This extraordinary silk miyamairi kimono was worn for the initiation of a baby boy at a Shinto ceremony. Adorned with yuzen-painting and freehand painting highlights, the back of this striking kimono is truly unique, dominated by the image of a Noh actor performing the auspicious 'Sambaso'. Its dimensions measure 32 inches from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 37 inches in height (81 cm x 94 cm).

The 'Sambaso' is a sacred dance performed before certain Noh plays, symbolizing fertility, good harvest, earthquake prevention, and divine appeasement. In this performance, the dancer, often masked as an old man, wears long dark robes, a tall hat, and Japanese split-toed socks called tabi. Movements include rhythmic sleeve flapping, gliding, and stomping—each symbolic in its own right. The dance involves a second performer joining in, shaking golden bells to represent happiness and harmony in a ritual blessing.

On the front of this kimono, several family crest motifs are displayed, each bearing specific meanings. These include representations of 'bamboo' for constancy, 'mist' popular in scrolls but not often seen in textiles, 'cloves' for health and luxury, 'umbrella' symbolizing nobility, 'tomoe' associated with the god of war, 'turnip' with quasi-magical properties, 'star' representing the protective war deity "Myoken", and 'crossed sickles' signifying the conquest of adversaries.

These motifs suggest the family owning this kimono was likely affluent and connected to the military, given the strong martial symbolism in their crest choices.

This artwork is featured on pages 254-259 of Ceremonial Textiles of Japan, 18th to 20th Centuries. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

The piece is also featured on page 94 of the summer 2018 edition of HALI magazine.

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