Hanten, called "suzukake" worn by a Shugen-sha or Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo. Shugendo is the Japanese unique religion combining Buddhism, Shintoism, and worship of nature (mountains). A practitioner (shugen-sha) trained himself in the holy mountains that is ascetic and very painstaking. This one is made of asa (hemp) and both warp and weft are hand-plied. Red stamps of holy places are much faded but the kanji character read "Omine-san" that is located in southern Nara prefecture and a par...

Asa (hemp or ramie) baby boy's ceremonial kimono, whose wefts and warps are hand plied. It is worn by a newborn baby about one month later of the birth, on the occasion of "Omiya-mairi" that is the first visit to the local shrine wishing for the healthy growth. It is not actually worn but put over a baby. It is hitoe (no lining) kimono, so that it is used in summer. It has beautiful wave and crane motif which is hand painting. In excellent condition. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:80cm, ...

Baby's ceremonial kimono made of Echigo-jofu which is hand-woven of choma (ramie) and dyed with indigo. The fine kasuri pattern is yoko-gasuri (weft kasuri) and bamboo, pine tree and plum bloom motifs. Echigo jofu was first woven asa kasuri in mainland Japan having been influenced by Ryukyu (Okinawan) kasuri. The dye is called Ai-sabi which is very dark blue dyed with vegetable indigo mixed with shoen (burnt pine shoot) or other catalysts. It has rare charms, one is ribbons made of red silk crep...

Baby's ceremonial kimono made of machine woven cotton with hand-painting with motif of noble people. It has se-mamori (charm) with silk thread. The diagonal stitches to the left means it is boy's kimono ( to the right is girl's ). In old days, it is believed that evils come from back and a baby is vulnerable without seam in the back, so se-mamori is put. In good condition but a bit dusty from aging. Dry cleaning only. Late 19th to early 20th century. 62cm x 76cm

A bag made of hand spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. It has a family crest, "Maru-ni-Yotsumebishi". It has lining made of also hand spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. The cord is hemp. In good condition but has some holes. The latter half of the 19th century. W:30.5cm, L:48cm

Large bag made of vegetable indigo dye hemp which looks recycled from hemp mosquito net, whose warps and wefts are hand-plied. The second half of the 20th century. 63cm x 88cm

A bag made of asa (hemp) and dyed with kakishibu (persimmon tannin). Warp and weft are hand-plied. It has and cotton lining. Late 19th to early 20th century. 27cm x 60cm

Boro asa noragi (field wear) made of hand-plied asa (hemp). It has indigo dyed cotton cloth in the buttom and some mending patches. The first half of the 20th century. 63cm x 90cm

This is a rare hand-spun natural Shina-fu ( linden)boro bag from the Meiji period (1868-1911). It was originally a stiff material, but it softened after being used many times. The repair marks are cotton fabric and hemp thread. linden cloth naturally turn dark brown over time due to the tannins in the fibers of these trees. There are stains and repair marks. Size: Length: 51cm (20") / Width: 33cm (12.9").

Amazing boro cloth which is one side of body part of noragi (farm wear). The ground cloth as well as mending patches are hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed. Sashiko thread is also indigo dyed cotton. Asa (hemp) thread is seen in the side seam and that means it is rather old. The second half of the 19th century. 32cm x 184cm

Hemp furoshiki (wrapping cloth) made of hemp whose warps and wefts are hand-plied. It is dyed with vegetable indigo. It has many original mending patches, holes and worn out. The second half of the 19th century. W:105cm, L:112cm

Boro futonji with many mending patches and sashiko whose ground cloth is hand-spun cotton with stripes. It is dyed with vegetable indigo and the red color looks benibana (saffloer dye). Mending is very nicely done with sashiko. The second half of the 19th to early 20th century. W:94cm, L:172cm

Very large furoshiki with many mending patches which are all original and beautifully done. It is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed, ground cloth as well as mending patches. In good condition. The second half of the 19th to early 20th century. 164cm x 164cm

Amazing boro which used to be noragi (work wear). It is made of many fragments of vegetable indigo dye and hand^spun cotton cloth. It is from cold areas such as Tohoku or Japan Sea Side where cotton could not be cultivated and cotton cloth for kimono was expensive so that people bought fragments which were brought from warm areas such as Shikoku , Kandsai or Chubu districts. The second half of the 19th century. Measurement: Approx. 160cm x 150cm

Cotton lining for narrow sash (obi). Most of the fragments are hand-spun cotton cloth, such as plain cotton indigo dyed, itajime mame-shibori (clamp-board dye), katazome (stencil-resist-dye) etc. The second half of the 19th century. 15cm x 4m50cm

Boro small rug or a part of it which is made of almost countless fragments of vegetable indigo dye cotton. In cold districts, such as Tohoku and along the Japan Sea area, cultivation of cotton was difficult and cotton cloth was precious in old days, so that people bought fragments of cotton and made them to noragi, futonji, rugs and so on. This one has 7 to 8 layers of cloth. The late 19th to early 20th century. 91cm x 96cm. 1550gm

Amazing boro sodenashi (sleeveless) noragi, whose ground cloth as well as mending patches are mostly vegetable indigo dye cotton cloth. Some of sashiko yarns are indigo dye hemp. Late 19th century. It is from Niigata prefecture. W:62cm, L:80cm

Amazing boro made of hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye cotton fragments. It used to be the lining of yogi, which is one kind of futon, in the shape of kimono. It is from the Japan Sea side district in Kansai, such as Fukui or Kyoto. It is partly sewn with hemp yarn. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:95cm, L:165cm