Today I wore a yukata for the first time. A yukata is a casual summer kimono, usually made of cotton. In day-to-day life, I usually spot one woman in yukata a day. But at summer festivals and especially at firework displays (hanabi taikai), a lot of people wear yukata.
My yukata was a gift from Suzuko and her family (Suzuko is my brother’s girlfriend). Today at the Toyota Firework Display was my first opportunity to wear it. I met with Hanae-san to learn how to put it on. She is a great teacher and thanks to her explanation, I got the hang of it pretty fast.
Yukata are not only for women. Men also wear yukata, although theirs are more simple in design and are worn with a less elaborate sash (a kimono sash is called obi). I managed to take a sneak photograph of a couple that was posing for a picture, both wearing yukata.
I loved wearing a yukata. It felt very stately and feminine to wear one. I hope the next festival will come soon, so I can wear a yukata again!
The Japans 
Waiting for the picture of Dennis in his first yukata… 🙂
I’m working on it. There was a little resistance at first but now that he has seen all those cool Japanese guys in yukata, he might be convinced to wear one himself.
Hey Helena ,
the kimono suits you well
greetz Els