Summer in Japan can sometimes be unbearable. My very first visit to Japan was in the month of August and although I had a wonderful time, I will always remember the heat was like nothing I have ever experienced--and I have lived in tropical climates before--but that first summer in Tokyo was a new level of hot and sticky!
August is often the hottest month in Japan with the average temperature being around 79 degrees which on paper does not seem that hot. However, 79 degrees coupled with Japan’s summer humidity makes 79 degrees feel more like 100 degrees or more.
Japanese have devised many ways to stay cool during the summer over the centuries. Foods like cold soba noodles, cold tofu and shaved ice all help to beat the heat. Drinks such as cold iced matcha tea or cold barley tea also help to keep things cool.
In addition to staying cool by eating certain foods, the Japanese also have learned to dress using cooler fabrics and styles during the hotter summer months. Two of the more popular clothing choices during the summer are yukata and suteteko.
In a previous blog about the Obon festival it was mentioned that the traditional attire worn during Obon is yukata . The yukata is a summer kimono. It is lighter and less heavy than a regular kimono and much more comfortable to wear during the summer. Usually made of light cotton fabric, a yukata can make the summer heat and humidity much more bearable.
A standard yukata ensemble consists of a cotton undergarment (juban), yukata, obi, bare feet, sandals (geta), a foldable or fixed hand fan, and a carry bag (kinchaku). A kinchaku can be used by both men and women. It comes in handy to carry celllphones and other small personal items.
When visiting a Japanese bath or ryokan guests are provided with yukata to wear during their stay. Yukata literally means bath(ing) clothes, however their use is not limited to only after-bath wear. Yukata are a common sight in Japan during the hot summer months. Geta or wooden sandals are worn when dressed in yukata sans socks to keep your feet cooler.
During my first visit to Tokyo, I was pleasantly surprised to see men and women dressed in yukata alongside others dressed in business suits and western fashions on the crowded subway platforms and busy city streets. Needless to say, those few lucky enough to wear yukata looked much more comfortable and happy in the summer heat!
Another summer fashion in Japan is suteteko. Suteteko traditionally are the underpants worn while wearing a kimono. However, they have become modern summer wear to beat the heat and can be worn all by themselves. Both men and women wear suteteko which are longer than standard shorts usually a bit longer than knee length.
Suteteko usually have decorative patterns on them and are very comfortable. They have become so popular that the well known clothing brand Uniqlo created a whole line of suteteko and even had a suteteko bar in the Ginza district.
I remember when my wife bought me my first suteteko. I wasn’t entirely comfortable wearing them, being an American I was used to my cargo shorts and board shorts. But after a time they found their way into my summer rotation and they are in fact very comfortable and cool. So if you are looking to stay cool this summer don’t overlook yukata and suteteko if you want to diversify your summer wardrobe.
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