The Grateful Crane

This Wall Art is made from kimono obi, a traditional Japanese costume. Skilled Japanese craftsmen carefully process and create this Kimono art.

We named this Kimono Art "The Grateful Crane." The Crane's Repayment is one of the Japanese folktales, a mysterious story about an old man who rescues a crane from a trap, and the crane transforms into a human woman to repay the favor to the old man and his wife. It is said that this story contains the lesson that "if you do something good, something else good will surely come back to you". We have titled this Japanese Art with that meaning in mind.

The golden silk fabric is decorated with cranes and other patterns featuring young pine trees and waves. The crane is a symbol of healthy longevity, as it lives quite long among birds. In Japan, there is a custom of folding origami cranes for loved ones. For example, "Senbazuru", in which a thousand cranes are folded to make a wish for recovery from illness, victory, or an entrance examination, is a world-renowned art form.

Wakamatsu (young pine tree) is the pattern of a young pine tree that has just sprouted, signifying freshness and promise. Pine trees can be as long as 200 to 400 years old, and some are thousands of years old. Pine trees are also a symbol of vitality and longevity, as they thrive in harsh environments that are inhospitable to other trees and produce blue leaves all year round.

The "Seigaiha" pattern, based on the motif of waves, is an auspicious pattern that evokes the bounty of the vast ocean, and the infinite pattern of waves is filled with wishes for eternal happiness and a peaceful life for people. The name "Seigaiha" also appears in The Tale of Genji, the world's oldest long story, which depicts Hikaru Genji (the main character) dancing the court music called "Seigaiha".

We hope you enjoy this Japanese Textile Art, which is filled with wonderful meanings and decorated with an auspicious pattern.