This silk kimono, crafted in rinzu (damask) and kinsha (fine crepe) silk, showcases motifs of carriage wheels, water wheels, and streams. The wheel designs are yuzen-painted, while the streams shimmer with metallic foil. It measures 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands 63 inches (160 cm) tall. The imagery on this kimono embodies poetry, evokes emotions, and reflects tradition. Surprisingly, these motifs are unusual for the later mid-Showa period when this kimono was made.
The ox-cart carriage wheel symbolizes nobility and prosperity, known as "genji-guruma" in Japanese, deriving its name from the royal ox-carts in "The Tale of Genji" from the Heian period. Meanwhile, the waterwheel ("suisha" or "mizu-guruma") has early mentions in Japanese history, seen in illustrations transferring water to rice fields in the 14th-century narrative "Ishiyamadera-engi."
Although this kimono follows the "homongi" style, its motifs deviate from the typical houmongi aesthetic. It's possible this garment was associated with or worn during the Shinto theatrical dance "kagura." These rituals are linked to the agricultural calendar, and notably, there exists a kagura dance called "mizuguruma" specifically involving the waterwheel, as mentioned in David Peterson's work "An Invitation to Kagura."