Aug 20, 2021
Soft antique summer kimono, depicting a mushikago (insect cage) with early autumn plants (hagi/clover, kikyo/chinese bellflower, fujibakama/boneset, hinagiku/daisy). I love that only the cutest mushi (critters like crickets, probably here a matsumushi/pine cricket or maybe a kirigirisu/katydid?) is embroidered.
Keeping crickets as pets is a custom which came to Japan from China quite a long time ago. Those insects and their songs are considered a staple of autumn season, making this kimono a late summer/early fall garment :)
