Yukata!

Last weekend, three of my friends ended up buying yukata. It started with Julie looking at some yukata on a whim, and ended with Sasha and Chelsea getting sucked in as well. I already have a yukata, but I went back the next day to buy a nicer obi (belt/sash at the waist) for it. I think we taught those shop assistants that gaikokujin are good for business. Here we are in our yukata (not pictured: my new green obi). We're hoping to make an occasion to wear our yukata together before Sasha and Chelsea leave Japan.

One thing to note is that like kimono, yukata are not entirely straightforward to wear. You have to fold them in a few spots, and tie various bits to hold them in place, and wrap the obi around a few times and fashion it into some sort of bow. Sasha and I are pictured with fake obi; the bows are premade and detachable. Julie and Chelsea (furthest to the right and left) actually tied their obi themselves. A regular obi is just a very long, somewhat stiff rectangular sash. So, getting dressed is a skill you have to learn. I'm still pretty sloppy, but I'm practicing.