This uchikake costume for a Bunraku puppet measures 38 inches (96.5 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands 50 inches (127 cm) tall. It's constructed from appliqués mounted on sections of a late Meiji or early Taisho kimono, giving it an almost life-size appearance. The garment is in very good condition.

Bunraku, also called Ningy j'ruri, represents a traditional Japanese puppet theater established in Osaka in 1684. The performance combines chanting and shamisen playing, known as j'ruri, while 'ningy?' refers to puppets in Japanese. This specific puppet costume is indicative of the Awaji region's tradition due to its larger size.

In Bunraku theater, most characters require three puppeteers, visible to the audience and typically dressed in black robes. The costumes are meticulously designed by a costume master and consist of multiple garments, including a sash, collar, under robe (juban), inner kimono (kitsuke), and a vest (haori) or outer robe (uchikake). To maintain their softness, the costumes are lined with cotton. As the puppet clothing wears out or becomes soiled, the puppeteers replace and redress the puppets in a process called "koshirae".