This vintage haori combines understated elegance with a hidden layer of storytelling. The outer shell is deep black silk, marked with two family crests (kamon), reflecting its use as a formal garment in mid-20th-century Japan.
Inside, the lining (hakkake) reveals a vivid hand-painted scene of a samurai in traditional attire, holding an umbrella against the rain. Surrounding him, brush-written Japanese calligraphy adds poetic context, turning the lining into a work of art. In Japanese culture, such inner paintings often held personal or symbolic meaning for the wearer, unseen by others unless the haori was opened.
The pairing of a restrained black exterior and an expressive interior reflects a core element of Japanese aesthetics—treasuring beauty that is hidden, revealed only to those invited to see it.
Details
Type: Haori (short jacket worn over kimono) Material: Silk (outer and lining) Color: Black exterior, painted interior scene with calligraphy Features: Two kamon crests, hand-painted lining Era: Mid-20th century (approx.) Condition: Vintage, excellent for age
