Yukata, my kata.

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Yukata, my kata. Monday August 21

Yukatas are all the rage this year.

This past weekend, I went to a festival in Azabu-juban. Azabu-juban is close to Roppongi, but more residential, and thus is a prime location for foreigners who live in Japan to reside (as many work near Roppongi). Not surprisingly, despite being a Japanese festival, they had given it an international flair, with food stalls from all over the world. Props to Brazil for being delicious. Mexico, you need to take a cue from American Mexican food and give me more for my money. I still feel cheated. $4 bucks for a taco? C'mon.

One of my coworkers bought a new yukata two weeks ago, and at the time she suggested that I, too, buy one. For those too lazy to click on the link and find out what a yukata is, it's a kimono-like outfit worn in the summertime. Rather than silk, it is made of cotton. We looked at the store near our office, and sure enough, they had cheap men's yukata there (for about 9,000 yen, including the obi [the belt thingy]).

Well, if you go to a festival (matsuri), you wear a yukata. That's how it goes. Also, they've been in fashion this year. I'm sold. I don't have much money; in fact, I just had to borrow some so I can move, but I had to give in to this. It looks too good not to. You want proof?

Yeah. That's what I thought.

So, here I am, at this festival, donning my yukata, and rocking out. We went to a pub after that, and had a grand ol' time, but on the train on the way home, I was alone, and I was definitely being looked at by everyone. And I loved every second of it. They might have been thinking, "What is that damn foreigner doing wearing a yukata, and it's not even like he's with anyone," but I prefer to think that their stares were more along the lines of: "Isn't that Tom Cruise? That has to be Tom," and "It looks like I missed one heck of a party..." etc.

A certain female had suggested that we go out in our yukatas together, so if I get some pictures of that, I'll make sure to put them up on this site.