Yukata Day

What Is Yukata Day?

July 7 each year is "Yukata Day," established in 1981 by the Japan Yukata Federation. It is linked to "Kikkōden," a Chinese Tanabata custom in which women offered needles and thread and prayed for better sewing skills, and to festivals honoring the Weaver Princess (Orihime). The day also aims to encourage young people to rediscover the beauty of the yukata, a light cotton kimono.

Born From the Steam Bath: The History of the Yukata

The yukata has changed shape over the centuries alongside Japanese bathing customs.

• From "yukatabira": The word "yukata" is said to come from "yukatabira," an unlined linen garment worn by Heian-period aristocrats in steam baths. Bathing nude was not customary at the time, and it served as a bathing robe to absorb sweat and prevent burns.
• An "after-bath robe" in the Edo period: Once public bathhouses spread in the Edo period, absorbent cotton yukata became popular for wearing after a bath. Over time, people began wearing them out for evening strolls and Bon dances, and the yukata became a summer outfit for ordinary people.

How the Yukata Became Summer Wear

A yukata is an unlined, single-layer garment that can be slipped on easily over bare skin.

• Breathable fabrics: Besides cotton and linen, fabrics with a fine crinkled texture, such as "shijira-ori," do not cling to the skin and have long been valued for their light feel.
• Indigo and white: Traditional yukata often feature indigo or white-ground patterns. Their cool-looking colors have become a familiar sight of Japanese summer.

Fun Facts About the Yukata

• "Migi-mae" (right side first): A yukata is worn by wrapping the right panel against the body first and layering the left panel over it. This is said to date back to a rule issued in 719, during the Nara period, requiring garments to be closed this way. The opposite wrapping, "hidari-mae," is used for burial clothing, so be careful.
• The adjustable "ohashori" fold: Women's yukata are adjusted to the right length by folding the extra fabric at the waist. This fold, called "ohashori," lets people of slightly different heights wear the same yukata. Men's yukata are usually worn without it.
• Patterns with meanings: Hemp leaves (wishes for healthy growth), flowing water (coolness), and morning glories or goldfish (summer motifs) each carry their own meaning or seasonal feel.
• Yukata today: Many modern yukata are made of easy-to-wash polyester or cotton-linen blends, and more people choose them for easy care.
• Other "Yukata Days": Some regions hold their own "Yukata Day" events on other dates, such as in August.

Tips for Spending Yukata Day

• Take a yukata out of your closet and try it on. Tying the obi (sash) tends to make you stand up a little straighter.
• Sprinkle water outside in the evening ("uchimizu") and enjoy the cool air in your yukata.
• Look up the meanings of yukata patterns to help you choose one.
• Wear a yukata to a Tanabata event or summer festival.

A Day to Enjoy Japanese Summer in a Single Layer of Cloth

July 7 is a day to enjoy the yukata, the most familiar form of traditional Japanese dress. Its history, which began with the Heian-period yukatabira, reflects the many ways the Japanese have tried to spend summer comfortably and beautifully. This summer, why not put on a yukata and go out to enjoy the evening cool? Walking under the Tanabata night sky, your usual neighborhood may look a little different.