Yukata is boom in Japan

The traditional Japanese clothing Yukata is very popular now. I saw girls, even guys wearing Yukata in Tokyo. I like cool middle age guys wearing Yukata. Actually Yukata hides big stomachs and gives a dignified appearance.
This department store has a Yukata special page. I think it looks very nice. Even UNIQLO have made affordable Yukata.

Then there are also many events and services that have Yukata night or Yukata discount. It means if you go there wearing Yukata, you can get in free of charge or for a discount. I found such service at a Professional baseball stadium (This team's director is Bobby Valentine), Maijimura park and many clubs in Tokyo. I like this movement which tries to keep our traditions alive.

The good part of Yukata is it is comfortably cool to wear and it matches the humid Japanese weather and also we can wear various patterns. For example, a cat or goldfish pattern would be difficult for regular clothes but for Yukata, they can be cute and okay for even adult women. It is very fun to see Yukata's pattern and combinations. Ah I found Yukata for foreign people too, they are longer than the regular Japanese type. If you try, here is a movie on "how to wear" Yukata.

Anyway we wear Yukata as our street clothes, but originally it was sleeping clothes. You will find Yukata when you stay in Japanese type hotel (Ryokan) and some Ryokan have a colourful selection of women's Yukata. But I must say, it is a little bit uncomfortable. Here is site which introduce Yukata before-after.
Before and After 1.
Before and After 2.
Before and After 3.
Well, for Japanese this is also an authentic and charming part of Yukata. he he he

Comments

[rich]

hi!! hajimemashite
i've seen your page occasionally and i would like to ask you about the yukata paper pattern.How can i found it? Thks for interesting topic.^_^

[Mari]

Hi There
I agree, Kimono and Yukata can fit straight and flat body, but that part is adjustable by towel or something. I think foreign people can't find their size. that is the problem. Many foreigner wear too short. They can find their size, long enough. Maybe looks nicer.

[suzy]

Hi Mari,
This is only my 2nd summer living in Tokyo, but it seems like there are lots more people wearing Yukata this year than last year. I like it, because the patterns are beautiful and it's nice when traditional dress is kept alive. I think it looks great when some of the young girls wear yukata with modern accessories; it looks very cool and contemporary.
In response to Ude: is it true that yukata are best for people with straight bodies? When I learned to wear yukata they said that if you have a small waist you should wrap a towel around it, so that the yukata hangs in a neat cylinder. What do you think!

[shiro]

ah...

i see picture now. not bad, not bad. too bad the store you link has very expensive yukata for men.

[shiro]

ohayo mari!

what the heck? men wear yukata?

[クレア (Claire)]

At Gion Matsuri Parade, our class would wear yukata (even guys!) and geta...
日本人たくさんは”写真を撮って下さい”といいました。たくさんゆかたの切る外人がちょっとおかしいを見ましたでしょね。

[Kawika]

I also think that yukata are wonderful. So many styles and colors. On my last visit, some friends gave me two lightweight sets of jimbei which are informal home wear for men. This time I'm getting a set of samue which is similar to the jimbei but with slightly heavier material and longer pants: www.samue-e.com/goods1104.php They're all cotton and so should still be good for Hawaii climate.

[stan]

It's good to see more people wearing Yukatas. I think girls look really nice in them and it's interesting seeing the different Yukata colors and patterns. I purchased one myself a month ago and while I must admit I haven't worn it in public, it's the most comfortable sleeping clothes I've ever worn. It also helps protect me from getting bitten by mosquitoes..

[Ude]

Very nice to hear that there is a yukata boom going on in Japan, because it simply is a beautiful clothing and a piece of traditional Japan I hope will never fade away from the streets of Japan.

As for foreigners wearing a yukata, in my eyes it does feel a bit "unnatural" for some reason. I guess I see it so strongly as a part of Japanese identity and culture that it loses some of its meaning when its wearer isn't Japanese.

That said, I've always enjoyed wearing a yukata myself when staying in a ryokan and thought many times of buying one for myself for home usage. :)

[huang]

I'm wondering if yukata would look awful on women with very straight bodies, i.e. with thick waistline

[Sebastien]

hello Mari,
interesting subject, i remember being really pleased each time i saw a japanese woman in yukata when i was in tokyo last year and there were many. What do you thing about gaijin wearing yukata ? My friend (who are very long time fans of Japan) made their dream come true and bought some last year and wore it right away in the streets. People were smiling but nobody really cared.. is it frequent and do you find it ridiculous, funny, hot ?
See those pictures: http://sebastien.grisey.free.fr/yukata/
A+ Seb.