Noh costume: Karaori with design of herons, pines and waves

This Karaori robe has woven patterns of herons, pine trees and seigaiha (stylized waves) over the alternating blocks in red and purple ground. The seigaiha waves are depicted in gold thread.

It is said that the 2nd lord of the Yanagawa domain, Tachibana Tadashige, borrowed this robe from the first lord of the Sendai domain, Date Masamune; and came home without returning it. This story is not reasonable because the 2nd lord’s generation and the creation year of this robe have different era. However, this robe was still a precious article for the Tachibana family. They called it ‘Matsushima-go’ —Matsushima is a famous scenic spot in Sendai— and treated it with the greatest care.