This formal blue silk kimono's deep indigo ground creates a serene, contemplative canvas that emphasizes the exquisite yuzen-painted design positioned along the lower hem. This strategic placement of ornamentation follows classical kimono design principles, where decoration is often concentrated at specific zones to create visual balance and movement when the garment is worn.
The detailed imagery reveals delicate plum blossoms (ume) rendered in soft blue-green tones with white stamens, emerging from gracefully curved branches that flow across a geometric background pattern. The plum blossom holds profound symbolic meaning in Japanese culture, representing perseverance, hope, and the promise of spring, as these flowers courageously bloom in winter's harsh conditions. This motif was particularly favored for formal wear, as it conveyed both aesthetic beauty and moral virtue. The presence of five mon (family crests) visible as small white medallions on the shoulders and back confirms this kimono's formal status, indicating it was worn for ceremonial occasions such as weddings, coming-of-age celebrations, or other significant social events. The yuzen painting technique, with its characteristic fluid brushwork and subtle color gradations, demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship expected in formal garments of this period, when traditional textile arts were being preserved and refined even as Japan was rapidly modernizing.
It measures 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, standing at 61 inches (155 cm) in height.