Overview
Monpe are loose trousers, often made by tying up an old kimono, that free the legs for work while keeping the warmth and modesty of Japanese dress. Long worn in the countryside, especially in the north, they are plain, hard-wearing, and easy to move in.
How it is worn
They are pulled on under or instead of the kimono skirts and gathered snug at the ankle and waist, letting the wearer squat, climb, and carry loads. In wartime they were worn with a kimono top or a blouse for field work and air-raid drills.
History
Monpe were traditional rural workwear when the wartime government promoted them in the 1940s as practical dress for women mobilized for labor and civil defense, making them briefly standard nationwide. After the war they receded to farm use, with periodic revivals as comfortable everyday wear.