This kinsha silk girl's kimono has a rich purple ground, serving as a dramatic backdrop for an abundance of seasonal imagery including chrysanthemums, maple leaves, flowing water patterns (seigaiha). The silkscreen technique allows for crisp, vibrant colors and precise detailing that creates a tapestry-like effect across the garment's surface, with motifs overlapping and interweaving.
The design philosophy here embraces the Japanese concept of "more is more," layering multiple auspicious symbols to create a garment of celebration and good fortune appropriate for a young girl. The chrysanthemums symbolize longevity and joy, while the maple leaves evoke the beauty of autumn and the passage of time. The flowing water motifs represent continuity and adaptability, essential qualities for a child's future. This maximalist approach to pattern, combined with the kinsha silk's fine crepe texture that would have created subtle surface variation and light play, demonstrates how traditional children's garments served as both protective talismans and expressions of family prosperity.
Additionally, it features a secondary plain attached full kimono layer, called hiyoku, on the inside of the main kimono. Its measurements are approximately 32 inches (81 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 33 inches (84 cm) in height.