Japanese Kurta for Men: What It Actually Is, and How to Wear One
What a Japanese kurta actually is, the three kinds we sell (kurtas, short kurta sets and full kurta sets), plus colours, sizes, prices, care and styling.
"Japanese kurta" is a name that confuses a lot of people, so let's clear it up first. It isn't a Japanese garment. It's an Indian kurta, made in India like everything we sell, and the word Japanese refers to the fabric it's made from or, in a couple of our pieces, to the style of the embroidery.
So if you've seen the name and wondered what makes one different from any other kurta, here's a straight answer from a shop that stocks quite a few of them, along with what they cost, how they fit and how to wear them.
What "Japanese" means on our labels
In our shop, the word Japanese on a label means one of three things.
- Japanese Embroidered Kurta, sold as the kurta only. It's made from what our listings call premium Japanese fabric, with embroidery around the mandarin collar and down the front placket. Some are self-tone, white on white or black on black, and some have contrast embroidery, like the navy one. These are ₹2,500 at the time of writing, against an MRP of ₹3,499.
- Japanese Embroidered Short Kurta Set. The same idea in a shorter, contemporary cut, sold as a set. The fabric is again described as premium Japanese fabric, soft to the touch and lightweight, with tonal embroidery on the collar and placket. These are ₹3,500.
- Japanese Embroidered Kurta Set, full length. Here the word is about the embroidery: Japanese-inspired floral tree motifs, embroidered cuffs, a mandarin collar with a buttoned placket, full sleeves and a matching straight-fit pajama. Also ₹3,500.
There's also a fourth, much dressier piece: a three-piece set with dense Aari work, gold zari, pastel resham and sequin edging on the neckline, which comes with the kurta, a stole and a pajama. It's ₹7,500, in wine burgundy and olive mehndi green.
Why people like them
The first reason is restraint. On the kurtas and short sets the embroidery stays on the collar and placket, so the kurta looks finished without looking loud. That makes it one of the most versatile kurtas you can own: smart enough for a wedding function, quiet enough for a family dinner.
The second is the fabric. Our listings describe it as soft, lightweight and with an elegant drape, which is what you want in something you'll be wearing for six hours.
The third is the range of colours. Between the three versions we have white, off-white, beige, light grey, ice blue, pastel pink, navy, black, wine, olive green, forest green, coffee brown, chocolate brown and khaki beige.
If someone tells me they don't usually wear kurtas and want one that won't feel like a costume, this is where I'd point them.
The kurta, the short set or the full set?
Choose the kurta on its own if you already own good white pajamas or want to wear it in different ways: with a pajama for a puja, under a waistcoat for a wedding.
Embroidered Kurta
White Japanese Embroidered Kurta
Embroidered Kurta
Black Japanese Embroidered Kurta
Embroidered Kurta
Navy Blue Japanese Embroidered Kurta
Embroidered Kurta
Wine Japanese Embroidered Kurta
Choose the short kurta set for evenings, dinners and smaller functions. The shorter cut looks contemporary and is easier to move in.
Short Kurta Set
White Japanese Embroidered Short Kurta Set
Short Kurta Set
Black Japanese Embroidered Short Kurta Set
Short Kurta Set
Coffee Brown Japanese Embroidered Short Kurta Set
Short Kurta Set
Olive Green Japanese Embroidered Short Kurta Set
Choose the full kurta set if you want a complete, coordinated outfit for a wedding, a reception or Eid without thinking about matching. The listings for these sets name weddings, receptions, sangeet and Eid.
Kurta Set
Men's Forest Green Japanese Embroidered Kurta Set
Kurta Set
Men's Midnight Navy Japanese Embroidered Kurta Set
Kurta Set
Men's Chocolate Brown Japanese Embroidered Kurta Set
Kurta Set
Men's Wine Maroon Japanese Embroidered Kurta Set
White or black?
These are the two classic choices, and they suit very different occasions.
White is the one for pujas, religious occasions and daytime functions. Our White Japanese Embroidered Kurta has self-colour embroidery on the collar and placket, so up close it has detail and from a distance it simply looks crisp. The white short kurta set does the same in the shorter cut.
Black is for evenings. The Black Japanese Embroidered Kurta's listing names festive celebrations, evening gatherings, wedding functions, Eid and receptions. Self-tone embroidery on black reads as texture rather than decoration, which is why it looks so clean.
If you can't decide, navy sits between the two, and it's the easiest colour to put a waistcoat over.
Japanese kurta or a regular embroidered kurta?
We sell plenty of both, so here's the honest difference.
A Japanese embroidered kurta keeps its embroidery to the collar and placket, and lets the fabric do most of the work. Our other embroidered kurtas, the Chikankari-style ones, the heritage-embroidered ones and the festive kurtas with sequin highlights, carry embroidery across much more of the garment, sometimes all of it.
That makes the Japanese kurta the more versatile of the two. You can wear it to a puja on Saturday morning and a dinner on Sunday night, and with a waistcoat it goes to a wedding. An all-over embroidered kurta makes a bigger statement, but it suits fewer occasions.
It's also why the Japanese kurtas sit at the lower end of our embroidered range on price: ₹2,500, against ₹3,500 for most of the all-over embroidered cotton kurtas and up to ₹4,500 for embroidered silk.
