So, about six weeks ago I was in the English-book section of the city library when I came across a pamphlet from the local international cultural affairs' office. They were having a yukata fashion contest and were looking for foreigners to participate. (For those of you who don't know what a yukata is, it is like a kimono but instead of being made out of silk, it is made out of cotton. They are popular summer-wear in Japan -- especially for firework festivals -- and Hamamatsu is supposedly known for their production). Anyway, back to my story.... I thought that the entire idea sounded like a blast! First of all, I have never been in a fashion show -- and to be in one in Japan, modeling traditional Japanese wear!! Me, the one foreigner in this city who blends in (heeheehee). However, I wasn't about to attempt the adventure by myself. So, after about a month of hint dropping and patient convincing of Sarah (we never did convince Helen-Marie), we finally decided to sign up. We decided that either the entire day could be wonderful or horrible, but either way, it would be a great memory! So in true Japanese fashion (and Ingrish) "Let's make memory."
When we signed up at the cultural affairs office, we had several options -- rent a yukata or bring our own; have our makeup and hair done or do it ourselves. We decided that since neither of us owned a yukata or had any clue what we were really doing, we would go all out and be completely pampered by the staff. (On a completely different thread, but still related, the week before the contest, my church had a bazaar where a yukata was being sold. My team of LOLs decided it would be a perfect opportunity to have me try it on, so here I was standing in the middle of the Fellowship Hall being fitted in a purple yukata while the men looked on and the ladies realized that there was no belt (obi) to keep it on). Of course I felt a bit silly, and of course I bought the belt-less outfit, but at the time of the signing up for the fashion show, I didn't own a yukata.
Back at the contest, we arrived at our designated spot at 3 pm where we were ushered into a room to pick out our yukata. There were two racks of all colors and patterns -- from flowers to violins to cats to fireworks -- there were yukata for every kind of fashion taste.
We then moved over the obi table where several ladies helped us to pick out a belt. I'm not sure the what the criteria is for obi/yukata matching, but it must an art, because they were very specific about which ones we received. It was at the point, too, that the ladies realized that my yukata was too short and so my first choice was replaced by a longer one.
After we received our outfits, it was more waiting until the professional yukata dressers were available to help us get dressed. (It was also at this point, that snapping pictures seemed inappropriate). The ladies that dressed us happened to be my LOLs from the kimono day so it was nice to see them again. It took about three of them to adjust the yukata just right; tie strips of cloth around under the obi in attempt to make our stomachs flatter (and limit our breathing capabilities) and then tie the obi, which happens to be really difficult. There are many different ways to tie obi each one requiring many hours of study and practice.
Sarah's obi knot
My obi knot
Then it was off to the "hairu and make" room, where senior students from the local beauty school did their magic on seven contestants at once. My hair, especially, was a puzzlement to them -- it color, length, and softness. They told me it was like baby's hair. My eyelashes, too, were quite intriguing due to their length as well as my allergy to pink eyeshadow. But, all's well that ends well, and the makeup artist insisted that I not wear my glasses for the above picture! My final "do" also made the hairdresser so proud that she took a picture of it with her cellphone (which should have been a hint to me to have her take a picture of the back of my head with my camera). Alas, like every other fun hair experience I have ever had, I forgot to take a picture until the end of the day, so the below pictures are a bit messy.
After an emergency revisit to the obi tying ladies and a complete redressing now including towels tied around my waist to balance out my supposedly odd shape (even though I don't have much in the way of hips, I definitely have more than the typical Japanese person!) I was now ready to be presented to the press. 
It was like a mini Miss Universe competition Japanese-edition as there were contestants from all over the world including Brazil, China, Ireland, New Zealand, India, Hungry, Romania, and myself form the US. Here we all stood smiling and giggling as friends, family, newspaper, and TV crews took pictures.
After the impromptu photo shoot I wandered around the site a bit to find that alongside the foreigners' competition was a children's competition where even the littlest ones got involved.
I especially liked the below sisters' fruit-themed yukata.
There was also a sew-your-own yukata and a design-your-own yukata material contest.
Finally it was time for the actual competition. Right before, we were informed that we would be interviewed in Japanese. I don't know why this didn't dawn on me before-hand (First its Japan, and Japan people like giving speeches -- and have foreigners give speeches in Japanese! Second, its a beauty contest, and don't all beauty contests ask questions to judge the contestants stage presence?? At least that's what happens in Miss Congeniality, which happens to be my only guide in beauty competitions) However, instead of being asked a question where "World Peace" would be an adequate and expected answer, we were asked "Why did you choose your yukata?" I actually wrote my reply on the back of my fan, which seemed like a good idea until we were told that we had to have our numbers facing forwards so that the judges could see our numbers. Needless to say, my only two other options were to quickly memorize "I'm tall and this yukata was one of the only ones long enough for me" or to bend over and read my fan --(which I had been strictly warned by the obi ladies not to bow or I might lose my outfit again!)
the interview process
Me striking a "I'm a model, look at me" pose
forgetting my speech (a prime example for why cramming before a test is not productive)
The results aspect of the show was exactly like a scene from Miss Congeniality. We were all standing smiling away when they announced that one of the runner-ups was number 17. Nobody moved. Finally, I sneaked a peek at my fan and whispered to Sarah, "I'm number 18, you must be number 17. She looked totally stunned placed her hands over her mouth in utter shock and exclaimed "I won????? No!!!!" As for the prize, every contestant got a genuine Hamamatsu yukata (mine's hot pink with bright yellow flowers) but no obi (again!). Sarah also got a pair of geta (traditional Japanese-style wooden flip-flops) and a ream of yukata cloth so that she can make her own (which could end up being another memory-making experience if she ever decides to attempt to be crafty :-) All in all, though day was quite hilariously amazing and another adventurous silken thread!!
Oh, yes, then we went to Cat's Cafe for ice cream to celebrate. So maybe, we aren't true beauty queens after all because we like our chocolate!
the Toyota firework
a cosmic size blast!
