Men's Japanese Obi, Cotton Kaku Obi Belt

A kaku obi is the narrow, firm belt men tie around a kimono or yukata, and the same belt worn under a hakama. This one is cotton and comes as a flat length of cloth. You tie the knot yourself, the traditional way. It is the Japanese obi most men start with, and it pairs with the robes in our men's yukata collection.

If you are shopping for a kimono sash for a man, this is the one. Kaku means square or angular and describes the obi's flat, firm shape. A men's obi sits low on the hips, below the belly, and stays narrow. Five colours: black, navy, white and black, beige and purple. Black and navy sit quietly against almost any yukata. Beige, purple and the white and black add a little contrast against plain cloth.

Fit and sizing

One size. The obi measures 400 cm long and 10 cm wide, about 157.5 in by 3.9 in. The length wraps the waist two or three times and leaves enough cloth to tie a knot at the back. Our model is 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) tall and wears the one size.

There is no size to choose. On a slim waist, wrap it three times. On a larger waist, wrap it twice and you still have length for the knot.

Fabric and care

Cotton, firm enough to hold a flat band around the waist. Cotton grips itself well, so the knot stays in place through a day of walking and sitting. Follow the care label instructions. Between wears, roll the obi or fold it flat so the edges stay straight.

How to wear it

• With a yukata: a navy or black kaku obi over a white, grey or indigo yukata, knotted at the back, with geta or plain sandals for summer evenings.
• With a kimono and haori: a black obi over a dark kimono, with the haori left open so a strip of the obi shows at the front.
• Under a hakama: tie the obi at the hips first. The hakama front ties wrap over it, and the back panel rests on the knot. Read our guide to the hakama for the full outfit.