The crests are omodaka, water plantain. The omodaka was sometimes called shogunso, a ‘victory plant’ because of the shape of the leaf resembling the tip of an arrow. This design was popular among samurai before the Edo period when the crest was not quite adopted by them. There are a host of families that used the plantain crest in simple forms as seen on the upper one. It is an emblem often used by families associated with famous generals such as MORI Motonari and TOYOTOMI Hidetsugu who both used the water plantain among their emblems. Mons with water plantains and water are fewer and there is none listed with water drawn in the style seen on the lower of the two mons. Dimensions are 26 1/4" in width and 172 1/2" long

Noboris as old as this one rarely come into the market, and although the condition is not perfect, it has lost none of its dramatic appeal. The upper part of the nobori where the crests are took damage from the black dye. There are long lines of writing in black sumi ink which was folded and sewn together on top. We did not want to cut (the threads) the seam open (6 to 8 inches long) but you may discover something (?) once it is opened. It's sewn so tight together that it didn't seem possible to sew back together (we do not sew well). The fabric of the lower design area is in good condition except for one tear at the bottom. You will still be able to put a needle through it without ruining it.