The miyamairi silk kimono displays a richly painted yūzen scene of the folk hero Momotarō, accompanied by his animal allies—the dog, monkey, and pheasant—who aided him in his quest to defeat demons (oni). In this design, Momotarō is shown in warrior attire, with his companions rendered beside a cart laden with treasure and symbolic items, suggesting the victorious outcome of his journey. The narrative is a popular subject for boys’ ceremonial kimono, embodying courage, loyalty, and triumph over adversity—qualities parents wished to instill in their sons at the moment of their first Shinto shrine blessing.

The design blends naturalistic figuration with stylized decorative elements, such as the rhythmic curves of the cart wheel and the bold placement of symbolic objects, aligning with the nihonga movement’s influence on textile art of the Taishō era. At the same time, the flattened spatial treatment and careful balance of figural and geometric motifs reflect Edo-period narrative art traditions, reinterpreted for early 20th-century ceremonial use.

Momotarō’s legend, in which a child of miraculous origin overcomes formidable enemies with the aid of loyal companions, resonated strongly in this period as a patriotic and moral exemplar. Worn for the shrine ceremony, the kimono would not only honor the child’s entry into the community but also project hopes for strength, wisdom, and protection under divine and ancestral guidance.

Despite minor stains, it remains a significant piece. Measuring 36 inches (91 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing at a height of 42 inches (107 cm).

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