Enhanced Tradition – Combining
Tech and Traditional Clothing
Vilhelmina Sokol

Kai Kunze

Graduate School of Media Design Graduate School of Media DesignKeio University, JapanKeio University, Japanvilhel@gmail.com
kai@kmd.keio.ac.jp

Yuta Sugiura

Masahiko Inami

National Institute of Advanced
Graduate School of Media Design
Industrial Science and Technology Keio University, Japany-sugiura@kmd.keio.ac.jp
inami@kmd.keio.ac.jp

Abstract
We present the concept of the ”Enhanced Tradition”, combining electronics with traditional Japanese clothes; our initial prototype integrates a smart phone display in an obi(traditional sash). We overcome the common problem ofwhere to put the phone while wearing Kimono and Yukata
and create a new flexible, interaction surface. We presenta user study evaluating our first design and exploring theapplication design space for using the ”Enhanced Obi” toaugment the user. The application ideas from users range
from displaying past or current events to communicating
the mental state to bystanders.

Author Keywords
Enhanced Tradition; Obi; Japan; Mobile Phone

ACM Classification Keywords
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2800835.2801668

H.5 [Information interfaces and presentation (e.g., HCI)]:
H.5.2 User Interfaces, Interaction Style.

Introduction
With further technological enhancements and accelerating
globalization, there is the fear of losing cultural identity anddiversity [6]. Commodity culture tends towards themes ofanonymous products, blurring sense of origin or uniqueness,eliminating the presence of traditional crafts. However, acountries history and tradition doesnt only shape the pastand history of the country but is an important key to its development in the future. In our research agenda, we want to
combine traditional arts and crafts aesthetics within modern design techniques to preserve tradition and maintaining
diversity in culture, craft, arts while envisioning new augmentation/interaction techniques.
Close to our research agenda, Uriu et al. explore how to
combine technology with religious traditional artifacts used
to commemorate the dead.[2]. Berzowska et al. are on theother side of the spectrum pushing the boundaries of electronic textiles[1]. We are not aware of any work that uses
the smartphone as integrated piece of clothing for display
or interaction. There is also a lot of work in on-body worndisplays and novel textile displays[4, 5]. We see this work
as complementary to ours. For example, we want to extend
the smart phone display on the Obi for future work.
In this paper, we state our progress in combining the traditional design of a Japanese artifact – an Obi, a sash fortraditional Japanese dress – with wearable technology. For
the first prototype we focused on a smart phone.

Approach
Figure 1: Usual method to carrya mobile phone while wearing
Japanese traditional clothes(Yukata and Obi).

The aesthetic sensibility and culture of Japan may be attributed to the discipline of Zen Buddhism and Shinto. Forcenturies The Japanese have dedicated themselves to celebrate the beauty of nature and the changing of seasons.
This can be seen in many forms of Japanese art and cultural
events. One of the most identified artifacts tied with theJapanese culture is the kimono and obi [3]. Nowadays thekimono is worn in rare occasions and most wear a yukata.
The yukata and the kimono are worn in traditional seasonal
event such as festivals, public events, celebrations, and formal and unformed events and their design such as pattern,color etc are strongly influenced by the seasonal motif of
the time.
There are about five di↵erent obi types that change byshape such as changing the width from narrow to wide, allnarrow or all wide and also di↵erent lengths[3]. The characteristic of the shape of the obi determines to when andwhere it will be used. For example the maru obi will be
usually used in formal events such as weddings and funerals. The hanhabe obi for example is much more common
and can be used is daily life, festivals and in formal events
depending to the pattern and fabric design. The type of obi
also determines the obi knots. Nowadays the most common
and known knot for woman is the chocho musubi. In conclusion to this study and experiments, we decided to use ahanhabe obi for our main prototype.

Prototypes
By designing a new obi that has a designated place for themobile phone this will not only solve a physical problem ofwhere to carry the mobile while wearing an obi but also
creates an opportunity for a new design experience as forthe user and for the viewers, see Fig. 1. The new obi that
we have designed will have a designated pocket to hold themobile phone; the pocket allows the display of the mobilephones screen throw the obi toward the viewers. By using
a QR code application the user can download the matching
animation for that obi. The phone will display an animationthat will match the pattern of the obi. The animation will
not only be a vivid and dynamic part of the obi but will
be an interaction tool. The prototype is currently madefrom re-using existing obi. The material for the pocket
is polymer clay that hardens in the air and create a hard
inner pocket to protect the phone, this has proven to work
well. The outer display panel is from 3mm silicon sheet(see Figure 2).

the obi display as a viewing opportunity for children. A
lot of events in Japan where users wear traditional clothing
require a high view point (most prominently cheery blossom
viewing, fireworks or matsuri) and there tend to be a lot ofpeople.

