This is an urushi bento-bako made of four pieces with hinomaru (sun) design. It is made with wood turning technique. In excellent condition. The former half of the 20th century. Diameter of the bottom: 11.5cm H: 17cm

This is a set of 5 urushi-wan, soup bowls with lids. They have beautiful 5 colors, dark red, orange red, red, green and yellow. They are made by Heian Zohiko in Kyoto. "Zohiko has been making specialized fine lacquer ware products for over 300 years (since 1661). In the eighteenth century, Hikobei Nishimura the third (our 8th president) was given the honorary title of “special artist of gold decoration” by the emperor...

This is a pair of kusari-gote (gauntlet) which are made of urushi coated iron, kusari (mail), plain and katazome asa (hemp) cloth, silk cords, buttons made of animal bone etc. The warps and wefts of the asa cloth are hand-plied. Generally in good condition but has some holes in the asa cloth and urushi came off in the back of the hands as they were actually used. It reads "27" in Kanji letters in the top. Edo period. 19.5cm x 68.5cm

This is an obi (sash) cloth with Bingata pattern. Bingata is the traditional dyeing technique which can trace back to 13th century. It is originated from the dyeing for the formal and ceremonial kimono for the women in the Ryukyu royal family in Okinawa Islands. Only the royal and warrior (samurai) class were allowed to wear Bingata in old days...

This is a pilgrim's jacket made of handwoven hemp whose wefts and warps are both hand-plied. It has many red stamps of holy places where the pilgrim had visited, Sanscrit letters which symbolize Buddhas and some stamped Buddhist images such as Fudo (Cetaka) and so on. Generally in good condition but has some dirty parts and some holes. 19th century. 128cm x 103cm

This is a cotton Kurume kasuri futonji. It is said that Kurume kasuri was first woven ca.1800 in Kurume in Fukuoka Pref. in Kyushu. Its features are geometric and wood block like patterns and some have light blue indigo color. It was designated as important intangible cultural heritage in 1957, however only a few families are practicing traditional way of produce such as hand-binding, natural indigo-dyeing and hand-weaving these days. This one is handwoven and looks natural indigo dyed...

This is a samurai's jinbaori which is worn over armors. The ground cloth is wool fabric called "goro or goro fukuren" which had been imported from western countries such as England or Holland from 16th and 17th centuries. It has patchwork crest "katabami-mon" in the back. Katabami (sorrel) is a kind of weed which is strong and fertile so that it was often used for the samurai's crest. The front panels are made of silk silver brocade and the lining is printed cotton imported from Europe...

Rare item. This is a dochugi, which was worn over a kimono when one went out. It is handwoven and made of shifu (paper textile) dyed with natural indigo. The warps are cotton threads and wefts are tightly twisted paper. The last photo shows the untwisted paper weft inside. In excellent condition. Late Edo period (the former half of the 19th century) 132cm x 96.5cm

This is a bag made of cotton fragments. It is from Northwest India. The cotton woodblock prints are used in the upper part and in the lining. All hand-sewn. 20th century. In good condition except for a stain. 59cm x 95cm

This is a Phulkari, a head covering from West Punjab in Pakistan. The ground cloth is hand-spun cotton and embroidery threads are silk floss. In excellent condition. 20th century. 128cm x 2m66cm

This is a woman's wedding blouse with mirror work. It is worn by the Banjara people in South India. In good condition except for some mirrors are lost. All hand sewn and embroidered. 20th century. W:65cm L:53cm

This is a pair of roji geta (clogs) which are used at the tea ceremony. Instead of zōri (sandals), they are used in case of snow or rain in the roji (adjacent garden). Used but in good condition. The base is made of cedar and straps are made of bamboo skin. 9.5cm x 25cm four pairs are available