A Japanese Nagoya obi, with sake cup on sash section and Renjishi dancer on the rear taiko knot section
This renjishi character is a lion cub, from the renjishi story of a lion and his cub, with the lion training him to be all a lion should be. A traditional Japanese theatre tale. The father lion is depicted with white hair/mane, the cub with red hair/mane
Synthetic silk, I think. A very nice fabric
Nagoya obis often have the sash part already folded to half depth, with the knot section at full width, making them easier to put on. Some you fold yourself. This style was invented about 100 years ago and is less heavy than a more formal fukuro or maru obi. Nagoya are usually tied in a taiko musubi (square style knot, named after the Taiko bridge, at the opening of which a few geisha wore it as a new style, after which it became very popular and has remained so ever since). Nagoya obis are less formal than a fukuro or maru obis but more formal than hanhaba obis
Obi should not be washed
Made in Japan
The Japanese take great pains to store their traditional garments with the utmost care, which is why they stay in such exceptional condition. Some of my Japanese garments have large, white stitching (shitsuke) round the edges. The Japanese put these stitches in to keep the edges flat during long periods of storage, these stitches just get pulled out before wearing the garment

Condition:
Extremely good

Measurements approximately:
Obi are one-size-fits-all items
Width: 30cm/15cm
Length 360cm
 
 
 
 
 
 
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on15/02/08