Yukata

Yukata

Men's and women'syukata
Type	Casual summerkimono
Place of origin	Japan

Ayukata(Dục y,lit. 'bathrobe')is an unlined cotton summerkimono,worn in casual settings such assummer festivalsand to nearby bathhouses. The name is translated literally as "bathing cloth" andyukataoriginally were worn as bathrobes; their modern use is much broader, and are a common sight in Japan during summer. Thoughyukataare traditionallyindigoand white in colour, modernyukatacommonly feature multicoloured designs, and are designed to be machine washable. They are similar in appearance to thenemaki,a unisex short-sleeved kimono-like garment worn by guests at traditional inns.

Techniques and Textiles

Yukata are made using various textiles and dyeing technqiues. Traditionally they were made with a technique calledNagaita-Chugata,where fabric was dyed on both sides with stencils.As this technique is expensive, a technique calledChusenwas developed in the late Edo period to replicate the double sided cloth.

Construction and wear

Yukataare worn by men and women. Like other forms of traditionalJapanese clothing,yukataare made with straight seams and wide sleeves. Men'syukataare distinguished by the shorter sleeve extension of approximately 10 centimetres (3.9 in) from the armpit seam, compared to the longer 20 centimetres (7.9 in) sleeve extension in women'syukata.A standardyukataensemble consists of ayukataobi,andsandalsorgetaworn withoutsocks.The outfit may be accessorised with a foldable or fixedhand fanand the addition of a traditional carry bag known as akinchaku,used by both men and women to carry cellphones and other small personal items.

As with all kimono, the left side of theyukatais wrapped over the right side, and secured with either a stiff, one-layerobi,or a softer, also one-layerobi.An outer jacket may be added for cool weather.

Traditionally,yukatawere mostly made ofindigo-dyed cotton; however, following an increase in popularity in the late 1990s, a wide variety of colours and designs are now available, worn by both men and women.

Customs

• 
  A family inyukatain anonsentown
• 
  A Japanese woman wearing ayukata
• 
  Women inyukata
• 
  Foldedyukataandobiat Shibu Hotel inYamanouchi, Nagano
• 
  Endō Shimpei,1887 woodblock print byTsukioka Yoshitoshi
• 
  19th-centuryyukataatLACMAwith illustrations fromHizakurigebyJippensha Ikku

Though historically,yukatawere worn traditionally as a bathrobe all-year round, in the present day this is uncommonly seen, and is mainly confined toonsenresort towns such asAtami,KinosakiandKusatsu,whereyukataare still worn as bathrobes, commonly given to guests as part of their stay at a specific hotel or inn.

See also

• Samue
• Jinbei

External links

• Media related toYukataat Wikimedia Commons
• The dictionary definition ofyukataat Wiktionary