The kosode is the forerunner of the modern kimono. It is a full-length, T-shaped robe with crossed front lapels forming a V-shaped collar. The name, “small sleeves” refers to the size of the opening at the cuff, not the length of the sleeve pocket. In nō and kyōgen, kosode are worn by male and female characters of men and women of all ages both as an under-robe or as an outer-robe.
Kosode types used in nōgaku are the karaori, atsuita and atsuita-karaori with multi-colored woven patterns, the plain-weave noshime, the surihaku with gold, or silver stenciled designs and the nuihaku with embroidery embellishing gold or silver stencil designs.