Japanese Fishing Festival Kimono with Tsutsugaki Design

A Japanese festival Kimono robe circa late 19th to early 20th century (end of Meiji Period) for fishing ritual. Made in a cotton fabric, the kimono was elaborately decorated by Tsutsugaki, a free-hand resistant dye to create desired motifs. As a festival wear, the design tends to be bolder and the color brighter than everyday wear so that it can be easily seen during the parade or the ceremony. The robe features a distinctive fishing theme, made for the specific ceremonial ritual. The lower part of the garment features a pair of seagulls flying over the ocean and a large Kanji character "Yu" (Fishing) in bright red. On the back, the same motif continues in a more dramatic fashion. A large fan with characters opens in the center and anchors a flock of seagulls holding ribbons in their beaks. Another red character "Da" (Big) echoes "Yu" on the front, suggesting a good fishing expedition. On the upper part of the back, it showcases a flying crane with a circled red character "Zhen" (Matsurigoto), which means festival and ritual especially in Shinto religion. The background was died in an indigo blue, contrasting the more colorful Tsutsugaki design in red, yellow and white.
A wonderful piece of textile art from coastal Japan for a specific historical purpose.