1.
happi coat, festival coat
A traditional Japanese straight-sleeved coat, typically worn during festivals, by shop workers, or as a uniform. Made of cotton or other lightweight fabric, often bearing the crest or name of a group, shrine, or business on the back.
祭りで法被を着る。
To wear a happi coat at a festival.
背中に町名が入った法被を着た。
I wore a happi coat with the neighborhood name on the back.
子どもたちがおそろいの法被を着て神輿を担いだ。
The children wore matching happi coats and carried the portable shrine.
USAGE:
A happi coat is a loose, straight-sleeved jacket, usually hip-length, traditionally worn open in front or tied with a sash. It is most strongly associated with Japanese festivals (祭り), where groups wear matching happi coats to show their affiliation.
Historically also worn by firefighters, shop workers, and craftsmen as a kind of uniform, with the employer's name or crest on the back.
Also written as 半被 or in hiragana as はっぴ.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 法被を着る: to wear a happi coat
- おそろいの法被: matching happi coats
- 祭りの法被: festival happi coat
- 法被の背中: the back of a happi coat (where crests/names appear)