Naomi Osaka Dons All-White Kimono at Wimbledon, Pays Tribute to Japanese Heritage
Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan, opened her Wimbledon campaign in a striking all-white kimono, blending the tournament's strict dress code with a tribute to her cultural roots.
Osaka, 28, defeated French player Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5 on Monday while wearing the elegant, full-length garment. Wimbledon requires players to wear predominantly white attire, a tradition the former world number one incorporated into her design.
Explaining her inspiration, Osaka said: 'When I think about Wimbledon, it's obviously the all white. There's obviously the tradition of it all. In my head, when I think about that, I think about my cultures, my heritage, which is Japanese and Haitian. Then, if I dive deeper into Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono. You don't have to see the colour of a kimono to know that it is a kimono.'
She also cited the film 'Kill Bill', specifically Lucy Liu's character in an all-white kimono, as a creative reference. 'I remember thinking that was really cool. Then it just kind of went from there. It was like my interpretation of that, while also paying a lot of respect and love to Japan.'
Osaka has become known for expressive on-court outfits. At the French Open earlier this year, she wore a glittering gold dress resembling the Eiffel Tower at night, and at the Australian Open in January, a jellyfish-inspired design. Her Wimbledon ensemble continues this tradition of thoughtful fashion within the constraints of the tournament's rules.
The kimono, entirely white, complied with Wimbledon's policy while allowing Osaka to highlight Japanese culture. 'I was thinking about my favourite movies also. I love Kill Bill,' she added.
Osaka, who has Haitian heritage through her father, often incorporates both sides of her background into her public appearances. Her tribute to Japan at Wimbledon underscores her connection to the country she represents in tennis.
