Japanese Garment : 浴衣(Yukata)

A Yukata is a Japanese Garment, a casual summer dress usually made of cotton. People wearing yukata are a common sight in Japan at "Bon-Odori", a Dance festival we have in summer season, fireworks displays, and other summer events. The yukata is also frequently worn after bathing at "Ryokan" or "Minshuku", traditional Japanese hotels. Yukata was originally used for bath(ing) clothes and Pajamas.
Like other forms of traditional Japanese clothing yukata are made with straight seams and wide sleeves. Unlike formal kimono, which are made of silk, yukata are typically made of cotton. Traditionally its colors were conservative but today a wide variety of colors and designs are available. As with kimono, the general rule with yukata is that younger people wear brighter colors and bolder patterns than older people. A child might wear a multicolored print and a young woman, a floral print, while an older woman would confine herself to a traditional dark blue with geometric patterns. (Some quoted from Wikipedia)

I have a good memory my ex-girlfriend wearing a pink Yukata with light-blue "Obi: a sash" when we went to see Fireworks in our youth. I can still hear the sound of her "Geta : wodden sandals"....


Photo: a Japanese lady with Yukata with Wine-Red colored "Obi"

Photo: a pretty Obi.
You may enjoy different color scheme and design of Obi to coloring your Appearance

Quick History Overview: 日本の歴史概要

Japan has a long time history. During Nara and Heian Era, starting 7^th century to 12^th century, and when its capital was located in Nara and Kyoto, Repeated trading with Tang, an ancient Chinese Dynasty, lots of new cultures were exchanged. Those are such as economic system, religion, architecture, literature, government system, and so on. After Heian era, Samurais took over the government and locate its capital in Kamakura and Kamakura Era was started. After that, Japan entered to Warring States periods until Edo era. At 17^th century.  During the Edo era in a stable period over 300 years, many cultures had evolved. And then the period of Samurai was finally met it end and the modern, western style government was started after revolution. That is Meiji Era and modern Japanese culture was born with fusion with Western Cultures.

Until today, we, Japanese have evolved our unique cultures. Some of them we fuse, some we innovate. Through This site, "Wahooo", we hope you find interests in variety of our culture and life experience.

Yo-koso to our friends in over-seas.

K&H

Thin Japanese hand towel : 手拭(Tenugui)

It is made by cotton and is typically about 35 by 90 centimeters in size, plain weaved and is almost always printed with some pattern.

It can be used for anything a towel could be used for - as a washcloth, dishcloth, headband, souvenir or decoration. Towels made from terry cloth have replaced many of its use in the household. However tenugui is still popular as a souveni. It has been re-proposed as carrying tool (a bag), interior such as table cloth and art.

Tenugui can be not only aaplicable as towel but also as a bag or interier.
I will post more photos shortly...

Tableware : 器 (Utsuwa)

We, Japanese are also considered tableware is a part of the dish. We enjoy meal Not only by tongue but also by the “Eye”. And that is why we believe tableware is one of the important aspects for the meal. For example, when the winter is cold, we put the warm soup into bowl to enjoy it.  In the warmer months of spring, we try using a bright instrument with seven colors of breath accompanied by new buds. We enjoy selecting tableware by the season, mood, companies, and off course by the food. This, of course, there is no such a strict "rules". The table is the color of your sense of art.


Photo: Traditional "Japan" Cup.
In our traditional Japanese meal, we make food or ingredients so meaningful. In below Japan Cup for soup, there is "Tsuru", a Japanese Crane Painted. There is a saying that Tsuru lives a thousand years. So we serve soup with a wish of one's health and long life... these "Omoiyari = Caring" surely make it taste better and keep soup warmer ^^.. 

Photo: These are very popular dishes. Those Very Sophisticated design plates are often seen at almost every home. These Plates are good for any kind of food. Sashimi, Sushi, Boiled vegitables, Salads, fried Shrimp and so on..  Sushi? Fried Chicken? either way, Let's go family style!

Please allow me to put the Sake/Shochu contrainer as a Night Cap Lover..^^

Cup: 湯呑 (Yunomi)

Like the dishes, there is a cup for right occasion when enjoy tea time solely or with your company, when you enjoy night cap with Sake, Shochu or Whiskey. Cold, straight, on the rocks or Hot… 
I Personally like Shochu, a Japanese Spirit, and I have my own “Satsuma Kiriko” glass to enjoy it with. “湯呑” will make your drinking time “HOT” even that is on the Rocks.

There are My Favorite Glasses. Cannot have my precious time without these partners..
Left: Satsuma Kiriko Glass for Shochu
Right: Kiriko Glass for Sake

These are cups for Tea. We normally enjoy Green tea or Roasted tea with these. Some folks enjoy unfiltered Sake with it ^^

Pots : 鍋 (Nabe)

Shabu-Shabu, Sukiyaki, Pots… We love Pot “Nabe” dish! Especially in Winter season. When friends get together, when Family re-unite, “Nabe” is the Number One option for meal. You put different kinds of ingredients. Crab, Meat, vegetable, noodles etc. Do you like soup Spicy? Sweet? Bonito favor? Tangle favor? Or Soy Source or Miso Flavor? It Depends on your appetite. Hey, but No matter what you prefer, you must have an earthen pot. This unique traditional cookware can keep your food warmer during the winter season.... Let me introduce one of my favorite Nabe.

Recipe: Chicken Nabe with Soy Source Flavor Soup

Soup:  put 2-3 pieces of Tangles into a pan with cold water and leave it for a few hours. If you like, you can put bonito flakes as well. I personally like to put both. Light a pan and take them right out before the water gets boiled. Put some soy source (a couple of table spoons), Mirin, Sugar and Sake and keep boiling until Sake loses its alcohol.

Let’s cook it:
In this photo, I put some diced chicken, Chinese cabbage, Shiitake Mushroom, Tofu and some noodles. Put those in Nabe, and pour the Soup you made, cover it and light your gas range with mid-high flame. Take cover off once it Boils, take lye and keep it for another 10-15 minutes with small-mid flame. And it is ready! Try it with Soy Source with Citrus Juice “Ponzu : ポン酢“　with grated “Daikon” radish. And When you finish you can put rice or Udon noodles. Those are good, too! If you like Shabu-Shabu,

Just put vegetables into boiled soup (no cover needed) and simply “Shabu-Shabu” your favorite meats.

We also cook Rice with Nabe. It surely tast better than electric Rice Cooker!

Fan: 扇子 (Sensu)

There was also a “sensu” in ancient Egypt and ancient China, but a compact fold is said to have originated in Japan. Those were made by several pieces of woods, but now most of them are made by woods and paper or cloth is stretched over it. Seek not only people in the past, some legends say that the gift to write a love letter and songs.

We hope you enjoy Hot Summer with “Cool” Sensu.

More photos will be posted soon ^^

Japanese-leather-soled-sandals: 雪駄 (Setta) Japanese-Wooden-Sandals:下駄(Geta)

Leather soled sandals (Setta), giving a waterproof skin stuck to the back of bamboo sandals, leather protector on the heel of the bottom.

Some people say that this fine sandal was proposed by Sen no Rikyu, an ancient Tea-Master, for walking on the alley with water hit or snow to prevent from slipping.

In modern times, Setta is a common footwear when man weareing Kimono.

Below Photos are "Geta: 下駄”　Japanese Wooden Sandals.
left for women and right for men

Photo: These are "must" item when where Setta/Gata during cold seasons. Normally these

are in Pure White or Black, but I think loud primary color can be very "Wild" if you can manage cool taylored "Modern Kimono"