japan, but did you know that samue, the traditional Japanese workwear, has also made its way into our pop culture?

Apart from "Kimetsu no Yaiba," there are several other anime series where characters appear in samue. For instance, there's "Barakamon," a story that revolves around a young calligrapher, "Touken Ranbu," a story featuring anthropomorphic swords, and "My Dress-Up Darling," a story about teenagers who enjoy their cosplay.

Interestingly, samue bears some resemblance to dou-gi, or simply “gi”, the martial arts attire often associated with karate and Judo, and seen in many popular anime, such as the recognizable orange dou-gi in "Dragon Ball,” worn by characters such as Goku and Krillin when participating in the Tenkaichi Budoukai, or World Martial Arts Tournament. While samue shares the same weaving technique, it's much softer and more comfortable.

However, it's essential to clarify a common misunderstanding when we mention "kimono-like clothing." Some might immediately think of clothes like those seen in "Naruto." But unfortunately, the ninja uniforms in that series are not considered samue, which is too bad!

Wasuian was one of the costume cooperation companies in the live-action movies based on comic books and anime. In “March Comes In Like a Lion,” the grandfather of three sisters wears our Cotton Twill Weave Samue in Green、while in “Tokyo Revengers,” Mikey wears not samue but our Ink Painting Jinbe in Black featuring a hawk design!

As you can see, Wasuian continues to preserve tradition while contributing to today's lifestyle through cooperative efforts. We hope that our samue will enrich people's lives and help them discover comfortable and stylish garments. So, if you're a fan of Japanese anime and movies and have developed a desire to dress like your favorite characters, here's our recommended item list for you!

Select Samue for Anime Characters:

*This list is not the same as those used in the actual anime, but is a selection of recommendations by WASUIAN based on the characters and uses in the anime.