Talk:Yukata

Had to replace photo caption, question of vandalism
The photo caption for "Naru from Love Hina, in a yukata" did not fit the subject matter of the associated photo, which is, at this point, a photo still of a live (not anime or manga) woman in a yukata holding lit fireworks. The image filename still bears reference to Love Hina. Should this be changed?

Furthermore, the discussion here in the Talk Page, at this point, is suspiciously sparse. Before this comment, the only comment visible is the above, "we are learning about ja" (sic). Is this page being vandalized? The histories seem to also be suspiciously sparse, especially given that the incongruities in the image/caption pair indicate a recent edit. --InformationalAnarchist 8 July 2005 00:41 (UTC)

Further information on recent edits
I edited this page recently and wanted to provide more information. The original article said that yukatas are made from one piece of cloth. This is often true for mass-produced yukatas, such as those you find at large hotels and (particularly) hotels catering to foreigners. (Though even these yukatas still have a separate collar piece and two other pieces making the sleeves.)

This is because the tradtional way to make a yukata is with 13" wide fabric, which when put together is barely a women's medium in American sizes.  Therefore, mass-produced yukatas are typically made with 45" wide fabric, with no back or shoulder seams, leading to the misconception that all yukatas are made from one piece of fabric.

Traditionally, however, yukatas are made of seven pieces: two for the back, two for the front, two for the sleeves, and a collar piece. You may also see yukatas with no shoulder seams; the front and back of each side are a single piece, making the total five pieces. Yukatas purchased for summer festival use (as opposed to complimentary at hotels) are almost always made this way.

Also, originally, most yukatas were white cotton dyed with indigo to make a deep blue-purple. It's actually quite difficult to find a yukata older than 1970 that has more colors than that, but as the pictures show, the last 35 years have seen a sea change in the type of yukatas worn. Sarahmei 15:55, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

Difference between wafuku and kimono
Somewhere along the way, someone confused kimono with wafuku. Wafuku is the generic name for all forms of Japanese traditional or tradition-based garments; kimono is now understood to refer to traditional or tradition-based garments derived from late-Edo/early-Meiji period clothing, such as furisode, tomesode, and homongi for women. Fwiw, the current Wikipedia articles titled Kimono and Wafuku are identical in content, a situation that needs to be rectified along with a refining of definitions. Perhaps the article called wafuku should be renamed to something like "ethnic Japanese clothing" or "traditional Japanese dress/clothes" are be rewritten to cover all traditional clothing and derivative garments, whereas the article titled Kimono should concentrate on those garments sold at gofuku (呉服) stores. Jim_Lockhart 13:16, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

I disagree with the substitution of the word wafuku for the word kimono, though I notice it has already been removed. Kimono is the appropriate word, because a yukata is indeed a cotton kimono when you are referring to modern garments. Modern yukatas and kimonos are constructed in exactly the same manner. Both use 13" wide fabric, with exactly the same seams, sleeve construction, and collar construction. They even use the same type of thread.  The only difference is in the fabric content and decoration, and the absence of a lining in the yukata. Sarahmei 21:06, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

Still a stub?
I don't really feel that vast writings need to be done on the subject of yukata for the stub templates to be removed. Is there any reason they are still there? The article seems pretty complete to me, or at least complete enough to warrant removal of the stub tags. I won't actually take them off until I get some opinions here. Lauren M.talk 19:36, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

The stub designations were only added in November, and it's not clear to me why they were added. The article seems complete. I support their removal. Sarahmei 21:14, 10 March 2006 (UTC)
 * The article is complete? There are no references, no history, no hint of what the garment looks like (shape, etc.) before it is donned, no idea what it takes to make one, nothing about how much one might cost ... Really, it is like saying 'an article about hats (or MP3 players) only needs 40 lines.  This is a stub, surely?  quota (talk) 19:36, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

Are yukatas a female garment?
The pictures are all of females wearing them, and the examples are of females, but the article itself doesn't say whether it's a female garment. Ziiv 03:30, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

Yukata are worn by both men and women. Women's yukata are usually very colorful with lots of patterns like flowers, while men's yukata tend to be more simple. JgirlSara-chan14 (talk) 20:19, 5 January 2017 (UTC)

Differences from a kimono
Okay, so I'm a complete foreigner who knows nothing. Am I having a bout of poor reading analysis, or is the only difference between a yukata and a kimono is the fabric (cotton) that is used? No other fashion difference? I'm guessing that in their country someone probably knows on sight the difference, but how? It sounds like the difference between business casual and pajamas without sufficient explanation 67.109.84.5 (talk) 16:57, 8 August 2008 (UTC)


 * The sleeves of yukata tend to all be the same, whereas the sleeves of kimono differ according to style. Yukata tend to have more pattern and brighter colours.  Different obi are used with yukata.  The difference is immediately apparent because of the lightness of the fabric as well.  Exploding Boy (talk) 17:05, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Stub?
This article is a stub. It needs a flag and more expansion on the topic. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.88.81.167 (talk) 03:43, 8 December 2012 (UTC)

Assessment comment
Substituted at 11:12, 30 April 2016 (UTC)

Unlined?
The source document (1) does not mention whether yukata are lined or unlined. I'm sitting here wearing a lined yukata from a resort in Japan.
 * Kortoso (talk) 12:57, 11 January 2021 (UTC)


 * Yukata are unlined. Strange that sources don't mention that. I have to say, having been involved in the kimono enthusiast community for several years, though I haven't come across a lined yukata, I have found some with reinforcement panels at the shoulders and behind the knees, and I have deconstructed a lined casual men's kimono made of cotton; not all cotton kimono are yukata, but I'm guessing your yukata isn't a vintage piece that, on closer inspection and a single wash, smells like the soul of a thousand ashtrays(!).
 * The yukata found at resorts, given to guests, are typically nemaki; kinda unisex-looking yukata with much shorter sleeves and no extra length for women. I've actually never owned one of these, as you really can't wear them out of the house, even in summer. Is it really lined? I'd be interested to see. --Ineffablebookkeeper (talk) 20:38, 12 January 2021 (UTC)