Yamatai Clothes/Queen Himiko's Era

[Himiko]

I saw some clothes/anime renderings of the Yamatai era, and they seem to wear a sort of loose, slip on type of robe, with a belt in the middle. This must be the earliest form of pre-Japan clothing. I will try to see if I can get some pictures up.
Himiko was the queen and shaman all in one for the Yamatai period, always depicted with the sacred branch called the "sakaki".

[Himiko]

I found some links to Yamatai clothing online, mainly from Japanese sites.
They do look like they had some Chinese influence, esp, the long, dragging sleeves and the apron-like double layer front.
Some of the accessories look aboriginal of some unknown origin.
Queen Himiko was known to have sent missions/tributes to China. No one could trace where her kingdom was originally, either in Nara or in Kyushu, but for sure Yamatai was one of the cluster of tiny kingdoms back in the early ages.
Yamatai clothing might be springboard for the earliest prototype for kimono style robes in Japan.
Perhaps Kiyoaki Sensei might know more about this ancient era.
inoues.net/yamataikoku/nyumon/himiko.jpg
www.city.fukui.fukui.jp/gakkou/sozei/ani/himiko.gif
www.ajwca.co.jp/art_gallery/art_g_Image/tra-coll-himiko2.gif

[Kiyoaki]

Kimiko,

This period of dress is not familiar to me. It probably pre-dates the Late Kofun Period, but it's not as ancient as the Jomon or Yayoi Periods. The ealiest reliable examples of native Japanese dress are depicted by the 'haniwa' figures found at tumulus grave sites, but no one knows for certain what were their antecedents.

If the Ainu were the aboriginal race that was displaced by the ethnic Japanese, perhaps the Yamatai style is based upon their prototypes. If that is the case, then instead of woven fabrics, perhaps beaten plant fiber served for clothing.

The best theories I know, point to a southern route of entry for the Japanese and if that is the case, then clothing styles from the sub-tropics were probably not suitable for the temperate conditions of the main islands. It seems perfectly natural to me that the immigrant Japanese would adopt native clothing to cope with the new climate.

Unfortuantely, Ainu dress has been remade into the Japanese image over the intervening millenia, so we cannot look to modern examples for clues __ either to confirm or discredit theories regarding the actual textiles employed. What is evident from Ainu tradition is the use of plant fiber (especially split bark from the cambrian layers), but whether it was prepared like paper or as thread that was then woven on backstrap looms may continue to be moot.

Kiyoaki

P.S. Although the term 'sensei' may seem suitable from your point of view, I don't feel it suits me. We all have something to offer here, so in essence, we are all students and teachers at the same time. In addition, its' use suggests a formalized relationship, which doesn't seems appropriate either. Despite my name, I'm really American, so informality suits me better.