What is a yukata? What is the difference between a yukata and a kimono?

"Wear yukata and watch fireworks" Yukata is always present in various festivals in Japan. But in Japan, you can't just wear yukata whenever you want, there is a lot of knowledge about yukata.

Yukata is a type of kimono, which is worn in summer. Yukata is a relatively light kimono. As the name suggests, yukata is a bathing-related garment. Yukata is the general garment people wear after taking a hot spring bath or bath.

Yukata is also commonly seen in Japanese festivals, festivals and fireworks displays during the summer. Yukata is also a cool garment, similar to kimono, with wide sleeves. Traditional yukata is mostly made of cotton cloth dyed in blue, but now the color selection has become more diverse, and the patterns of yukata are generally selected from summer things, animals and plants. Generally speaking, young people will choose brighter and more colorful yukata, while older people will choose darker colors and simpler patterns.

1. Look at the price

The price of a yukata is generally around 3,000 to 10,000 yen. For example, the yukatas launched by major clothing brands this year are priced at around 8,000 yen for three pieces (yukata body, obi, and clogs). The price of a formal kimono is very expensive, about ten times the price of a yukata, and some high-end kimonos even cost several million yen.

2. Look at the socks

Kimonos require socks, which are called "tabi" in Japanese; while yukatas do not.

3. Look at the collar

The collar of a kimono is two layers, the inner one is called a yukata, while the inner one is a single layer.

4. Check the knot

Generally, formal kimonos have more complicated obi knots such as the taiko knot and the sparrow knot, and the tying method is also more complicated, while yukatas usually use shaping knots, which means that the shape is already made and you just need to tie it.

1. Peony and Chinese peonies: happiness and wealth

In ancient Japan, when describing the beauty of women, people often used the phrase "standing like a peony, sitting like a peony, and walking like a lily". From small buds, large flowers bloom, so peonies/peonies symbolize happiness and wealth. Peonies and other patterns are suitable for young women. Wearing clothes with peony and other patterns means praying for happiness.

2. Butterfly: longevity, resurrection, change

The process of transformation from a pupa to a butterfly means "resurrection, change" and "immortality". Since the pronunciation of "チョウ" is similar to "long", it also means "longevity". In terms of love, it contains the hope that "the relationship will continue forever". On the other hand, from the way the butterfly flutters, the butterfly-shaped pattern means "passionate and frivolous".

3. Bamboo: Smile, Grace

The flower of dianthus represents elegance, beauty, and smile. Smile is everything and is associated with a happy life. If you find a yukata with a dianthus flower pattern, it means good luck. Perfect love will also come to you. The origin of "Yamato Nadeshiko" is because of the dianthus flower, which means simplicity and cuteness.

4. Cherry Blossoms: Beginning, Abundance

The cherry blossom pattern is a traditional pattern in Japanese yukata. You may wonder why the cherry blossom, which represents spring, is printed on the summer yukata. That's because the cherry blossom in Japan is so popular. For the Japanese, cherry blossom is the most popular pattern no matter what season it is. The beauty of cherry blossoms and the neatness of their scattered flowers are also completely in line with the aesthetic consciousness of the Japanese, so the cherry blossom pattern is very popular in Japan.

5. Rattan: Prosperity of descendants

The lazily drooping wisteria is also a common pattern on yukatas. And wisteria flowers also have the meaning of "prosperity of descendants" because of their profuse flowers.

6. Dragonfly: Must win

Since ancient times, dragonflies have been considered as animals that work hard towards their goals, and are therefore called "victory insects", which is very auspicious and is a favorite pattern of Japanese samurai. In addition to yukata, they are often used as patterns, and many Japanese people will specially give gifts with dragonfly patterns to familiar candidates.

The yukata belt can be tied with a shell knot or a bunko knot. There are many other ways to tie it. If you are traveling to Japan, you can ask the staff who rents out yukatas to help you tie the belt.

Most yukatas are made of half-width belts, which are only half the width of ordinary belts. First, fold one half-width belt in half and put it on the shoulder. This part is called the hand. Then wrap the other side of the belt around the waist twice. The remaining part is called the hem.

Pull the hand and the vertical edge forward at the same time to tighten the belt, adjust the length of the two ends of the belt so that the hand and the vertical edge are approximately equal in length, place the vertical edge on top, tie a knot around the hand, and tighten it. Arrange the vertical edge downward, then bend it inward to form a mouth, fold the hand upward diagonally, and let the hand pass through the mouth formed by the vertical edge. The shell knot is completed.

The shell knot is suitable for both men and women, and the best look is when the width ratio of the hand front and the vertical edge is 1:2, while the library knot is mostly suitable for women.

The length of the bunko knot is very short at first, only about 30.40 cm long. It is also a knot first. After tying the knot, there are still a lot of hanging edges left. Fold the hanging edges into long strips with a length approximately the same as the width of the shoulders, and then fold them into the shape of a bow. Use your hands to wrap around the middle part of the bow, and finally tuck the remaining part into the belt. The bunko knot is completed, and it is adjusted to the back after being tidyed up.