This monumental cotton nobori bata (vertical banner), dating to the Meiji period (1880–1912), is a powerful example of Japanese festival textile art. Measuring an impressive 188 inches in length and 26 inches in width (477 cm x 66 cm), these banners were traditionally commissioned for Boy's Day (now Children's Day), celebrated on May 5th. The iconography was specifically chosen to inspire young sons with values of discipline, courage, and honor.

The banner features a dynamic, ink-painted group of armored warriors representing the "Seven Spears of Shizugatake". These were the seven elite generals—Fukushima Masanori, Hirano Nagayasu, Kasuya Takenori, Katagiri Katsumoto, Kato Kiyomasa, Kato Yoshiaki, and Wakizaka Yasuharu—who served as Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s mounted bodyguard during the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583. Their decisive charge turned the tide of the battle, and all seven survived to become influential daimyo (lords) during the peaceful Edo period. The banner is in very good condition, with only minor smudges and small holes consistent with its age and outdoor use.

This artwork is featured on pages 408-409 of Ceremonial Textiles of Japan, 18th to 20th Centuries. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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