(English) Islam : day 40

Hi,

It’s official now, on the 15th April Masha and me are going sightseeing in Gion. “But you already have been there” you would be saying, well, the special thing is that this time we will walk around the Geisha district wearing a fancy yukata! Kimura san had this great idea of searching for a shop that rents them for the day.

The yukata is a casual version of the kimono. It is a robe usually made of cotton or synthetic fabric, wrapped around the body and fastened with a sash. It literally means “bathing cloth”, and it was originally intended to be just that. Traditionally, the garment is worn after bathing in a communal bath, functioning as a quick way to cover the body and to absorb remaining moisture.

Recently, the yukata has also become a way of dressing for summer festivals. Increasingly fashionable designs have surfaced to a degree that it is sometimes difficult for the untrained eye to discern between a yukata and a kimono. Yukata for men generally have darker or more subdued colors, while that for young women are usually bright and colorful, often with floral designs. Yukata for matured women tend to be less flashy.

Kimura san even offered us the tickets for the cherry blossom ceremony in Toji temple for the same day ! I can’t wait to wear it, this will definitely be a wonderful experience.