Yukata
When Carole was living in Japan in 2003, she sent me a beautiful red yukata with a yellow obi (sash), and shoes to match. She warned me that it would be a little complicated to put on a yukata for the first time, and that she could show me how when she came home. Somehow, we never got a chance to do this together.
Last night, I finally had an opportunity to actually wear the yukata, to Mukkul's halloween party. I didn't think he knew any Japanese people so I figured if I didn't put it on perfectly nobody would really notice. Plus, the yukata came with illustrated instructions (in Japanese of course) so my plan was foolproof!
Unfortunately, I learned very quickly that a few cartoon diagrams just don't cut it. The yukata is one large piece of cloth which is wrapped around the body in such a way that the length is fully customized to the height of the bearer. I could tell from the pictures that they were explaining how to adjust the height, but I just couldn't understand why she kept switch from the right side to the left side, and they how it was miraculously secured to her body with no lumps or bumps at all. There were arrows all over the place and no explanation for how to use the two cloth ties that came with it. And to make things worse, they tried to show you how to make this beautiful bow with the yellow obi, and it was like black magic. In one frame there was some folding instructions, and in the next frame there was a beautiful bow secured on her back.
I spent an hour and a half wrapping myself in all kinds of crazy ways. I finally gave up on the instructions and surfed the internet for English instructions. I found a couple of not so great sites, and in the end I settled on this ebay site.
There were unwanted bumps here and there, some fabric sticking out where it was not supposed it, and the chest tie was a little too tight, but I finally did it! I was especially proud of the bow tie in the back. And I have a healthy respect for Japanese folding arts. :)
Despite the fact that I was an hour late, I was the second to arrive, after Lera. We took pictures of one another which I will post when I get the chance. Later on, three Asian people walked into the party, one girl and two men. The girl stared at me as if she recognized me, so I went over to introduce myself. When she told me her name was Yoko, I mentally gulped. They were three Japanese exchange students studying at the University of Copenhagen for a year. They politely did not say much about my yukata but we did have a nice conversation about Japan. She was from Nagoya, the other guy from Yokohama, and the third from Chiba (sp?), where Narita airport is situated.
Kendrick got to see my outfit when I got home at 1am. We did a split social evening because he had to go to coworker's good bye party (to which I was not invited anyways).
Happy Halloween everybody!
Last night, I finally had an opportunity to actually wear the yukata, to Mukkul's halloween party. I didn't think he knew any Japanese people so I figured if I didn't put it on perfectly nobody would really notice. Plus, the yukata came with illustrated instructions (in Japanese of course) so my plan was foolproof!
Unfortunately, I learned very quickly that a few cartoon diagrams just don't cut it. The yukata is one large piece of cloth which is wrapped around the body in such a way that the length is fully customized to the height of the bearer. I could tell from the pictures that they were explaining how to adjust the height, but I just couldn't understand why she kept switch from the right side to the left side, and they how it was miraculously secured to her body with no lumps or bumps at all. There were arrows all over the place and no explanation for how to use the two cloth ties that came with it. And to make things worse, they tried to show you how to make this beautiful bow with the yellow obi, and it was like black magic. In one frame there was some folding instructions, and in the next frame there was a beautiful bow secured on her back.
I spent an hour and a half wrapping myself in all kinds of crazy ways. I finally gave up on the instructions and surfed the internet for English instructions. I found a couple of not so great sites, and in the end I settled on this ebay site.
There were unwanted bumps here and there, some fabric sticking out where it was not supposed it, and the chest tie was a little too tight, but I finally did it! I was especially proud of the bow tie in the back. And I have a healthy respect for Japanese folding arts. :)
Despite the fact that I was an hour late, I was the second to arrive, after Lera. We took pictures of one another which I will post when I get the chance. Later on, three Asian people walked into the party, one girl and two men. The girl stared at me as if she recognized me, so I went over to introduce myself. When she told me her name was Yoko, I mentally gulped. They were three Japanese exchange students studying at the University of Copenhagen for a year. They politely did not say much about my yukata but we did have a nice conversation about Japan. She was from Nagoya, the other guy from Yokohama, and the third from Chiba (sp?), where Narita airport is situated.
Kendrick got to see my outfit when I got home at 1am. We did a split social evening because he had to go to coworker's good bye party (to which I was not invited anyways).
Happy Halloween everybody!
posted by Gina at 10:35 AM
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