Among the patterns on kimono and obi, kikkō (the tortoise-shell hexagon) is one of the most frequently seen. The hexagonal shape has long been a symbol of unchanging strength. It is the same hexagon that is called the tortoise’s shell in East... Read More | Share it now!
When my wife and I were running a vintage kimono shop, an order for a fukuro obi came in from Bhutan. I took the package to the small post office near our home, and the woman at the counter looked at the address and tilted her head. “Bhutan…?... Read More | Share it now!
Are Peony flowers the most frequently used motifs for kimono patterns?Peony came from China in the 8th century, but it soon became a flower loved by nobles and a symbol of beauty and fortune.Butterflies are said to be carnations of peony and there are... Read More | Share it now!
Kimonos and obis have various stream patterns, but many are rapid flows.The Japanese archipelago has a mountain range with a height of 1000 to 3000 m running like a spine and is divided into the Pacific side and the Japan Sea side, so the overall... Read More | Share it now!
Is it the cherry blossom(sakura) or plum blossom(ume) most familiar to Japanese? Since the plum is the first tree to bloom as winter comes to an end, there is saying “the first among flowers”.With the pattern of kimono and obi, obviously the plum... Read More | Share it now!