[Edo Komon]

Words with "Edo" in them, such as Edo Kiriko, Edo Glass, and Edo Shikki, seem to have a stylishness and beauty refined in the Edo period. The term "Edo Komon" was used as the official name when it was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1955 (Showa 30) to distinguish it from "Kyo Komon."

A komon is a kimono in which the same pattern is repeatedly dyed using a patterned paper. The name "komon" came from the fact that fine pattern katagata dyeing was called komon katagata dyeing, as opposed to the medium pattern dyeing used for yukata, etc.

The Edo Komon originated in the Muromachi period (1333-1573) and spread during the Edo period (1603-1868) as a dyed pattern for kamishimo (formal dress worn by samurai over a kimono with hakama). The distinctive feature of this technique is that it uses a single color to dye a dotted pattern over the entire surface, and it has become one of the representative dyeing techniques used today. Some patterns are so detailed that they appear plain from a distance, and the way the light hits them gives the illusion of unevenness on the surface. The countless patterns carved on the paper are elaborate and show the high skill of the craftsmen, and the delicate dyeing is very beautiful.

The representative pattern called "Edo Komon Sanyaku" (Edo Komon, three patterns) is a pattern of concentrated technology, and you have probably seen or heard of it as a traditional Japanese pattern, such as Samekomon, Gyogikomon, or Toshikomon. The regularity and fineness of the pattern makes it attractive for different colors to give different impressions. As the saying goes, "Edo Komon is worn by its color." Even if the pattern is the same, the color can change the impression in various ways, from elegant and cute, to clean and calm, to chic and sexy, depending on the color.

Kimonos tend to stay in the wardrobe, but as the opportunities to meet people close to you increase this season, how about spending your time in the city wearing a stylish outfit of the Edo Komon?

References
https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/189652
https://www.edokomon-somekoubou.com/content/edokomon.html
https://naisouzairyou-annai.jp/pattern/tradition/index.html
https://teshigoto.club/gihou/8877/index.html