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Kimono
This silk kimono, patterned with cherry blossoms, butterflies and peonies, would have appeared very modern during the Taisho period (1912-1926). In Japan, it was fashionable to wear clothing that reflected the seasons, and both the motifs and the weight of this garment indicate that it was made for wear in the spring. The subtle transition between winter and spring was marked by a change in color and motif on kimono, and, as in Western fashion, it was chic to rush each season slightly. The kimono's cherry blossoms are a specific indication of spring, as
the flowers appear in March and April. The blooming of the cherry trees
is cause for much celebration in Japan and in Washington, DC. The year
2002 marked the 90th anniversary of the original gift of 3,000 cherry
trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC as a symbol
of friendship between the people of Japan and the United States.
Each month we will highlight a different textile from the Museum's collection. |
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