This formal silk kimono exemplifies the restrained elegance of Japanese ceremonial dress through its masterful use of rinzu (damask) weaving and symbolic wave motifs set against a striking vermillion ground. The garment's formality is immediately established by the presence of five mon (family crests) - the white circular emblems positioned at strategic points including the back, chest, and sleeves - which designate this as a high-ranking formal kimono appropriate for the most important occasions such as weddings, tea ceremonies, or court functions. The rinzu technique creates subtle tonal variations within the red silk, where wave patterns emerge and recede across the fabric's surface like water flowing over silk, demonstrating the weaver's skill in creating texture and movement through the interplay of warp and weft threads.

The wave motif carries profound cultural significance in Japanese aesthetics, representing the eternal flow of time, resilience, and the cyclical nature of existence, while the deep red color symbolizes joy, celebration, and good fortune - particularly appropriate for auspicious occasions. This period of creation, spanning the post-war reconstruction through Japan's economic recovery, reflects a return to traditional values and craftsmanship after the disruptions of wartime, when luxury textiles and formal dress had been largely abandoned. The kimono's austere beauty, achieved through monochromatic color schemes and subtle pattern work rather than elaborate decoration, embodies the Japanese principle of shibui - sophisticated restraint that finds beauty in understatement. The all-over wave pattern, rendered in the same color family as the ground, creates a meditation on texture and light that would have been particularly valued during this era's renewed appreciation for classical Japanese aesthetics and the spiritual qualities inherent in traditional craftsmanship.

Measuring 49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, it stands at 60 inches (152 cm) in height.