Makanai which is a kimono worn at home after work in the Nanbu region, where is the east part of Aomori prefecture. It is made of hemp cloth whose wefts and warps are hand-plied and lightly vegetable indigo dyed. The lining is machine-spun cotton. It has very fine sashiko with indigo dye cotton yarn. In good condition but has light stains in front as well as in the back. The last image is from the book "Michinoku-no-Kohu-no-Sekai" by Tanaka Chuzaburo. The first half of the 20th century...

Tsugaru kogin kimono made of vegetable indigo dye hemp whose warps and wefts are hand plied. It is made in Tsugaru region in Aomori prefecture in Tohoku district. Kogin-sashi is one kind of needlework (sashiko), stitches with white cotton yarn go horizontally and make geometrical patterns. It makes the hemp kimono warm with thick kogin in the cold district like Aomori, where it is hard to cultivate cotton. It has thin indigo dye cotton lining and sashiko in the lower body too...

Tsugaru kogin kimono made of vegetable indigo dye hemp whose warps and wefts are hand plied. It is made in Tsugaru region in Aomori prefecture in Tohoku district. Kogin-sashi is one kind of needlework (sashiko), stitches with white cotton yarn go horizontally and make geometrical patterns. It makes the hemp kimono warm with thick kogin in the cold district like Aomori, where it is hard to cultivate cotton. Both sleeves are "tsutsu-sode...

Saiho-hinagata (or hinagata), the sewing sample which is a miniature sample to learn sewing. It was invented by an educator for saving time and textile using a special measuring rod. It was practiced in a girl's school from Meiji 7, 1874). Reduced scales were one-third in the beginning and one-quarter, one-half, one-fifth etc. The sewing technique was exactly same as the real size in details. Saiho-hinagata was designated as a significant tangible folk cultural asset...

Cotton futonji with beautiful kasuri in check pattern, which is handwoven. Warps and wefts are both hand-spun and vegetable dye, indigo and brown color. It is from Fukuyama city in Hiroshima prefecture (Bingo-gasuri). The first half of the 20th century. In excellent condition. W:131cm, L:140cm

Bashofu kimono hand-woven of ito-basho, which is a family of banana tree, for both wefts and warps. The blue stripe yarn is dyed with Ryukyu-ai, vegetable indigo in Okinawa. Bashofu has been woven in many Islands in Okinawa from old days, for everyday kimono or work wear. The first half of the 20th century. In good condition except for a few brownish stains. W:120cm, L:117cm

Cotton juban (under kimono) with shibori pattern whose techniques are Miura shibori and Ori-nui shibori. The collar cloth is silk crepe with woven pattern. It has thin wool muslin with pattern in both sleeves. In good condition except for several small moth holes. It is from Tohoku district where has cold weather in winter. The first half of the 20th century. W:123cm, L:125cm

Sakiori coat whose wefts are strips from old vegetable indigo dye cotton cloth and warps are hemp yarn. Wefts are fine strips comparing with other sakiori items. The short sleeves are for ease of movement, as it is "hamagi", worn at the seaside. In good condition except for two mending patches. The first half of the 20th century. W:85cm, L:92cm

A pair of boro tabi (socks) made of cotton and indigo dyed. Both soles are lost. The first half of the 20th century. Sashiko is hand-sewn but the light blue reinforcement cloth is machine sewn. L:24cm, H:12cm

Sample book of "100 hundred ancient sarasa". made of 26 silk fragments with katazome (stencil-resist dye), from No. 101 to No.126. It is made by Shiundo in Seto in Aichi prefecture. In good condition. Early 20th century. W:22cm, H:17.5cm

A pair of boro tabi (socks) made of indigo dye cotton and thick cotton cloth for soles. It has fine sashiko for reinforcement on insteps. Metal claps are lost in one of the pair. The first half of the 20th century. W:10cm, L:21.5cm

Hanten with sashiko and mending patches which is from Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture. It is made of many indigo dye cotton fragments as cotton was precious in regions with cold climate. It has beautiful vegetable indigo faded and worn-out parts. The first half of the 20th century. W:85cm, L:90cm

Japanese traditional tribal robe worn by the Ainu people of Northern Japan. Hand woven out of fine strips of elm bark with wide strips of dark indigo cotton cloth with chain stitch embroidery. minor wear consistent with age.

Circa 1920's

Length: 50 inches.

Japanese silk fukusa with yuzen technique and sumi-e hand painting. The shimmering effect of the water was achieved by the delicate use of silver surihaku. Red embroidery on the crane’s head and some white embroidery on tail feathers highlight those features. On the reverse is red rinzu silk with a large peony motif. All four original tassels are still intact. There is a break in the boarder thread in the upper left corner (see last photo) but could be repaired...

An old Japanese double faced brocade silk obie with phoenix and peony design. The Obie measures 154" long x 12 1/4" wide and dates to the early 20th Century. Condition: The condition is excellent. Free shipping within the USA.

An old Japanese double sided olive brown silk obie with a pattern of small berries The Obie measures 158" long x 11 1/2" wide and dates to the early 20th Century. Condition: The condition is excellent. Free shipping within the USA.

An old Japanese double faced brocade obie with phoenix and fan design. The obie measures 150" long x 12 1/2" wide and dates to the early 20th Century. Condition: The condition is excellent. Free shipping within the USA.

Japanese silk kimono decorated with a beautiful scene of flowers including irises, peonies, and chrysanthemums with a little stream in color with gold details all on a very light cream color ground, Taisho Period. Size: 58" high x 51" wide.