Shitagi (Underwear)

There are many styles of shitagi, and each has its own features. For ordinary officers the usual kimono, which is varied to suit the season, is recommended. For winter use, the cotton padding is the best; floss silk is not good, for it dries bery slowly when sodden by rain. Panya and tusbana (something very like cotton, but much lighter in weight, are very often used). When an ordinary kimono is used as a shitagi, it is too long, so you will put it on with the collar above your head, tie your obi and pull the collar down to the neck; the lower end of kimono will then just cover the knees. As regards the sleeves, you can hold them up with buttons, or you can tuck them under the watakami (short suspenders attached to the body of the armour across the shoulders); in the latter case they will take the place of shoulder-pads. A third way is to hold them up by means of tasuki (sleeve-cords). An ordinary haori (coat) may be used instead of a shitagi, in this case you will put a cord on each sleeve and secure the sleeves upon your shoulder by the cords after you tied your obi in the usual way. It is an advantage to have an obi on the shitagi whatever the style of the latter, because the obi will supoort the lower end of the dou and thus reduce the weight upon the shoulders. Further, the sword, dagger, inro, and kinchaku may be carried by this obi instead of by the uwa-obi.