Photo credit: Wimbledon
Naomi Osaka returned to Wimbledon on Monday with one of the most visually striking walk-on looks the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club has seen in recent memory. The four-time Grand Slam champion stepped onto court three wearing a ceremonial Japanese furisode designed by Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi. The look honored Osaka’s Japanese heritage while simultaneously respecting Wimbledon’s longstanding all-white dress tradition.
Every detail of the look carried cultural meaning
The Hana Yagi design featured billowing long sleeves, ornate embroidery and a ruffled skirt that trailed behind Osaka as she walked onto the court. A thick white belt and obi sash cinched the waist, while a decorative obi string added further traditional detail to the ensemble. The furisode, a style of kimono whose name translates loosely to swinging sleeves, gave the look both visual drama and deep cultural reverence.
The skirt incorporated modern, playful elements consistent with the aesthetic Osaka has developed across her career. Tiered tulle fabric with a semi-sheer finish gave the lower half of the look a contemporary edge. Beneath the walk-on ensemble, Osaka wore a sleeveless Nike tennis dress featuring floral details and a scalloped hem, blending performance requirements with the ceremonial outer layer. A white floral ornament in her bun, with a cascading string of petals, completed the overall presentation.
Hana Yagi is one of Tokyo’s most exciting emerging designers
The designer behind the look is Hana Yagi, a Tokyo-based designer still in her 20s who first gained international recognition after reaching the finals of the International Talent Support Contest in Italy. Her selection to design Osaka’s Wimbledon walk-on look places her alongside a notable group of designers who have contributed to Osaka’s fashion narrative across the 2026 tennis season.
Earlier this year, Robert Wun created a jellyfish-inspired walk-on look for Osaka at the 2026 Australian Open in January. Kevin Germanier then designed her French Open walk-on look in May. Together, these 3 designers represent a deliberate and thoughtful curation of emerging and boundary-pushing creative voices for one of tennis’s most fashion-forward athletes.
A look that balanced heritage and tradition
One of the more remarkable achievements of the Hana Yagi design is how it managed to honor Wimbledon’s strict all-white dress code while simultaneously celebrating Japanese cultural dress. The furisode tradition, which dates back centuries in Japan and carries significant ceremonial meaning, found an unlikely but elegant home on one of tennis’s most formal and tradition-bound stages. The result felt neither forced nor compromised. Instead, it struck a balance that felt both authentic to Osaka’s identity and respectful of the tournament’s heritage.
Osaka’s fashion choices have become as much a part of her public identity as her on-court achievements. Across multiple Grand Slam tournaments, she has used walk-on looks to tell stories about culture, creativity and personal identity. The 2026 Wimbledon look continues that tradition with one of her most culturally specific and visually compelling choices to date.
Wimbledon 2026 is already delivering memorable moments
The 2026 edition of Wimbledon opened Monday and runs through July 12. Defending champions Jannik Sinner of Italy and Iga Świątek of Poland will look to retain their respective singles titles. Meanwhile, Serena Williams continues her return to professional tennis after a nearly four-year absence, adding another compelling storyline to a tournament that is already generating significant attention both on and off the court.
Source: WWD
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