#dendendaiko

[tanuki-kimono]

Hello! Bouncing off of that ask regarding rain patterns in kimono, I was curious if lightning is ever used as a motif in kimonos, and if so, what sort of vocabulary is used to describe it? ^^

I've read about the Inazuma pattern before, but I was wondering if there were any others I wasn't aware of, since there's so many different vocabulary terms for kimono patterns!

Thank you for your time!

It is indeed generically named inazuma 稲妻, or also kaminari 雷/raimon 雷文 :)

Lightning is mainly represented via thick lines curling at squares angles (sometimes difficult to tell apart from sayagata) or zigzag lightning bolts shapes (Pikachu's tail style). Another common representation is a bit harder to catch as it looks a lot like matsukawa (pine bark pattern).

Another thunder-adjacent concept coming to me is mitsudomoe 三つ巴 (circle made of 3 magatama/comma-shaped jewels):

This symbol is often used on percussions (like taiko 太鼓, gakudaiko 楽太鼓) which were/are still used for Shinto rituals purpose. This symbol can so symbolize the rumbling sound of thunder (which can drive evil spirits away)... hence why you find it on the dendendaiko of thunder god Raijin 雷神 or used for some oni representations.

[nunoxaviermoreira]

Musical Instrument -- Macro Mondays by jacobkaren30 This is a traditional Japanese pellet drum, and also is known as den-den daiko. It measures just under 3 inches. The lens is my Trioplan with a 36mm extension tube attached. HMM! Thanks so much for your visits, comments, and favorites! http://ift.tt/2yg7l4y

[pii182]

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[ayakill]

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[tanuki-kimono]

From our recent event of the fourth of July in the USA, I was also thinking of Japan's summer festivals. Besides yukata, are there kimonos that have festival themes like fireworks, festival decorations/sceneries, specific patterns, specific colors, etc.?

Japanese traditional culture is all about celebrating seasonality so indeed summer matsuri themed patterns are pretty common on summery items :)

(note that I used summer here in the Western sense of July/August. Traditional Japanese summer goes from something like May to July)

Yukata+kimono+obi+uchiwa are a staple, you can also find happi (tube sleeves coats) but those tend to bear mon (crests) and auspicious kanji.

Other festival garments count for example yosakoi (type of dance groups) uniforms, but those are more performance oriented. Otherwise, what would be a matsuri without fundoshi loincloth ;) (see how to tie one here)

On the top of my head, summer festival patterns can include (please note some are not summer only):

hanabi (fireworks)

dashi/yatai (parade float), used during processions. Mikoshi (portable shrine) is theorically possible but I don't remember seeing such a pattern

kingyo (goldfishes), kingyosukui is a popular summer game

fuurin (windchimes), often sold at matsuri

men (masks), most often kitsune or tengu but many more exist

toys, like dendendaiko (rattle drum) for ex.

matoi (firemen poles), brigades often present acrobatic shows in summer

chouchin (paper lantern), also see Obon below

etc.

Japan holds a myriad matsuri all across the country, each with their own traditions. But big celebrations often have related patterns:

Tanabata has stars, bamboo, tanzaku, magpies, ox, etc.

Obon has lanterns, cucumber, eggplant, death themed motifs (like nozarashi or graveplates), nod to Kyoto's Daimonji kanji, etc.

Famous festivals also have their own imagery (yamaboko float for Gion matsuri ex.).

As for colors, scarlet red is often found on matsuri decors, and indigo blue is a classical summer color (yukata were once dyed with it), but tbh any can be used nowadays :)