Figure 3: Trying di↵erent display panel covers, left the acrylic
glass we ended up using.

After the initial 4 obi designs, we investigated di↵erent materials for the outer display panel, see Fig. 3. From initialuser feedback some see through paper seemed appropriate
as it’s a more natural material. However, trying several papers, we ended up using acrylic glass as it seems the best touse for seeing the screen and for interactions with the smart
phone. All test users preferred it over the other materials.
For the display, we designed animations for 8 di↵erent Obis
(4 initial with silicon sheets and 4 newer designs with arcylic). The animations are so far fixed and not dynamic.
Yet, in the step, we plan to design interactivity. We are currently conducting a larger user study to assess the current
design and to find interaction possibilities.
Figure 2: Initial prototypepictures. From top to bottom:
one of the prototype obi’s withthe mobile phone in the pocket.
The QR code on the Obi todownload the correct application.
The initial 4 animation designs
for the Obis.

In discussions with users about our first prototype, theymentioned that they would love to show what is happening
at a higher view point on the obi display. The users envision

Figure 4: The Kanzashi hair piece with embedded camera
adjusted to capture cherry blossom tree crowns on the left,
and the camera view on the enhanced obi diplay on the right.

Using this feedback from user interviews, we also designed
a Kanzashi, a traditional hair piece with camera (see Figure 4). The camera captures a higher view point and canbe adjusted according to the preferred direction. The obi
application usually shows the pre-defined animation, however, if the user turns on the camera, the display changes
and shows the life view of the camera. The user can also
select to record a video and replay it later on the obi.

Initial User Studies
So far, we conducted structured interviews with 5 female
users (mean age 32, std:15). All of them like to wear traditional clothing with obi for several occasions (mostly forfestivals). Although all user are interested in wearing an obi,
it is at times to complicated and most important doesn’t
fit to today’s lifestyle such as carrying out belongings. 4 ofthem think that taking their smartphone along is a hazel

and big problem. One user stated that since she got a newphone (Samsung Note), it got particularly bad as it is toolarge to fit comfortably into a normal Obi. After showing
them the initial prototype and them trying it, all users liked
the idea and preferred the Enhanced Obi to the old counterpart.
We also asked the participants what type of information
or interaction possibilities they wanted on the obi. 2 users
liked the idea to re-live past events. One mentioned she
wanted to show people in the subway or on the way home
the fireworks she saw on the obi. Another user mentioned
she was interested in displaying a part of the Kabuki pieceshe visited.
One user wanted to communicate emotion, showing herheart beat or interest to people around her. She imagines
it is easier to find likeminded people if it’s visible whata person likes. Another participant would like to display
her current frustration level, so other people know how toapproach her (e.g. don’t make sarcastic jokes when she hada bad day). 2 users want to extend the display of the smart
phone on the obi surface.

Experience Report: Hanami
We also had 2 users wear all new enhanced obi designs during several days of Hanami matsuri (cherry blossom festival)
this spring in Tokyo (see Figure 5).
The users attracted a lot of attention and it seemed easy
for people to start social interactions with wearer (usuallydifficult in Japan). They got a lot of interest (questions
about where to buy them) and people wanted to interact
with the animations, touching the display. Several Children
liked the animations and the live camera view.
Figure 5: The four new designs
pictures from the animation view.

The most positive feedback got the dark design in theevening when the lights got dimmer.

Conclusion and Future WorkIn this paper, we present an initial prototype combining
technology with Japanese tradition to overcome a common
problem in wearing an Obi (where to put the smart phone)and to create a new interaction/display surface.
In a next step we will continue our user study and collect
more feedback related to the interaction possibilities, also
discussing sensing options. For sensing we will first focus
on smart phone sensors and then maybe other wearables
depending on the application scenarios.

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