Motifs miscellaneous

Motifs on Japanese kimono can be highly stylised and sometimes it may be hard to tell which pattern, flower or
animal is shown. Some of the most popular motifs are shown below to help you identify which are on your
kimono.

water motifs
seigaiha - semicircular repeated wave
kanzemisu - whirlpool
kyokusui - abstract stream
ryusui - flowing water

aranami - wild wave

nami - wave
nami-chidori - waves with plovers
fans
sensu - semicircular fan
uchiwa - flat round fan
gunpai - referee's fan (slightly heart shaped)

hi-ohgi/ohgi - folding fan

senmen - paper centres of folding fans

hana-ohgi - fan made of flowers

shikishi - fancy square papers

dolls
kokeshi - toy dolls
hina dolls - for girls' festival on March 3rd

daruma - round-bottomed dolls

clouds
kumo - cloud
unmon - clouds
kasumi - misty cloud

noshi - paper strips

tabane noshi - paper bundles

carts
gosho guruma - royal cart
hana karuma - flower cart
wheels
often pictured resting in a river

bridge

bangasa - paper umbrella

kusudama - flower ball

circular, long trailing strands of ribbon tied in a bow
temari - woven ball
similar to kusudama but often geometric patterns, no ribbons or loops attached

suzu - bell
ring at top, usually has a slit on the bottom and ties with tasselled cords

takara - treasure
many kimono feature one or more 'treasures'. You can read more about them on John Marshall's site.
fukuro - money bag
tsuchi - mallet
tsuchiguruma - water wheel with mallets
tamatebako - treasure box
rectangular box with rounded lid

hamaguri - clam shells

kaioke - hexagonal lidded container for storing clamshells

calabash - gourd
boats
fishermen's boats are long, flat and pointed at one end

takara bune - treasure ship

drawn in a galleon style, usually loaded with treasures

doukyo - copper mirror

round, often rosette shaped, tasselled cord tie, similar to kusudama but flat
tsuzumi - hand drum
circular ends, laced with cord

kabuto - samurai helmet

two pointed horns, cheek and neck flaps, ties

vases

kago - basket
yukiwa - snowflakes
circular flakes with crimped edges, usually filled in with a pattern

minka - traditional house

coffered ceiling

kakine - fence
itomaki - spools
two or four prongs with thread or a pattern wound round the outside

books

koban - old oval gold coins

goju-no-toh - temple
tsuki - moon
often pictured with rabbits

misu - bamboo curtain

noh masks
hannya - evil noh mask with horns and pointed teeth

flute
kotoji
koto instrument bridge

spinning tops
inverted cone shape

toyama - mountain

hanabi - fireworks
inro/inrou - hanging pillbox
usually has bands of pattern along the box, long ties with beads

kicho - room partition

vertical strips of fabric, ties looped at sides

byobu - folding screen

kumihimo - cords