Gaijin wearing yukata??

[xYinniex]

well theres always gona be people that judge. just do it, as nike promotes.

If you want to wear it, GO FOR IT. but be aware that not everyone is gona like it.

[XDemianu27X]

Is this thread about gaijin wearing yukatas in Japan, or outside of Japan? Because those are two totally different circumstances.

Here's what I think...

If outside of Japan, japanese formal wear is more of a costume than an outfit. Although very pretty, I wouldn't recommend wearing them.

In Japan, foreign girls can easily get away with japanese formal wear. It's not abnormal, and it's very beautiful.

For guys.... don't even think about it. I've seen it here too, and the two japanese girls I were with couldn't stop laughing and even got a little angry. The guy wasn't wearing it as a joke, he thought it was cool and spoke little japanese which made it even worse. The only place you might be able to get away with it is in your own home.

[JamaicaninCanada]

Originally Posted by SummerinTokyo

Hi everybody,

just wanted to hear your guys` opinion on gaijin wearing yukata. Do you think it is kakko ii or kind of weird? The reason why I am asking, I couldn`t resist buying a lovely yukata at

Kinomo Yukata Market sakura 日本の浴衣、着物の販売専門店

It was actually much cheaper than I expected, considering what kind of horror stories can be heard about the prices of kimono...

But anyway, do you think I can leave the house wearing a yukata? Someone please encourage me!

I don't think it is weird wearing a yukata.
You wear it in appreciation of the Japanese culture.
I travel frequently to Japan and I wear whenever I want to, even in Toronto, Canada.

[gotpika]

Well I don't see why the heck not! How many times do you see a Japanese person in traditional African dress? Or how many times do you see woman in wedding gowns from paris and dresses made by famous fasion people?

I don't know if you've been to Little Osaka, Little Tokyo, or Japan Town in America I don't know any more Japan towns besides those but they have Japan festivals called ''Obon Festivals'' or ''Bon Festivals'' at these festivals you see a high amount of japanese people(those towns are where they premerly live here in america) and the rest are usually African American or Caucasian they have people their known as Taiko Drummers wearing Japanese Happi Coats while they drum I've also seen people wearing Yukatas there here are a few videos.

YouTube - Japanese Obon Festival at Como Park YouTube - San Jose Taiko at Obon Festival
YouTube - More Taiko Project at Obon Festival 2008

Yukata in media on ''gLee Japan version'' white man wearing Yukata
YouTube - グリー　曙　大熱唱！相撲 Japan Glee with Akebono Sumo "Don't Stop Believin"

Some races need to stop this friggin this getting angry over little things.I've seen a butt load of Japanese people wearing African Clothes, Stuff from Paris, Cloths from Italy, baking European Pastries like the famous ''Straw Berry Short Cake'' that they try to play off as being Japanese. American and Canadian made Business Man Suits. American blue jeans. Nikes and Jordans. I haven't seen one normal Japanese person wear normal japanese origin cloths and i don't mean ''Jeans made in japan'' I actual new species of cloths made in japan.

Please don't stress and wear you yukata to a festival u look silly wearing those in normal day enjoy your self.

Cheers, Kevin Mix of Japanese, African American, and more

[MMM]

Originally Posted by gotpika

Well I don't see why the heck not! How many times do you see a Japanese person in traditional African dress?

Never.

Originally Posted by gotpika

Some races need to stop this friggin THIS IS MY CULTURE YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BUT I CAN PRACTICE YOUR CULTURE crap

Has any Japanese here said that?

[GreyWolf]

Originally Posted by Kanji_The_Wanderer

That's how they dress corpses? Is there any sort of significance as to why the yukata/kimono is wrapped in such a way?

Here in England women wear their coats fastened on the opposite side to men because in days long gone by, upperclass ladies had maids to help them dress. Because the maid automatically placed the left side over the right as she was looking at it, this resulted in the lady wearing the coat buttoned on the opposite side to a man. (This also showed that she was wealthy enough to employ a maid to dress her). This then became a fashionable way, and then the traditional way of fastening any female clothing including blouses etc. - So back to the corpse thing. The dead person cannot dress themselves, so the person dressing them would perhaps put the left side over the right as they looked at it.
Just a suggestion; does that make sense?

[TalnSG]

Gotpike makes a reasonable point.

If the Japanese can adopt (almost take over) European dress styles for the all-too-well-known Lolita look, they should be more open to westerners adopting their mode of dress.

