In the area where I was born and raised in the western part of Japan, people use the word [KIMONO] for anything that you can put on your back whether it’s traditional Japanese clothing or western clothing. It makes sense because the word [KIMONO] literally means “clothing” in Japanese. I don’t think that nowadays younger generations still use the word [KIMONO] for clothing anymore but, I’m almost certain that the elderly still do. Speaking of which, what about YUKATA? How is it different from KIMONO, I wondered. And I asked the proprietress about just that.
Me: “Is Yukata a kind of Kimono?”
Proprietress: “Did the client asked you that?”
Me: “No, I’m considering writing an article about it.”
Proprietress: “I see. Well, Yukata is reckoned as Kimono. But, a Kimono can never be a Yukata.
Me: “?????”
Proprietress: “Yukata is formally called [YUKATABIRA]. The tradition has its origins in the ancient times. People used to wore hemp Kimono to steam baths. From the Edo period onwards, thin cotton Kimonos were invented to be worn after bath to soak up sweat. Since they are made of cotton, so depending on how you dress it up, they can be worn as Kimono even now.
Me: “That makes sense. So when you said, “a Kimono can never be a Yukata.” Is it because you can’t wear a Kimono without layering it with under-robe and other undergarments?”
Proprietress: “Well, let me ask you this. Can you imagine what would happen if you wear a silk Kimono over bare skin after taking a shower ?”
Me: “I don’t think that’s a good idea. All the sweat and heat would ruin the thing then and there. Lol.”
Proprietress: “Exactly! To wear a Kimono, even in the summertime you have to wear an under-robe with it. This is not the case for Yukata. It feels dry and smooth on the skin, which makes it a great bathrobe. It’s categorized as a bathrobe because of its materials and of how and where it should be worn.”
Me: “So you’re saying that….Yeah, okay, I get the picture now. Thank you for your insight.”
Proprietress: “Are you sure that’s all you want to ask? You sure don’t look like it.”
The proprietress’s explanation was very comprehensive. Then I came to a realization. Yukata can be worn as a simple bathrobe. And it can be worn casually as Kimono also. So that means…you can have the best of both worlds if you get the patterns right. So it’s Two birds with one stone. If you choose a Yukata with a more or less subdued color(Yukata are originally intended to be worn after a bath, so the colors they come with tends to be more on the suppressed side. You can tell right away if it’s a Yukata or not just by looking at how much white color it has. If you want more of a Yukata feel to your outfit, I’d say get something other then white or blue.), then just get a Juban, and you are all set for a casual outing.
However, as I mentioned before in my previous article, there are some places you just shouldn’t go with an outfit this casual. For example, it’s not appropriate for these places below.
Fancy restaurants
Party venues
upscale hostels
In other words, you are going to look amazing with your Yukata/Kimono anywhere else. Though Yukata were designed to be worn directly after bath and for the way home from the public bath. Nowadays it has become a popular choice for casual outing just like a Kimono.
Oh, speaking of casual outing with a Yukata, something you want to pay attention to is your footwear. Although GETA (Japanese clogs mostly made of wood) are fine for most places, still even casual restaurants like to keep their floor clean and neat, so I suggest you wear something else if possible. My recommendations are SETTA (Flat bottom footwear with leather sole
) or ZORI (Japanese sandal with thicker bottom than Setta). Since SETTA and ZORI come in a wide range of prices, please feel free to consult us if you have any questions.
While on the subject, Kisen offers a wide range of Yukata that can be worn casually as well. And here are one of them in the link below.
Yukata for men (stand-alone item) [Plain color Green]
https://www.yukatakisen.com/products/detail/76
It is a solid matcha green color. Matcha green is very popular even for Men’s Kimono that is purely made from silk.
★★★★★★★★★
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
This one is a matcha green SHIJIRA Yukata. While most Yukata uses flat fabric, which is a dead giveaway for Yukata, the uniqueness of our carefully selected SHIJIRA fabric looks just as good as a summer Kimono.
Aside from this, we have many others that you may also like. Please do have a look if you are interested.
※日本語版の記事はこちらです→https://ginza-tachibanaen.com/ginzakisen/2020/04/21/281/
