Kimono Sash Item Number: 2723/1 b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Heavy brocade formal obi for woman's kimono. Repeating embroidery pattern, in gold, green orange, blue, black, purple, red and yellow, depicts an outdoor scene in which a boat floats near a foliage-covered river bank.
The history of the obi as a decorative element dates from the Edo period. There are many different varieties of obi for women's kimonos; this obi is a maru obi, which is made of brocade and fully patterned, for formal occassions. Two other obi sets came with the kimono --see parts m-n and o-p.
Kimono set acquired by donor in 1970, while she was involved with missionaries in the village of Ueda; she wore the kimono for special cermemonies while residing in Japan.