Obi are the belts worn by Japanese women when they wear kimono or Yokata. This decorative belt is usually 12-14 inches wide and extends from the waist to the breast. It wraps several times around the waist and ends in a decorative knot or bow at the center back. Although obi are thought to keep the closureless kimono wrapped shut, in fact, its purpose is more nearly decorative and a place in which to slip narrow objects, such as a closed fan, small compact, money holder and/or hankerchief. Underneath the obi are softer, more pliable tightly tied sashes that actually keep the kimono firmly in place.