An exceptional plain silk miyamairi kimono used for christening a baby boy at a Shinto ceremony, featuring artistically rendered carp in a frothing sea. Yuzen and bokashi painting, metallic and silk embroidery highlights. The small black objects in the ocean are tiny sections of metallic embroidery. Includes white inner kimono for winter wear. 33" from sleeve-end to sleeve-end x 40" height. The Japanese have traditionally viewed the wild carp as a symbol of courage and strength, a significance stemming from the fact that such carp are constantly battling turbulent waters. This motif is associated with the virtues of the determined warrior, and in modern times it has been a metaphor for the qualities one seeks in a young male. Such similar scenes of carp in turbulent waters is a popular one in miyamairi boy's kimonos, as Japanese parents want their boys to have the strength, resilience and determination of the wild carp. Although this theme is common, this particular example is the best that we have seen -- the artistry is superb, with dynamic, blue-shaded frothy waves, and refined yuzen-painted carp, also finely shaded and capped off with wonderful silk and metallic embroidery highlights. The scene continuation from the main body section to that on the sleeves, although always present in miyamairi, is particularly seamless in this example, allowing the kimono 'canvas' to reach its fullest potential.