Kimono

This kimono has been embroidered with an extremely potent image of dragons, the most powerful of the mythical beasts, and Mt Fuji, the quintessential symbol of Japan. The striking red silk ground makes the image all the more dramatic. The garment has quite long sleeves, usually indicative of female dress, but the dragon is traditionally a very masculine motif, so this kimono may have been worn by a man. The lack of an overlapping section on the front may indicate that it is an under-kimono (juban) or, given that it has a turn-back collar, that it was made specifically for the western market. Rather curiously the sleeves have been attached to the body of the garment the wrong way around so the design is not continuous.