Anyone know the name for the outfit that Japanese Zen Masters wear? It looks like a red robe.?

Question

Alan Watts wore one. A lot of Zen Scholars wear them. They usually are black and maroon and strap across the arms. They look like robes.

Answer 1

The over-robe that you describe is called "chia-sha" in Chinese, "kesa" in Japanese, and "kasa" in Korean.

It symbolizes Shakyamuni Buddha's original patchwork robe.

Different colors signify different positions within the Zen hierarchy. Red signifies teaching authority.