Occasion by occasion
| Occasion | What I'd pick |
|---|---|
| Puja or a religious occasion | A white or off-white Japanese kurta with a white pajama |
| Eid | A black, navy or wine kurta, or a full Japanese kurta set |
| Family dinner or a small function | A short kurta set in navy, olive green or coffee brown |
| Wedding function | A full Japanese kurta set, or a kurta under a Jamawar waistcoat |
| Reception | Black or wine, with a jacquard waistcoat if you want more |
| Sangeet | A short kurta set, which is easier to dance in |
How to style a Japanese kurta
- With a white pajama. Our Classic White Cotton Pajama, which is straight fit, for a clean look, or the Aligarhi pajama, loose at the thigh and tapered at the ankle, for something more traditional.
- Under a Nehru jacket. Because the embroidery is tone-on-tone, a Japanese kurta counts as plain under a patterned jacket. A white one under a maroon-and-gold Jamawar waistcoat is one of my favourite festive combinations. My post on wearing a Nehru jacket with a kurta has more pairings.
- As a set, with nothing added. The full sets come with their pajama, and the short sets are designed to be worn as they are.
Pajama & Pants
Classic White Cotton Pajama
Pajama & Pants
White Cotton Aligarhi Pajama
Nehru Jacket
Royal Maroon and Gold Jamawar Waistcoat
Some colour pairings that work with our Japanese kurtas and a Nehru jacket:
- White kurta with a navy thread linen waistcoat for the daytime, or a maroon-and-gold Jamawar for the evening.
- Navy kurta with a golden yellow Jamawar or an ivory jacquard.
- Black kurta with the ivory or silver grey jacquard waistcoat.
- Wine kurta with the ivory cream Jamawar.
- Beige or ice blue kurta with a teal or navy linen waistcoat.
Sizes and fit
Every Japanese kurta and set we currently stock comes in sizes 36 to 46. The listings describe a comfortable, tailored fit for the kurtas and a regular fit for the full sets.
If you're between sizes, message us on WhatsApp at +91 95994 44945 before you order. It's quicker than an exchange, and you'll be wearing it sooner.
When it arrives, check the fit before you take the tags off:
- The shoulder seam should sit on your shoulder, not halfway down your arm.
- Full sleeves should end around the wrist bone.
- You should be able to sit down without the front buttons pulling.
- Keep the tags on until you're sure. An exchange needs them attached.
How to look after it
The care label on our Japanese kurtas is short: dry clean recommended, do not bleach, steam or iron on low heat, and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
That last line matters most for the darker colours, which you don't want fading on a hanger by the window. If you steam it at home, work from the inside so the embroidery on the collar and placket stays raised.
What a Japanese kurta costs
At the time of writing:
| Piece | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese Embroidered Kurta | ₹2,500 | The kurta only |
| Japanese Embroidered Short Kurta Set | ₹3,500 | The short kurta set |
| Japanese Embroidered Kurta Set | ₹3,500 | Kurta with a matching straight-fit pajama |
| Aari-work three-piece | ₹7,500 | Kurta, stole and pajama |
The product cards on this page always show the current price. Shipping is calculated at checkout, and we deliver across India.
A quick checklist before you order
- Decide between the kurta on its own, the short set and the full set.
- Pick the colour for the occasion: white or off-white for the daytime and pujas, black, navy or wine for evenings.
- Check your size. Everything in this range runs 36 to 46, and you can message us if you're unsure.
- If you need it for a particular date, allow for processing (1 to 3 business days, up to 5 in the festive season) and then delivery to your city.
- If you're buying the kurta alone, add a white cotton pajama or an Aligarhi pajama on the same order.
A word on exchanges
If the size isn't right, you can exchange within 7 days of delivery, as long as the piece is unworn and unwashed with its tags on. The courier charges both ways are yours, and sale items and pieces marked down by more than 40% can't be exchanged. The full policy is on our exchange page.
Where to see one in person
If you're searching for a Japanese kurta near you and you happen to be in Delhi, come to the shop. We're at D-4 Basement, Abul Fazal Enclave, Thokar no. 3, Okhla, New Delhi 110025, about five minutes from Okhla Vihar metro on the Magenta Line, and we're open all seven days from 11:30 AM to 10 PM. Fabric is always easier to judge in your hand.
Or browse the full range online. The kurtas are in embroidered kurtas, the short sets are in short kurta sets, and the full sets are in kurta sets.
— Faisal
Questions people ask
What is a Japanese kurta?
A kurta named for its fabric. In our shop that means kurtas and short kurta sets made from premium Japanese fabric with embroidery on the collar and placket, plus full kurta sets with Japanese-inspired floral embroidery.
Is a Japanese kurta made in Japan?
No. Ours are made in India. The word Japanese refers to the fabric or, in the full sets, to the style of embroidery.
How much does a Japanese kurta cost?
At Shades of Linen, at the time of writing: ₹2,500 for the kurta, ₹3,500 for a short kurta set or a full kurta set, and ₹7,500 for the Aari-work three-piece.
Can I wear a Japanese kurta to a wedding?
Yes. Our listings name weddings, receptions, sangeet and Eid. Add a Nehru jacket for a dressier look.
How do I wash a Japanese kurta?
Dry cleaning is recommended. Don't bleach it, steam or iron on low heat, and store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
