This gorgeous golden garment is an uchikake, a formal Japanese kimono worn by the bride in a traditional wedding. The heavily embroidered garment is an outer robe worn over the bride's wedding kimono. The uchikake is worn open without a sash, known as an obi. It is padded and the long hem is meant to trail gracefully on the ground.
Uchikake are embroidered with auspicious symbols. This stunning example features cranes embroidered in silvery-white against the golden brocade. Cranes mate for life and in Japan are considered symbols of love and loyalty, most appropriate for a wedding gown.
A second silken uchikake is in vibrant red, In Japan, the color red was deemed to keep away evil spirits and symbolized peace and family prosperity. It is the color featured prominently at festive occasions.
This uchikake also features cranes, but in origami form. In Japanese folklore, cranes were said to live 1,000 years and became a symbol of long life. Folding 1,000 paper cranes, known as senbazuru, is thought to bring good luck or grant a wish; it also can be a prayer that someone who is ill regains their health. Senbazuru was popularized throughout the world with the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who, at two years old, was exposed to radiation from the WWII atomic bombing of Hiroshima. She subsequently developed leukemia and, while hospitalized for her illness at the age of 12, began folding origami cranes, hoping to complete 1,000. Although a popular book depicts Sadako as dying before completing senbazuru, with her classmates stepping in to the fold the final cranes, her family has stated that she not only reached her goal, but exceeded it by some 400 cranes. Sadako died on October 25, 1955. She has become a symbol for world peace and a statue of Sadako holding an origami crane stands at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!
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