Ghibli-themed Yukata Released Just in Time for Japanese Summer

gamerant.com:

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.

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Disneyand 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