At least most westerners who wear traditional Japanese clothes are not intending to ridicule or pervert it. The "Lolitas" cannot make the same claim. And this is without even considering some of the more extreme western styles that have been adopted by younger generations.

As long as the look is respectful of the tradition, I think one should be honored if a foreigner wants to wear your traditional dress.

But I would not include very specialized aspects such as religious garments or make-up that tends toward the theatrical (kabuki, or specific makeup & hair for a maiko). That would be an indication of either not understanding what you were doing or having no respect.

In the U.S., I wear two different haori with long skirts to make my own version of a rather unique, practical and stylish woman's suit. I wear my yukata around the house most of the time.

But few weeks ago when I was on a trip for a Daito-ryu workshop and staying in the dojo, I did ask one of my host's opinions before packing my yakuta to change into from my gi.

I also happen to own a Happi coat which makes me feel rather self concious when I wear it (only at local festivals), but since it was a gift from a very honored professor I wear it proudly and defy anyone to criticize it.

[MikeB]

I really don't know where some of the people on here are getting their information from. I was bought a yukata as a present from my Japanese girlfriend and she and all of her family love the idea of me wearing it for the Summer festivals. They regard it as a compliment, which I suppose is the logical thing to do. Certainly some people might regard it as a little strange but by far the greater number of people will appreciate the show of respect. I've worn it on a number of occasions and I've only ever received a positive reaction. Which is the same sort of reaction you get when you show you can eat Japanese food or speak Japanese, positive surprise.

Of course wearing that kind of dress is a little embarrassing as not many people wear it, but that would be no different to wearing a kilt in Scotland or any other form of traditional dress for that matter. When I expressed my embarrassment at wearing none all of my Japanese friends couldn't understand why I might feel like. Certainly nobody has ever expressed anger, and if they did, to be honest they would be the weird one, especially in a culture where any public display of anger is considered very strange indeed.

If you wear a yukata out to a Summer festival you will only get a positive reaction from most Japanese people. You may get a lot of attention, but it won't be negative, whether you like that attention or not is up to you. If you don't, don't wear it, if you find it fun or are indifferent then go for it. Please be aware that by far the biggest haters of Gaijin in Japan are other Gaijin (I'm the only gaijin in the villiage mentality), so if you get any stick it will more than likely be from them. The closest I had was an American telling me I looked stupid and that as his grandfather was Japanese and he looked mostly Asian he could wear one and I couldn't. Of course he couldn't speak any Japanese and had only been here for two weeks. If you're worried about those sorts of dicks it may be best to go with your girlfriend or boyfriend in the same dress or in a group of gaijin mates as I sometimes do. I can assure you that none of us are the otaku henna gaijin type.

Whoever that chap was who claimed that his two Japanese friends were getting angry with a gaijin for wearing a yukata was probably just making stuff up, got completely lost in translation or is hanging out with some serious weirdos. But most likely just making stuff up.

Enjoy getting dressed up for the Summer festivals!

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Whoever that chap was who claimed that his two Japanese friends were getting angry with a gaijin for wearing a yukata was probably just making stuff up, got completely lost in translation or is hanging out with some serious weirdos. But most likely just making stuff up.

Enjoy getting dressed up for the Summer festivals!

Because Japan is such a tiny country that your experience in your area is automatically the national truth, and the experience of anyone else is either false or exceptional?

Wearing Yukata at a summer festival is quite different to the context posed in the original question. At matsuri, lots of people wear costume and it's seen as entering into the spirit of things to join in. Wearing yukata around in public 'just because' is completely different, and will raise eyebrows and stir comments, which might not be complimentary. Those girls might have gotten angry, not so much about the gaijin in yukata aspect of the scenario, but because it was attracting an embarrassing amount of attention.
You can be japanese and it can still seem kind of odd in the wrong context. If you're foreign, there's even less legitimate reasons why you might be wearing it. Wearing yukata abroad outside your home 'just because' is another deal again.

Personally I don't wear yukata or kimono in Japan unless it's a set event and i'm going with others who'll be dressing up. In the UK, as far as i'm concerned it's costume, and i'd best have a decent excuse to be wearing it.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Columbine

Because Japan is such a tiny Those girls might have gotten angry, not so much about the gaijin in yukata aspect of the scenario, but because it was attracting an embarrassing amount of attention.

That's very unlikely indeed, being angry in public would seem to me to be by far the more unusual response, bordering on genuinely weird. Though its something that is obviously limited on both sides to anecdotal evidence. I wouldn't wear a yukata "just because" either, but in my experience it's absolutely cool to wear it to matsuri festivals etc.