In the Heian period, nihon shishu was treasured by court nobles and millionaires as a luxury item or as a costume for gagaku (ancient Japanese court dance and music), in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, it was used as costumes for Noh performers, and in the Edo period, it gained popularity among the merchant class.
平安時代には貴族や富豪に豪侈品・雅楽の衣装として、安土桃山時代には能装束として用いられ、江戸時代には町人階級に普及した。