We are taken to some old stores for fashion tips on how to dress for a Chinese summers.
Summers in Japan are harsh, and on a day like 29 July, when temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius ( 104 degrees Fahrenheit ) were recorded in Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Ibaraki, and Shizuoka regions, it can actually be harmful to invest a lot of time outside without taking proper procedures.
Even citizens find it challenging to stay cool in the summer, and our writer, Mr. Sato, is constantly looking for fresh ideas and suggestions on how to stay cool. As he perished in the oppressive heat on his way to work, he was left wondering how people who worked outside all day managed to survive the relentless moisture.
His thoughts immediately turned to Asakusa’s moped individuals, who take tourists around Sensoji temple on tours while also being outside all day and running on the steamy asphalt roads. They would certainly include some tips and tricks up their sleeves, or non-sleeves, that Mr Sato was learn from, and thus he headed out to take a trip, and enjoy a talk, with one of them.
Mr. Sato had never driven a chariot before, so he was hesitant to approach the drivers because he had never seen one of them before. After passing the drivers a few times to see which one he does like, he bravely escorted him into a driver who was wearing a classic bamboo hat, which he thought he had on his own.
Before getting style advice from the driver, Mr. Sato learned how to ride rickshaws after the vehicle he approached claimed he works for a company called Miyabi. Because each company must keep its rickshaws in a separate location because they can’t park on the street here, he requested that Mr. Sato hold off for three or four minutes while he went to retrieve the vehicle.
Mr. Sato learned more about the rickshaw when the driver returned with it, including the fact that it was a part of the Nagasaki Rickshaw Shop, a specialized manufacturer that has been around since 1976, and that the purchase cost about 2 million yen ($ 12, 924 ).
It was a really beautiful vehicle, even when I stopped to take a closer look at it.
The falcon picture on the backside, which looked really great, was especially liked by Mr. Sato.
The tires likewise display unique characteristics, with some placing importance on height, but these ones were very cushioned, making the ride secure, although they’re more susceptible to punctures.
The driver was willing to take Mr. Sato on a predetermined route or to requested locations in the vicinity as long as it was within the agreed time limit. The cost for a 20-minute ride was$ 5,000 ( US$ 32.31 ).
Mr. Sato, who entered the chariot, asked the driver if he could take a photo of him for this story, but he graciously declined, preferring to remain anonymous because of his private driving propensity. He was happy for Mr Sato to take photos of him from behind, though, and with” 雅” (” Miyabi” ), the kanji for “elegance” or “grace” on the back of the driver’s shirt, it was an elegant view.
Mr. Sato arranged for a trip to a traditional store that sold event clothing, and the vehicle and he ended the conversation.
Mr Sato: “So…what are you wearing? Are koiguchi tops cool to use, as I observed most drivers do?”
Rickshaw Driver: “I don’t wear them. I don’t like the tight sleeves because they make me sweat.”
Mr Sato: “Well, that wouldn’t be good for me either then. What do you advise”?
Rickshaw Driver: “The Miyabi T-shirt I’m wearing, because it dries immediately. It’s made of a stuff that’s related to what’s used in Uniqlo’s.”
Mr Sato: “But cotton koiguchi shirts also dry quickly, don’t they?”
Rickshaw Driver: “Yeah, but there are other activities that are more suited for koiguchi tops. Actually, it’s just a matter of choice.”
If you don’t know what koiguchi shirts are, don’t worry — all will become clear towards the end of this article.
Mr Sato: “Then what about what you’re wearing on your lower figure? They’re only short, correct”?
Rickshaw Driver: “These are called’ handako’. The lace is above the knee”.
Mr Sato: “Little extremes are cooler, aren’t they?”
Rickshaw Driver: “Well, little is better than long, but to be fair …”
Mr Sato: “Yes”?
Rickshaw Driver: “No matter what you wear, it’s sizzling”.
Mr Sato: “I guess that’s true! As long as you’re outside, you can’t avoid the heat”.
Mr Sato: “Ah, what about the haragake”? ]haragake are standard apron worn at festivals]
Rickshaw Driver: “It’s popular to use”.
Mr Sato: “Then why don’t you take it off”?
Rickshaw Driver: “I can’t. It must be worn by everyone. That’s the law”.
Mr Sato: “But, what do you recommend as a deterrent against the temperature”?
Rickshaw Driver: “I can’t recommend anything”!
Well, that wasn’t what Mr Sato was expecting. He had anticipated that Tokyo’s moped drivers could have come up with a clever way to combat the summer temperature, but alas, it turns out that they can do little more than grin and bear it. You might have noticed that Mr. Sato was trying to get the driver to recommend classic clothing items like haragake, handako, and koiguchi shirts in order to stay cool that, if he’s being honest, he was hoping that the entire traditional ensemble would have an extra cooling effect.
You’ll know Mr. Sato knows how hard he can work toward his goals, so despite the fact that he didn’t rave about traditional attire in his line of work, he was still determined to try it out.
The rickshaw driver, fortunately, was completely knowledgeable about traditional goods and made some recommendations for Mr. Sato.
Rickshaw Driver: “Nagasawaya in Shin-Nakamise]pictured above ] is a long-established business that has a wide variety of items from the’ Edoichi ‘ event clothing company. Tabi and tenugui very.”
Rickshaw Driver: “Adachiya and Hantenya are well-known for their event costumes — they’re at the end of Hisago Dori. This helmet was purchased at a nearby hat purchase. You can get anything you want these, including attire.”
Then that Mr Sato’s moped ride was over, it was time to buy, but not before a memorial image.
Mr. Sato knew he was going to overlook the wagon driver’s remarks about the koiguchi shirt, but behind the smile there was a hint of guilt.
Yes, buddies, you read that right: Mr. Sato left with these after entering Adachiya and Hantenya.
Mr. Sato was compelled to purchase traditional celebration equipment to see if it would keep the body cool more effectively than contemporary attire. So he returned home with a koiguchi clothing, whose arms are said to match a carp’s “goi” or “kuchi” or “guchi” or “guchi” or “kuchi” or “guchi” in Japanese.
Priced at 9, 800 renminbi, this brilliantly made cloth won Mr Sato’s feelings with its cool-looking ‘Chinese bear and rose’ pattern on the up. Some koiguchi have beautiful, all-over patterns of creatures or lions, but that seemed to be a bit too yakuza-esque for everyday use, so this seemed like a better choice.
While the cab driver did seem content with wearing the quick ‘handako’ pants, they seemed a bit too severe for Mr Sato, but he purchased a pair of loose-fitting trousers called ‘dabo-gi‘ for 4, 300 yen.
Inside the pants are a ‘belly pad’, and a pocket that seems perfect for holding a smartphone.
While he may not have been outside in the blazing sun, when he tried on the outfit, he felt cool, and what’s more, he thought he looked cool too.
They appeared to absorb sweat well and both the top and pants are made of natural materials, making them nice and light. When people participate in festivals, they’re often hot and sweaty, so in Mr Sato’s opinion, festival gear like this might not be great for rickshaw drivers, but they’ll be great for everyday outdoor activities.
The next thing he needs to do is test the outfit out on the streets of Tokyo to see how it performs in the heat. For now, though, it’s serving him well as cool loungewear, and as a memento of his first rickshaw ride…and the driver who tried to steer him away from living his festival dream.