It's starting to heat up in Japan, which means summer is nearly here. Japanese summer means it's time for flower parks, festivals, and fireworks - all three of which are the perfect excuse to wear a traditional yukata. This year, two beautiful new yukata are being released by Donguri, Studio Ghibli's official store.
Yukata are a clothing item worn by both men and women in the summer months, especially for special occasions. They come in a variety of colors and prints, though common motifs are flowers, fireworks, and animals. Yukata with pop culture characters are bringing a new twist to tradition, blending together the old custom of wearing yukata with modern media.
Disney and Pokemon characters are the easiest to find on yukata, and are becoming more and more common to see at festivals and other summer events in Japan. But that does not mean they are the only options for people who want to show their love for a favorite series or movie while still wearing traditional clothes, and more characters are showing up each summer.
Now, Donguri is releasing two new yukata for summer 2022. They are both combining one of Studio Ghibli's most famous films with a key part of Japanese summer. Studio Ghibli is famous for its beautiful art style, so it makes sense that these yukata were designed with that in mind. The first is a white yukata with yellow flowers and tiny pictures of Jiji, the beloved black cat from Kiki's Delivery Service. The second is a navy yukata with a firework motif, along with pictures of Totoro, the titular character of My Neighbor Totoro.
Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro are two of the most famous and beloved Studio Ghibli films in Japan, and feature the most merchandise commonly available for sale. It is no surprise that they are the two that have been chosen to grace yukata this year, and are likely to appeal to many fans of the movies and characters. Paired with flowers and fireworks, they really give off a Japanese summer vibe.
What Donguri did really well in designing these yukata is keeping the characters small and subtle. From a distance, the yukata look very traditional, with a large, commonly seen print. But upon closer inspection, you can see Jiji and Totoro hiding amongst the rest of the design. This allows women who love these characters to show their passion while not being negatively labeled as "otaku." The choice is very tasteful, keeping a design that is stylish and just a little nerdy.
At 13,200 yen (around $100USD), Donguri's new Studio Ghibli yukata are very reasonably priced (though they include no accessories). They just went on sale online on May 14th, and have a limited supply. It's likely that these cute yukata will sell out fast. Donguri also sells plenty of other matching Studio Ghibli items that pair nicely with these prints, too, so fans can have an entirely Studio Ghibli-themed summer outing this year (or a trip to the Studio Ghibli theme park).
Source: Donguri