noun
happi coat; traditional Japanese straight-sleeved coat
A short, straight-sleeved coat often worn at festivals, by shop staff, or as workwear. Typically features a crest or design on the back.
祭りで法被を着て神輿を担いだ。
I wore a happi coat and carried the portable shrine at the festival.
その店の店員はみんなお揃いの法被を着ている。
All the shop staff wear matching happi coats.
The origin is uncertain; the kanji 法被 literally mean 'law' and 'wear', but this is likely ateji. The word may derive from a term for a type of garment worn by servants in the Edo period.