On my schools diversity day my japanese teacher asked her students to get enthusiastic about japanese culture and wear something fun and japanese. So I wore my mom’s yukata that my dad got from japan years ago. I looked up all the stuff on how to proportion wear it, went to school and upon returning home my sister, an avid tumblrite yelled at me for being racist and refered me to this page. I don’t think I was doing anything wrong by wearing a yukata on diversity day even though I wasn’t japanese. Addressing their arguments:

If you’re posting a picture of you wearing said kimono online and tagging it as “kimono”, make sure it’s actually a kimono or we will correct you. I knew, and sensei confirmed I was wearing a yukata.

Probably the only times a non-Japanese person can wear a kimono is 1. when they’re marrying a Japanese person 2. when they’re invited to by Japanese people. If you do wear kimono or yukata etc, wear it correctly. Don’t yellowface. The most important thing while wearing something of any culture (even if it’s your OWN) is to wear it with RESPECT. I followed specific instructions on how to wear a yukata. And I was wearing to show the beauty of the japanese culture which I have spent the last 5 years studying. I’m no expert but I enjoy learning about it and want to share some of the culture with my school on diversity day. Probably the only times a non-Japanese person can wear a kimono is 1. when they’re marrying a Japanese person 2. when they’re invited to by Japanese people. I have every freedom to experience another culture. Not to mention if the yukata was sold/given to dad by a japanese person knowing full well that he had the intention of his wife wearing it. If they found that offensive they could have said something right there. Also, that can be considered an invitation to wear it.

“I have every freedom to experience another culture.”

That, right there, makes me want to dismiss you completely. Culture is not a product for you to experience. You can’t “experience” a culture that is not your own, culture does not boil down to your acts of blatant disregard widely known as cultural appropriation.

You don’t know what it’s like to be Japanese, you won’t experience the same shit that nearly all Japanese diaspora experience when we participate in our culture. Your sister (lmao “the tumblrite”) I guess tried to call you out on it, and instead of internalizing anything we said in the faq, you wanted to argue to defend what you did to us. I do not personally care at all that you wore a yukata because your teacher wanted you guys to “get enthusiastic about japanese culture and wear something fun and japanese”. Once again, don’t wear one unless you’ve been invited in some way. This allows for it to be a situation about cultural exchange, rather than just disrespect.

You want to have your cake and eat it too but actions come with consequences and you have a responsibility to respect other people’s cultures. You don’t yet understand what that means and I suggest you go and learn more about it(resources in the faq) before you start making arguments justifying anything.