"opening the kimono" (1979?, 1984)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Fri, 17 Jun 2005 22:53:05 -0400, Wilson Gray <wilson.gray at RCN.COM> wrote:

>On Jun 17, 2005, at 3:50 PM, Benjamin Zimmer wrote:
>
>> Here's a definition from "The Microsoft Lexicon" (see also Susie Dent's
>> _The Language Report_ and Wordspy.com):
>>
>> -----
>> http://www.cinepad.com/mslex_2.htm
>> Open The Kimono: A marvelous phrase of non-Microsoft origin, probably
>> stemming from the rash of Japanese acquisitions of American
>> enterprises in the '80s, that has been adopted into the Microspeak
>> marketing lexicon. Basically a somewhat sexist synonym for "open the
>> books," it means to reveal the inner workings of a project or company
>> to a prospective new partner.
>
>Isn't calling this phrase "sexist" a bit overly PC? Both men and women
>wear kimonos and there's no obvious reason to assume that the kimono
>being metaphorically opened is one worn by a woman.

I'd say that in the American consciousness, the opening of kimonos would
be overwhelmingly associated with geishas and other iconic depictions of
Japanese women conforming to a coy, submissive stereotype. Or at least
this was probably true c. 1980 when the term was popularized. (I believe
the popular _Shogun_ miniseries of the time had a kimono-opening scene.)

Remember also that the expression was coined in a male-dominated business
world where one might expect a fair amount of sexist language. The
"Buzzkiller" contributor who recalled the phrase from the late '60s said
that it was "a more colorful alternative to 'lifting the skirt' - the
obvious reference to tantalizing a prospect with a peek at the wares."

But yeah, in theory, kimono-opening is non-gender-specific, as in this
JSTOR cite from 1959 (U. A. Casal, "The Goblin Fox and Badger and Other
Witch Animals of Japan," _Folklore Studies_ 18:84):

-----
Apparently it was believed of old that the wolf was shameful of sexual
things, having no strong sexual instincts. He would never disclose his
organ, but hide it behind his hanging tail. Should a person perchance see
his sexual act, he or she would have to open the kimono and disclose his
or her own organ, so as not to shame the wolf.
-----


--Ben Zimmer