Aikido Journal

Joined: 19 Jun 2000 Posts: 77 Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Hello all,

I didn't know where to put this post, I hope here is ok.

I just got back from Tokyo a couple weeks ago and something I saw got me thinking. It was my second trip to Japan and I really wanted to see the grave of the 47 Ronin. So one day when we didn't train budo until the afternoon, we went to Sengakuji. Outside of the temple there was a small shop (one of several really) that had gifts. One item I saw on display was a child's happi coat. I asked the shop keep if he had adult sizes, but he told me they were out of stock for a while. I was really disappointed, because they looked very cool.

They were a light blue base with white design. On the back it had Lord Asano's kamon printed very large. At the edges of the sleeves and the bottom of the jacket it had a "shark tooth" pattern (for want of a better term) in white. I saw a man at the temple (guy who was selling incense) with one on and it just looked cool.

In a vain hope to find one, I went on ebay when I got back home. The closest I could find was a black and white one (actually looks cooler then blue) that is Shinsengumi. It has "Shinsengumi" on the collar and "Makoto" on the back (where the kamon was on the other). Otherwise the pattern was the same. My girlfriend got me the Shinsengumi happi for Christmas. No 47 Ronin though.

Where am I going with this? I have seen this shark tooth pattern depicted on samurai (mostly Chushingura theme) in ukiyo-e many times. Please see link for example:
http://www.robynbuntin.com/ukiyo-e/...?ProductID=4336
I have also read that the Shinsengumi did wear this style haori. Does anyone know if the Ronin, or Shinsengumi truly wore this style kimono/haori? Does it have any significance? It seems only samurai are shown wearing it in Ukiyo-e. Does it have a special name?

Also, does anyone ever go near Sengakuji? If so, would you mind picking one up for me? Or if you know another source for them I would truly appreciate it.