Kimono
This kimono has the original Hayashi store tag attached and its record states that the kimono was worn during a wedding. In Japan, kimonos are considered as a traditional garment and are widely recognised as a national symbol of Japanese culture. The kimono itself is relatively heavy, wadded and multi-lined therefore, it is likely to have been designed for the colder winter periods. The design includes the commonly used imagery of a crane contrasted against a cream and turquoise background. Moreover, the interior of the kimono used a distinct red colour, a symbol of youth and allure. Likely, this kimono is more specifically a Iro-Uchikake, a colourful overcoat. Typically, a Iro-Uchikake is worn either throughout the whole wedding ceremony or in public spaces with the bride wearing a plain white kimono underneath.
Cranes
The crane is a symbol of good luck, longevity and fidelity and is associated with the famous folktales the Grateful Crane, Tsuru no Ongaeshi,. First, the Grateful crane follows a poor farmer who saves and heals an injured crane. To repay this kindness, the crane takes the form of a woman who declares herself as the farmer's wife and begins to create beautiful cloths from her own feathers.
This object was audited and researched as part of the NLHF Data Hunters and Story Gatherers project.
