Under-Kimono
1930-1945 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the 1930s, as Japan expanded aggressively on the Asian continent, designs for men’s undergarments became increasingly nationalistic. The bright and seemingly playful design on this under-kimono (juban) belies its colonial subject matter which features searchlights, planes and battleships. The latter fly the Rising Sun flag, which remains a symbol of Japanese imperialism in East Asia.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Plain weave silk; printed |
| Brief description | Tex, Japan, printed. Under-kimono for a man with design of planes, battleships and searchlights. 1930-45 |
| Physical description | Under-kimono (juban) for a man of plain weave silk, printed with a design of planes, battleships and searchlights. Lining of dark green cotton. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Clothing with a message
This under-kimono, or ‘juban’, would have been worn by a man underneath another kimono, close to the body. It shows allegiance with Japan’s colonial ambitions at a time when the country was aggressively expanding its territory in Asia. The fabric features planes, searchlights and battleships flying Japan’s red and white ‘rising sun’ military flag. Today, the flag remains a contested symbol of Japanese imperialism during the Second World War.
Under-kimono with planes, battleships and searchlights
About 1930–45
Designed and made in Japan
Printed plain weave silk
Museum no. FE.44-2014
The object sits in the 'Crisis and Conflict' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.(2021) |
| Summary | In the 1930s, as Japan expanded aggressively on the Asian continent, designs for men’s undergarments became increasingly nationalistic. The bright and seemingly playful design on this under-kimono (juban) belies its colonial subject matter which features searchlights, planes and battleships. The latter fly the Rising Sun flag, which remains a symbol of Japanese imperialism in East Asia. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.44-2014 |
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| Record created | June 3, 2014 |
| Record URL |
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