Tomita Sen Kogei: SARAKICHI – Komon Pouch (Yellow/Blue)

SARAKICHI – Komon Pouch (Yellow/Blue)

Delivery: 3-4 weeks

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This elegant pouch features a modern color palette and is crafted from fabric individually hand-dyed using traditional kimono-dyeing techniques.

The outer fabric is made from the same high-quality silk traditionally used for kimono. Because each piece of silk features a unique woven pattern (jimon), every pouch has its own subtle texture and distinctive character, making each one truly unique.

Each side of the pouch is decorated with a different traditional motif, each carrying symbolic meanings that have been passed down through generations.

Front — Geometric Pattern

This repeating pattern, extending seamlessly in every direction, is known as a waritsuke-gara—an all-over design created through the precise arrangement of identical motifs. Its abstract geometry reflects the timeless elegance of traditional Japanese design while lending the fabric a distinctly modern character.

Back — Birds and Beasts

This playful pattern depicts animals that fascinated people during the Edo period, including elephants and tigers, birds such as doves and peacocks, and familiar companions like dogs and rabbits. Drawn from both the natural world and the imagination, these lively motifs add a sense of charm and curiosity to the design.

Sides — Linked Droplets with Small Blossoms

Tiny flowers are delicately scattered across a ground of connected droplet motifs. From a distance, the pattern appears as a series of graceful stripes, while a closer look reveals the remarkable intricacy that is characteristic of Edo Komon.

Size: W 14.5 × H 8.5 × D 4 cm
Materials: Outer: Silk / Lining: Nylon

About SARAKICHI Komon Pouch:

Tomita Sen Kogei is a distinguished dyeing atelier with a history spanning more than 140 years. Drawn to the pure waters of the Kanda River, the workshop established itself in Shinjuku and has since cultivated exceptional expertise in traditional Edo komon and sarasa textile dyeing.

For this collection, the artisans set out to move beyond the restrained palette traditionally associated with Edo komon. Through a meticulous refinement of technique and the precise balancing of existing dyes, they achieved colors of remarkable depth and luminosity. The result is the SARAKICHI Komon Pouch — a contemporary interpretation of iki, the understated yet sophisticated aesthetic rooted in Edo culture.

Each pouch is distinguished by three entirely different patterns across its front, back, and sides. This bold approach creates a richness and visual rhythm rarely found in conventional Edo komon, allowing the design to reveal a different expression from every angle.

Achieving such vivid color in Edo komon, a tradition more commonly associated with subdued tones, demands an especially high degree of technical mastery. The artisans reconsidered every stage of the process, beginning with the precise formulation of the powdered dyes. Great care was taken to preserve the clarity of each motif, preventing its delicate outlines from being lost within the intensity of the color.

By repeatedly layering resist paste and dye, the craftsmen gradually built up the fabric’s brilliance and depth, resulting in a finish that is both vibrant and exquisitely detailed.