Osaka's Wimbledon Walk-On Dress Pays Tribute to Japanese Heritage
Naomi Osaka, the Japanese tennis player known for her distinctive walk-on attire, made a striking appearance at Wimbledon this year by embracing her cultural roots while adhering to the tournament’s strict white-kit policy. During her first-round match against Elsa Jacquemot on Monday, Osaka donned an all-white ensemble inspired by traditional Japanese ceremonial dress.
The outfit was designed by Hana Yagi, an independent Japanese designer, and incorporated seven different textiles upcycled from vintage kimonos and a traditional shiromuku wedding dress. The garment featured detailed embroidered cranes and cherry blossoms, complemented by a traditional obi belt. Beneath this, Osaka wore a white Nike performance dress that incorporated Japanese kirigami paper-cutting techniques with 3D floral motifs.
In an interview, Yagi explained the concept behind the design:
“I wanted the garment to exist as the moment before performance. The walk-on surrounds Naomi in ceremony, while the Nike kit represents the athlete in competition. I thought about them as two chapters within the same story.”
Osaka accessorized her look with jewelry from Mikimoto, a renowned Japanese jeweler famous for its cultured pearls, and a traditional kanzashi hair ornament adorned with white flowers.
Following her 6-1, 7-5 victory over France’s Jacquemot, Osaka revealed the inspiration behind her choice of attire, citing the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill:
“For me, my Japanese heritage means a lot. They say all white at Wimbledon and I thought it would be really cool to come out in a kimono,” she said. “I just get inspired by a lot of different things, and for me, one of my favourite movies is Kill Bill.
“So I really love Lucy Liu’s character, O-Ren Ishii, and she comes out in this really iconic white kimono. I always tell people I like to be like a video game character sometimes, I don’t want to be myself when I’m playing on the court. And I kind of try to embody her a little.”
The dress was designed with nine detachable parts, allowing Osaka to shed the ceremonial layers within the one-minute timeframe permitted on court. This also enabled the components to be reused in different ways as Osaka and the tournament progressed.
Osaka’s Fashion as a Medium for Storytelling
Osaka is known for using fashion to express her personality and creativity. In a pre-match interview with Vogue, she stated:
“I like to use fashion as a medium for storytelling. Every walk-out is an opportunity to bring people into my creative world. The fact that people care about it and are excited to see what’s next is also pretty cool.”
Earlier this year at the Australian Open in January, Osaka wore a jellyfish-inspired outfit complete with a veil and parasol, designed by Robert Wun, a Hong Kong-born, London-based designer.
At the French Open in May, Osaka made a memorable entrance wearing a black corset and trailing skirt created by Kevin Germanier, a Central Saint Martins graduate. The outfit was crafted using Osaka’s old Nike kits. She later removed the outer layers to reveal a gold glittery Nike dress, which was said to reference the Eiffel Tower.
Over the years, Osaka has also showcased luminous green ensembles, crystal-covered headphones, and other distinctive fashion statements, further highlighting her flair for combining sport and style.
